Football | September 18, 2019
Western Michigan (2-1) at Syracuse (1-2)
Dome (49,057) • Syracuse, N.Y.
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 • Noon
Television: ACC Network
Radio: Bronco Radio Network
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Coach Lester & LeVante Bellamy Press Conference | Watch Replay
Bronco Review Radio Show | Listen to Replay
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Western Michigan heads back on the road for its second test away from Kalamazoo, traveling to Syracuse for a 12 noon kickoff on ACC Network, the program's first appearance on the newly formed network.
• Western Michigan is aiming for its first road win of the campaign, and first road victory since topping Central Michigan 35-10 on October 20, 2018.
• Redshirt freshman WR DaShon Bussell and true freshman WR Skyy Moore are the top two rookie pass catchers in the MAC, tied with 12 receptions each.
• Junior LB Treshaun Hayward was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Defensive Player of the Week following his career-high 15 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble against Georgia State. Hayward lifted his season total to 32 tackles, a new single-year high after booking 14 tackles in 2017 and 23 in 2018.Â
• Freshman RB Sean Tyler shot through the Georgia State defense for 138 yards on six carries and his first two career touchdowns. He became the first Bronco freshman to reach 100 ground yards in a game since Jamauri Bogan tallied 215 in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
WESTERN MICHIGAN vs. SYRACUSE
• The Broncos and Orange will meet for the second time in program history on Saturday.
• Syracuse won the only previous contest, claiming a 55-42 victory on August 31, 2018, in Waldo Stadium.
• In last year's contest, QB Jon Wassink completed 19-of-36 passes for 379 yards and a trio of touchdowns. RB LeVante Bellamy gained 121 rushing yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.
• Last year's contest against the Orange also proved to be a breakout game for then-WR D'Wayne Eskridge, who caught eight passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Eskridge will line up primarily at CB this Saturday.
Series vs. Syracuse:Â Syracuse leads 1-0
Series Streak:Â Orange won 1
Last Meeting:Â 2018 (Syracuse, 55-42)
Last Western Michigan Win:Â -
TELEVISION COVERAGE
ACC Network will broadcast the game to a national audience. Wes Durham (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (color) and Eric Wood (sideline) will call the game.
GAME NOTE NUGGETS
• Last week, the Broncos' rushing game came alive, exploding for 450 yards and seven touchdowns while the defense held Georgia State to 38 yards of total offense after intermission in a 57-10 victory ... Syracuse hosted No. 1 Clemson and fell 41-6 with the game just a 17-6 Tiger lead at halftime
• The Broncos are looking for their fourth win against a current member of the ACC, owning two versus Louisville and one against Virginia ... The two triumphs versus the Cardinals (1964 & 1965) came before Louisville became an ACC member
• WMU's seven rushing touchdowns last Saturday against Georgia State set the program record and are tied for the fifth most by a Mid-American Conference team in a game
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• Western Michigan enters the weekend leading the MAC in scoring offense (40.7), total offense (501.3) and pass efficiency (184.8) while standing second in rushing offense (202.3) and passing offense (299.0)
• Senior QB
Jon Wassink has moved into a pair of WMU career top-10 categories during the first three weeks of the season, standing seventh in touchdowns (37) and 10th in completions (318)
• Senior RB
LeVante Bellamy rushed for 192 yards last week against Georgia State after totaling 97 ground yards through the first two games of the season ... Bellamy averaged 12.8 yards per carry versus the Panthers after having a 2.9 yards per rush average through the first two contests ... The performance vaulted Bellamy into the MAC's leading rusher with 96.3 yards per game ... Bellamy is tied for the MAC lead in touchdowns with four in 2019 after totaling six in 2018
• Western Michigan leads the MAC and is eighth in the country in kickoff return average at 33.78 yards per runback ... Graduate transfer
Keith Mixon Jr. stands fifth nationally with a 38.28 average per return ... Mixon Jr. also tops the country with four kickoff runbacks of 30 or more yards and three of 40 or more yards
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