GAME 2:
WESTERN MICHIGAN (1-0) vs. SYRACUSE (1-0)
Date: Sept. 9, 2023
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Syracuse. N.Y.
Stadium: JMA Wireless Dome (49,075
TV: ESPN+/ACC Network Extra
Radio: Bronco Media Network
Live Stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=wmu
All-Time Series: SU leads 2-0
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan begins a three-game road stint, starting off at Syracuse on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game can be watched live on ESPN+ and ACC Network Extra with Richard Cross and Byron Chamberlain on the call. The Bronco Media Network will have radio coverage provided by The Voice of the Broncos, Robin Hook, and John Creek.
LAST WEEK
The Broncos opened the 2023 season with a 35-17 victory over Saint Francis (PA), the first career win for WMU head coach
Lance Taylor. Five different Broncos scored touchdowns on the night, with four coming on the ground and one through the air from redshirt sophomore quarterback
Jack Salopek to graduate tight end
Austin Hence. Redshirt freshman running back
Jalen Buckley had a career-high 194 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown, en route to being named MAC West Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
WMU's defense held the Red Flash under 300 yards of offense, with graduate transfer
Tate Hallock leading the way with seven tackles from the safety position.
THE MATCH UP
- Saturday will be the third game between the two programs and Western Michigan's second trip to the JMA Wireless Dome.
- Syracuse leads the all-time series at 2-0 with a win both at home and in Kalamazoo.
- Both previous games have been very high scoring. In the first match up, the Orange won 55-42 in Kalamazoo. The second meeting saw Syracuse win 52-33.
- This is the first of three road games against Power 5 schools this season. WMU takes on Iowa next Saturday and then heads to Mississippi State on Oct. 7. The Broncos have not played three Power 5 teams in a regular season since the 2013 campaign, when they played Michigan State, Northwestern and the Hawkeyes.
MAKING AN IMPACT
The Broncos brought in 13 transfers from FCS and FBS schools prior to the start of the season. Several of those made a big impact in the season-opening win.
On offense,
Michael Shanahan (Texas Tech) and Tedi Kushi (Long Island) started along the offensive line, while wide receivers
Leroy Thomas (VMI) and
Kenneth Womack (Sacred Heart) saw significant playing time. Womack was tied for the team-high with four receptions and led the squad with 54 yards receiving. Thomas had one reception for four yards and had one tackle on special teams. Running back
Keshawn King rushed for 27 yards on seven carries and one touchdown, to go along with one reception for 14 yards before leaving early due to an injury.
On defense, linebacker
Jacob Wahlberg (Purdue) and safety Tate Walker (Michigan State) earned their way into the starting lineup. Hallock led the team in tackles with seven, while Walhberg had three.
A LOOK AT THE ORANGE
- Syracuse crushed Colgate to open the season last Saturday, defeating the Red Raiders 65-0.
- Senior quarterback Garrett Shrader passed for 257 yards on 18-for-24 throwing and four touchdowns. He also had 40 yards rushing on eight rushes. Last season he threw 17 touchdown passes and 2,640 yards and a 64.7 percent completion percentage.
- Sophomore LaQuint Allen rushed for 107 yards and one touchdown on just 16 carries, while freshman Ike Daniels had 63 yards on 11 carries.
- Eleven different Orange caught passes in the win, led by sophomore Umari Hatcher. The 6-foot-3 target surpassed his production from the 2022 season in just the one game. Junior Isaiah Jones, another large target at 6-foot-4, had two touchdown catches on three receptions for 71 yards.
- In the shutout, Syracuse made three sacks and nine tackles for loss. The defense also forced two turnovers via interception, including a 66-yard pick six by sophomore Jeremiah Wilson.
