KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan football team improved to 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play after an emphatic 38-7 win over Kent State on Homecoming/Hall of Fame Weekend at Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium.
Redshirt junior quarterback
Broc Lowry had a career-high 257 yards passing, going 18-for-26 and three touchdowns. He also had 52 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Senior running back
Jalen Buckley rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries, for his 11th career 100-yard rushing performance. Lowry hit nine different receivers on the day. Tight ends
Adam Parks and
Nate Levicki tied with running back
Lolo Mataele for the team lead with three catches each. Parks had 55 yards receiving for two touchdowns.
Baylin Brooks had two catches for 43 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown reception.
The Bronco defense had five sacks on the night, with
Dillon Moore and Josh Franklin tying for the team lead with eight tackles each. Moor,
Scoop Gardner Jr.,
Gian Carter and
DeJuan Echoles Jr. all had solo sacks, while
KJ Burley and
Austin Alexander each had a half-sack.
Gabe Welch had the game's lone turnover, an interception late in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos took the lead on the opening drive and never looked back. Lowry connected with Parks on a pass near midfield and the New Mexico State transfer took it to the house for the 42-yard score. The drive was just four play for 75 yards and lasted 1:59.
WMU pushed the lead to 14-0 on a drive that started in the tail end of the first quarter and endd on the opening play in the second. Lowry ran it in from the 2-yard line, capping off a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
Kent State cut the lead in half on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dru DeShields to Wayne Harris with 1:55 left to play in the half.
WMU responded with the two-minute offense and Lowry connected with Brooks in the endzone from 28 yards out to give the Broncos a 21-7 lead at the half.
WMU kicked
Dieter Kelly nailed a 31-yard field goal with 2:17 left to play in the third quarter to push the lead to 24-7. Lowry then hit Parks on a four-yard touchdown pass to put the game out of reach, 31-7, with 10:58 left in the fourth quarter.
Petty came in to spell Lowry and led the Broncos on a 10-play, 65-yard drive scoring drive that Petty finished off with a 4-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal.
The Bronco defense held the Golden Flashes to 298 yards of total offense, including just 75 yards on the ground. WMU's offense had a season-high 466 yards thanks to 204 on the ground and 262 through the air.
The stage is now set for the Battle for the Victory Cannon next Saturday in Mount Pleasant. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Bronco Media Network.
