YPSILANTI, Mich. – Western Michigan picked up its first road win of the season after an emphatic 45-21 win at Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
The Western Michigan defense forced four turnovers and directly scored 12 points thanks to two safeties and a strip-sack and score. Defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had a season-high 11 tackles, along with 3.0 sacks, 4.0 tackles for loss and the forced fumble that led to the defensive touchdown. Sophomore safety Aaron Wofford had four tackles, a forced fumble and a career-high two interceptions, while redshirt sophomore defensive end Corey Walker had 3.0 tackles for loss and recovered the fumble forced by Kneeland for the touchdown.
Redshirt freshman running back Jalen Buckley posted his third-career 100-yard rushing game with a game-high 138 and two touchdowns. Hayden Wolff completed 15-of-26 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown. Kenneth Womack had a team-high five receptions for 50 yards, while Blake Bosma had four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
After each team opened going three-and-out, the Broncos put points on the board first on an 11-play, 76-yard scoring drive. The Broncos used runs by Buckley and passes to Womack to move down the field before Buckley took it in from three yards for his sixth touchdown of the season, giving WMU a 7-0 lead with 6:04 to play in the first quarter.
On the ensuing drive, Eastern Michigan had it third and four from its 25. A pass was completed to Hamze El-Zayat over the middle, but Wofford punched the ball loose and SaVeon Brown jumped on it. The Broncos took over on the Eagles' 35. WMU was stopped on third and seven but elected to go for it on fourth down from the 29. Wolff found Womack for a nine-yard gain and on the next play he hit Bosma in stride for the 20-yard touchdown pass.
The Broncos carried their 14-0 lead into the second quarter and added to it with 5:42 left on a nine-yard run by Buckley. Buckley's touchdown capped off a nine-play, 61-yard drive that started with Wofford's first interception of the game at the WMU 39.
Eastern Michigan cut into the lead minutes later on a 15-yard touchdown run by Samson Evans, finishing off a five-play, 90-yard drive.
Western Michigan went three-and-out to open the third quarter but a nice punt by Cameron Voss and a penalty on the opening play of the drive for EMU had the Eagles pinned back near their own endzone. On the second play Kneeland was held in the endzone, resulting in a safety for the Broncos, extending the lead to 23-7.
Evans ran in another touchdown to cut the lead to 23-13 but the Broncos added their second safety of the game as the third quarter expired. Austin Smith dropped back to pass and Kneeland sacked him in the endzone to push ahead 25-13. It was the first time that WMU had recorded two safeties in a season since 2011.
Western Michigan added 20 more points in the fourth quarter, a season-high, on a touchdown run by C.J. Hester, two field goals by Palmer Domschke and the strip-sack by Kneeland, recovered and returned by Walker.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak to Eastern Michigan and was the Broncos' first win at Rynearson Stadium since 2017.
It's now Central Michigan week, as the Broncos welcome the Chippewa's for the Battle For The Cannon on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Fans can take advantage of WMU"s win over EMU with a "Dub's Up!" flash sale. Through Monday, fans can get two tickets to the game for $25. Click Here to purchase tickets.
