''MAC Champs has a nice ring to it.'' 

Playing superior football through all three facets of the game, the Broncos (9-4 record) downed Miami, 23-13 Saturday at Ford Field to win the team's fourth league championship in school history. 

''We played complementary football today,'' Taylor, the third-year head coach, said. ''The offense was able to run the ball, the defense had some big stops and Palmer (place kicker Palmer Domschke) was big for us.'' 

Junior running back Jalen Buckley gained 175 yards on 13 carries and scored on two long touchdown runs. WMU's defense held Miami to 173 yards and had 15 quarterback pressures – a season high by a long shot – and Domschke hit field goals of 27, 31 and 50 yards. Defensive end Nadame Tucker had 2.5 sacks for 19-yards in losses plus four quarterback hits.  

Buckley was the offensive player of the game, Tucker took defensive honors and Domschke special team's top player. 

It didn't take long for WMU to get on the scoreboard. On the third play of the game, Buckley took a handoff up the middle and just kept on going 67 yards untouched for a touchdown with just 1:27 gone. When he cleared the line of scrimmage, he was all alone, outrunning Miami's defense. 

''I don't think the receivers dream of blocking all the time, but in this offense that's what it takes and I want to thank them and the offensive line,'' Buckley said. ''I was a walk-on three years ago and the coaches took a chance on me.'' 

Added Taylor: ''That run didn't settle down the team at all. It's one run and it was like we had won the Super Bowl. We had to calm them down, but it did give us a ton of momentum and a ton of confidence.'' 

Maybe adrenaline-fueled mistakes hurt Westen Michigan on Miami's first touchdown. The Broncos were called for two roughing the passer penalties, the first one happening on the RedHawks' first play. The second one came when WMU had stopped the RedHawks on a third-and goal at the 3-yard line. The five-play, 75-yard drive ended on Jordan Brunson's one-yard run. The point-after kick was botched to keep WMU in the lead, 7-6. 

The next two drives ended in Domschke converting on 27 and 31-yard field goals. The second one finished off a 12-play, 78-yard drive which lasted 7:02, ending with 13:43 remaining in the first half, giving WMU a 13-6 lead. 

Domschke finished off the first-half scoring with a 50-yard boomer of a field goal to give WMU a 16-6 lead with 57 seconds left. 

''Probably 55 yards was my range today,'' he said with a smile. ''I caught it clean, but a lot of the guys thought I barley swung 

''I definitely swung a little more on that one.'' 

The Broncos had a chance to increase their lead late in the second quarter when Tucker scooped up a loose ball at Miami's 11-yard line and ran in for an apparent touchdown. However, in a video review, it was ruled Miami quarterback Thomas Gutkowski's arm was moving forward on a pump-fake when the ball came loose. 

The start of the third quarter was a mirror image of the first quarter. 

On a second down and nine play, Buckley took a handoff, going through left tackle and then hit his stride down the sideline for a 64-yard touchdown with just 1:44 gone, giving WMU a 23-6 lead. At that point, he had 160 yards on nine carries, a non-too-shabby 17.8 yards per carry. 

In the fourth quarter, Miami closed the gap to 10 points when backup quarterback Henry Hesson found Cole Weaver at the goal line for a six-yard touchdown with 6:43 left in the game. 

And then it continued to be 'Dame Time,' as the players call it. 

''Nadame is just special and you see it on the field,'' Buckley said. ''Even in practice, he is different. 

''When the other team is behind the sticks, No. 11 (Tucker) is ready to go. It's Dame Time.'' 

Added Taylor: ''I feel sorry for the other team's quarterback.'' 

Now it's waiting time for the Broncos to see where and when the bowl game in which they will play. 

For now…MAC Champs has a nice ring to it.