Football | November 08, 2019
Western Michigan (6-4, 4-2 MAC) at Ohio (4-5, 3-2 MAC)
Peden Stadium (27,000) • Kalamazoo, Mich.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 • 7:30 pm
Live Television: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Bronco Radio Network
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Coach Lester Press Conference | Watch Replay
Bronco Review Radio Show | Listen to Replays
Bronco Updates | Listen to Replays
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Western Michigan kicks off its final two-game stretch of the regular season at Ohio with its second midweek game of the season
• Against the Bobcats, the Broncos will play their 10th consecutive game without an open date ... WMU's bye week follows the Ohio tilt ... After playing nine consecutive Saturdays, Western Michigan will have just three games over a month span from October 27-November 26Â
• In its last game, WMU hosted Mid-American Conference West Division leader Ball State and won 35-31 behind five rushing touchdowns and 100-yard ground performances by LeVante Bellamy (157) and Jon Wassink (131) ... The Bobcats faced MAC East Division co-leader Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday, November 6, and suffered a 24-21 setback
• Heading into Tuesday's tilt, the Broncos sit tied atop the MAC West while the Bobcats are tied for second in the East Division, one game behind Miami (Ohio) ... In the MAC preseason poll, Western Michigan was tabbed second in the West with Ohio the favorite in the East
•  This year's senior class owns 32 victories, the third most in program history and three shy of the 2017 group for the program record
• Senior QB Jon Wassink is one of 12 recipients of the 2019 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Fidelity Investments, making him a finalist for the Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda ... Wassink becomes the third Western Michigan student-athlete to earn the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award, joining Tim Hiller (2009) and Zach Terrell (2016) ...  Terrell won the Campbell Trophy in 2016 ... Western Michigan is second in the MAC with three all-time selections and tied for the most honorees in the league since 2009
• Senior RB LeVante Bellamy has scored at least two rushing touchdowns in each of the last four contests, and in six games this fall ... Bellamy has 20 ground scores in 2019, the most in the country and the second most in a single season in program history ... Bellamy paces the conference in scoring, averaging 12.00 points per contest and rushing yards per game at 121.20 yardsÂ
• Junior LB Treshaun Hayward is the first Bronco with 100+ tackles in a season since Robert Spillane booked 111 in 2016
WESTERN MICHIGAN vs. OHIOÂ
• The Broncos and Bobcats will meet for the 64th time Tuesday with Western Michigan leading the series, 33-29-1. WMU has won four of the last five meetings, including a 29-26 triumph in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit.
• The two programs have not met in Athens since October 17, 2015, when WMU picked up a 49-14 victory.Â
• Last year in Kalamazoo, the Broncos suffered a 59-14 loss after trailing 45-0 at halftime. Aiding the Bobcat offense last fall were six WMU turnovers, including two INTs and four fumbles.
Series vs. Ohio:Â Western Michigan leads 33-29-1
Series Streak:Â Ohio won 1
Last Meeting:Â 2018 (Ohio, 59-14)
Last Western Michigan Win:Â 2017
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LIVE TELEVISION
• ESPN2 will provide television coverage of the event. Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Rocky Boiman (analyst) will call the game.
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GAME NOTE NUGGETS
• Western Michigan is 6-4 for the third time under third-year head coach Tim Lester ... The Broncos have not had had fewer than six wins through 10 games since going 1-11 in 2013.Â
• WMU will be looking to get to 5-2 through seven Mid-American Conference games for the first time under Lester after sitting at 4-3 after seven league games in 2017 and 2018.
• The Broncos head into Tuesday's game looking for their seventh victory of the campaign ... Western Michigan has already reached bowl eligibility for six consecutive seasons, the longest stretch in program history.Â
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• Since the MAC split into East and West divisions in 1997, Western Michigan has gone 46-18 (.719 winning percentage) against East Division foes ... In the last two-plus seasons under Lester, the Broncos have posted a 6-2 (.750 winning percentage) record versus the East Division, going 2-1 in 2017 and 2018 and starting 2019 at 2-0 with wins against Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green.
• The Broncos finished their home slate with a 6-0 record, joining the 2016 squad as the only since 2000 to go 6-0 in Kalamazoo.Â
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• Since the start of the 2016 season, Western Michigan owns 21 Mid-American Conference wins, tied for the most among league programs during the span.
• Senior QB
Jon Wassink turned in a career-long run versus Ball State, covering 60 yards in the first quarter.
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• Wassink finished with a career-high 131 rushing yards, becoming the first Western Michigan quarterback with a 100-yard rushing performance since Paul Jorgensen had 128 versus Northern Illinois on September 22, 1973 ... Wassink joined Jorgensen and Ted Grignon (115 & 140 in 1969) as the only WMU quarterbacks with 100-yard rushing games.
• The Broncos enter the week having allowed 26.3 points per game to stand second in the Mid-American Conference and on pace for the program's best showing since 2016.Â
• In the last five games, opponents are a combined 27-of-68 (.397 percent) on third down attempts ... In the four previous contests, foes were a combined 25-of-55 (.455 percent) on third down.
• WMU is 6-0 this season when allowing 7.0 or fewer yards per completion, and 11-1 in its last 12 games when yielding 7.0 or fewer yards a toss.
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OPERATION HAT TRICK
• As we approach Veteran's Day, we salute all those who have served. Thanks to Operation Hat Trick for teaming with us this fall and for its support of veterans and WMU student veterans.
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