ATHENS, Ohio – In a back-and-forth affair that featured 10 combined points in the first half and 31 in the fourth quarter alone, Western Michigan prevailed for a 37-34 overtime victory at Ohio on Tuesday night inside Peden Stadium. Senior running back
LeVante Bellamy punched in a four-yard touchdown run in overtime after the Broncos held the Bobcats to a field goal on their possession in the extra session.
With a fourth-and-goal pass breakup by senior linebacker
Drake Spears seemingly putting the game away for the Broncos in regulation, Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke drove the Bobcats 53 yards on four plays in 38 seconds to even the game at 31-31 with nine seconds left in regulation.
The WMU defense responded in overtime, holding Ohio to a 37-yard field goal on its possession to begin the extra period. Bellamy quickly ended the contest with three consecutive carries gaining 20, one and four yards for the final score.
With the win, the Broncos improve their overall record to 7-4 and stand 5-2 in Mid-American Conference play. Tuesday's victory was WMU's first road win since topping Central Michigan 35-10 on October 20, 2018.
In addition to Bellamy's heroics, the Broncos enjoyed standout performances on offense from senior tight end
Giovanni Ricci, senior quarterback
Jon Wassink, freshman wide receiver
Skyy Moore and senior wide receiver
Keith Mixon Jr. The three receivers combined for 18 catches, 273 yards and three touchdowns while Wassink completed 23-of-34 passes for 322 yards and the three TD tosses.
Moore alone produced four receptions for 162 yards, averaging 40.5 yards a catch, and two touchdowns. Moore also pushed in a two-yard TD rush on his first career carry.
Defensively, the Broncos had a clutch forced turnover in the second quarter following a muffed punt as Spears recovered the loose ball. Leading the way in tackles was junior
Treshaun Hayward with 12 (eight solo) and 1.0 tackle for lost yardage. Spears finished with eight stops while seniors
Alex Grace and
Stefan Claiborne had seven apiece.
WMU ends the regular season on Tuesday, November 26 at Northern Illinois. The game will be broadcast on either ESPNU or ESPN+ at 7 or 8 p.m.
To begin Tuesday's contest, the Broncos went on a 15-play, 70-yard drive that resulted in a 22-yard field goal from
Thiago Kapps for an early 3-0 lead. After both teams traded punts to round out the first quarter, Spears recovered a fumble after a muffed punt for the Bobcats to take over on WMU's own 48-yard line with less than four minutes to go in the first half. The resulting 12-play drive was capped off by a two-yard touchdown pass by Wassink to Ricci to give the Broncos a 10-0 lead heading into the break.
Ohio took over to start the second half as the Bobcats cut the WMU lead down to three after connecting on an eight-yard touchdown pass at 11:18. Following their first scoring drive was another Ohio TD as De'Montre Tuggle finished an 86-yard drive on a 10-yard score that put the Bobcats ahead 14-10 at the 7:09 mark of the third period.
WMU answered with 3:17 to go in the third quarter, marching down the field with a 34-yard reception by Moore bringing the Broncos into the red zone. Ricci caught his second touchdown pass of the evening, a 16-yard toss from Wassink, to give the Brown & Gold back the lead, 17-14 heading into the final frame.
The Bobcats opened up the fourth quarter with a 33-yard field goal to even the game at 17-17. Quick to respond, Moore took off for the end zone with a 61-yard pass from Wassink to give the Broncos a 24-17 advantage.
With 10:07 to go in the contest, the Bobcats tied the game again, at 24-24, with a four-yard rushing TD from Tuggle. Wassink again helped the Broncos answer, driving the team from its own 28-yard line to the Ohio two-yard line, letting up Moore's TD run. After Spears' PBU seemingly ended the game, the Bobcats forced Western Michigan into a three-and-out and scored on a 12-yard pass from Rourke with nine seconds to play, forcing overtime deadlocked at 31.
Ohio opened the extra period with a 37-yard field goal. Taking over at the Ohio 25-yard line, Bellamy headed for the red zone with a 20-yard run, his longest of the game. Two more Bellamy carries gave the Broncos the win in Athens, 37-34.
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