UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas - Western Michigan fell in the 2019 SERVPRO First Responders Bowl to Western Kentucky in heartbreaking fashion, with the Hilltoppers kicking the game-winning 52-yard field goal with no time remaining in regulation. WKU used two field goals in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter to claim the 23-20 victory on the campus of Southern Methodist University.

Western Kentucky out-gained the Broncos in total yards 481-307, while narrowly edging out the Brown & Gold in rushing offense, 123-114 yards. Western Michigan earned 19 total first downs and was five-for-15 on third down.

WMU dominated possession in the first quarter, holding the ball for 11:02 over three offensive drives. Junior Thiago Kapps gave the Broncos the lead with under five minutes left in the first with a 30-yard field goal on their second drive of the game. A 13-yard pass by senior quarterback Jon Wassink to freshman wideout Skyy Moore on third down put WMU in the red zone, setting up Kapps for the kick. 

The Hilltoppers (9-4) responded 4:06 into the second quarter, as Ty Storey completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jahcour Pearson. Western Kentucky extended its lead to 10-3 with a 26-yard field goal with 2:22 remaining in the half. The Bronco defense made a key third-down stop inside their own 10-yard line to hold WKU to three points.

Western Michigan (7-6) regained the momentum before the end of the half, thanks to an interception by graduate transfer cornerback Kareem Ali, who returned the ball 88 yards for the score with 59 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Kapps added the extra point to tie the game at 10-10. It was the first interception returned for a touchdown and longest scoring play in bowl history for the Broncos. The 88-yard runback was also the longest INT return for a touchdown in Mid-American Conference bowl history.

WKU kicker Cory Munson missed a 29-yard field goal attempt in the waning seconds of the first half, failing to give his Hilltoppers the advantage.

On the defensive side of the ball, five different Broncos recorded five or more tackles during the opening 30 minutes. WMU also grabbed two interceptions.

The defense kept up the momentum in the second half as senior Antonio Balabani sacked Storey for a seven-yard loss to halt the Hilltoppers on their first drive.

On the Broncos' first possession of the half, senior LeVante Bellamy converted on a fourth-down play, pushing the ball across the 50-yard line to extend the drive. A roughing the passer penalty on WKU put Western Michigan in the red zone for the second time on the afternoon.

WMU capitalized on the mistake by the Hilltoppers, with Wassink tossing a six-yard TD pass to redshirt freshman receiver DaShon Bussell. Wassink went three-of-four for 43 yards on the scoring drive, which included a 32-yard pass to Moore. The Bronco senior quarterback also rushed for 13 yards during the 4:30 possession. 

Western Kentucky tied the score at 17-17 with 10:40 left in regulation as Storey collected his second touchdown pass of the game, this time hitting Lucky Jackson from five yards away. Jackson finished the game with 17 receptions for 148 yards.

The Broncos regained the lead with a successful 20-yard field goal try by Kapps with just under five minutes left in the final quarter. Bellamy ran the ball six times on the scoring drive for Western Michigan, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

The Hilltoppers capped a nine-play, 55-yard drive with a Munson 31-yard field goal to once again even the scoreboard at Gerald J. Ford Stadium with 1:36 on the clock.

Western Kentucky failed to convert on a long pass attempt with three seconds remaining. However, the Broncos were called for having 12 men on the field, giving the Hilltoppers one final play. With the penalty, the ball was moved up five yards, making it a 52-yard field goal attempt as opposed to the previous 57-yard try. Munson had the leg, kicking it through the uprights to give his team the dramatic victory. 

For the game, Wassink went 19-for-36 for 193 yards and one passing touchdown. Reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Year Bellamy once again led the rush for the Broncos, gaining 60 total yards on 18 carries, while Moore and Bussell combined for eight receptions for 119 yards and a score.

Graduate transfer Keith Mixon Jr. was outstanding on kickoff returns, averaging 26.75 yards on four attempts. 

Junior linebacker Treshaun Hayward paced the WMU defense with 10 tackles, three of which were solo. The Broncos recorded four tackles for a loss as a team.

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