MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- For the third year in a row the Western Michigan football team secured the Victory Cannon Trophy as the Broncos defeated rival Central Michigan 52-44, on the road at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Wednesday night. 

The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense with WMU outdueling CMU 628-406. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kaleb Eleby finished the night with a career-high 382 yards passing and a career-mark of five touchdown passes. Eleby also rushed for a touchdown, his third of the season. Redshirt senior wide receiver D'Wayne Eskridge led all Broncos with 212 yards receiving and three touchdowns on just four receptions. Junior receiver Jaylen Hall had a career-high 110 yards receiving with two touchdowns on four catches, while Michigan State transfer running back La'Darius Jefferson had a career night with 33 rushes for 150 yards. Sophomore Sean Tyler rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries before leaving with an injury.

WMU's defense recorded four sacks on the night, while A.J. Thomas and Marcus Kneeland finished tied for the team lead with six tackles each. Thomas had two tackles for loss, including a sack. 

Central Michigan jumped out to a 14-0 lead after a quick three-play 75-yard drive to open the game and followed it up with a short touchdown drive after an Eleby interception just 3:32 into the game. From there the Broncos rattled off 38 straight points to flip the game on its head. 

Eleby ran it in from four yards out to cut the lead in half after capping off a nine-play 70-yard draw. After forcing a three-and-out by the Chippewas, the Broncos took over at their own 49 and quickly moved down the field. After Eleby rushed for nine yards to open the drive, Tyler did the rest with runs of seven, 29 and then six into the endzone to cap off the four-play 51-yard drive to tie the game up with 5:11 left in the first quarter.

After another CMU punt, WMU took over on its 19 but was backed up to the 10 after a holding penalty. Eleby hit Hall for a 43-yard gain on third and 15 to extend the drive and move into Central Michigan territory. After the first quarter ended, Eleby hit Eskridge over the middle for a 33-yard touchdown pass to push Western Michigan into the lead, 21-14. 

The Broncos forced another three-and-out and took over on their 18. Eleby steadily moved the offense down the field before connecting with Hall from nine-yards out for Hall's first touchdown reception of the night, extending the lead to 28-14. Senior kicker Thiago Kapps connected from 24-yards out to end the half and send the Broncos to the locker room with a 31-14 lead. 

WMU got the ball to start the second half and on the second play Eleby connected with Eskridge for a 72-yard touchdown to push the lead to 38-14.

Central Michigan cut into the lead, 38-22, after a six-play 57-yard drive with a Kalil Pimpleton 25-yard touchdown run. The Chippewas also converted the first of three two-point conversions on the night. 

After the kickoff Eleby and Eskridge connected again. This time Eleby found Eskridge over the middle and Eskridge blew by the rest of the CMU defense for an 85-yard touchdown reception to put the lead at 45-22. 

The Chippewas responded with a big play of their own, a 69-yard touchdown run on the next drive and another two-point conversion to trim the lead to 45-30.

The teams exchanged punts until Eleby connected with Hall ford a 43-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to move the lead to 52-30. 

Central Michigan got within one score after two touchdowns, including a final one with 2:32 left in the game. CMU tried an on-side kick for the second time in the quarter and Eskridge jumped up to cover it and seal the game. 

The 52 points put up by the Broncos are the second-most by WMU in a game against Central Michigan in series history. Western Michigan has now won the last three games of the series and the last five games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

The game was an end to Mid-week MACtion for the Broncos, who return to Waldo Stadium to host Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 12 p.m. Due to recent guidelines by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, no fans will be admitted. Bronco fans can follow along on the Bronco Radio Network or watch live on ESPN+.