CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Western Michigan football team fell on the road to No. 9 Illinois, 38-0, at Gies Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
The two best scoring chances for WMU (0-3) came in the first half. The Broncos missed a 46-yard field goal with 5:05 left in the second quarter. Western Michigan then had a chance to get into the endzone at the very end of the half. WMU got the ball on its 19, trailing 10-0 with 2:51 left. Broc Lowry drove the Broncos down the field and Lowry was stopped at the 1-yard line, making it third and goal. Rushing attempts by Devin Miles and Michael Brescia were stopped.
Western Michigan got the ball to open the third quarter but were held to a 3-and-out, with Illinois driving down the field in response to take a 17-0 lead. The Fighting Illini added another touchdown in the third quarter and two more in the fourth.
The Broncos were held to 204 yards of offense. Junior college transfer Lolo Mataele led the Broncos with 46 yards on the ground, while Lowry had 40 to go along with 78 yards through the air. The redshirt sophomore quarterback had a career-high 10 completions. On defense, transfer safety Micah Davis had a career-high 10 tackles in his first career start. WMU had two sacks on the day and five total tackles for loss.
Western Michigan is back in action next Saturday, opening Mid-American Conference play against Toledo at home at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are on-sale at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.
