Western Michigan University Athletics

PRE-GAME NOTES:

- Captains: RJr. RB Leo Ewkwoge, RJr. RB Jamauri Bogan, Sr. DB Darius Phillips

- First time for WMU head coach Tim Lester facing Buffalo (UB not in MAC when Lester was a student-athlete)

 

FIRST QUARTER:

- RB LeVante Bellamy 66-yard TD rush career long

- Sam Beal first career forced fumble (after a 72-yard UB pass), Stefan Claiborne first career fumble recovery, 53-yard return

- WMU’s sixth fumble recovery of the season, Broncos entered the game ranked No. 11 in FRs

- Fr. K Josh Grant 44-yard FG career long

- Buffalo’s 64-yard TD longest WMU has allowed this season

- WMU trails (14-10) for first time since third quarter vs. Idaho

 

SECOND QUARTER:

- WR D’Wayne Eskridge career-long 48-yard touchdown reception, puts WMU ahead 17-14

- RB Jarvion Franklin attempts pass at UB 23, throws first career INT

- Bellamy (101 yards in first half) reaches 100-yards rushing for second time this season (and career) … fourth 100-yard rushing game by a WMU RB this season

 

THIRD QUARTER:

- Franklin 20-yard TD reception - his first TD reception of the year, fourth career

- Franklin now has 44 rushing TDs and 4 receiving TDs for career TD total of 48 – three shy of school overall TD record held by Corey Davis (51)

 

FOURTH QUARTER:

- 64-yard punt by Derek Mitchell ties career high

- Sr. TE Donnie Ernsberger 24-yard TD second touchdown reception of the season, third career

- Potential game-winning 52-yard FG attempt by Josh Grant tipped

 

OVERTIMES:

- Ernsberger makes second TD catch, first career game with two TD receptions

- WR Keishawn Watson pass-back to QB Jon Wassink for TD, second time Broncos have pulled off play this season

- Jr. DL Steven Clark first career fumble recovery

- Franklin goes over 100 yards in the game, second game this season with 100-plus yards … Bellamy and Franklin both over 100 yards, second time this WMU has had two RBs with 100-plus yards in a game

- 29-yard FG by freshman kicker Josh Grant wide left

- Wassink passes his career high for passing yards and passing TDs

 

- Longest game in Mid-American Conference history

 

- 7 OVERTIMES - game ties the NCAA record for longest game - 4th all-time game to go to 7 OTs, first since 2006.

 

Most points scored by WMU in MAC game since scoring 68 in regulation on Nov. 25, 2011 vs. Akron

 

First overtime game for WMU since Oct. 4, 2014 (L, vs. Toledo, 20-19)

Last Overtime win for Western Michigan – Oct. 24, 2009 vs. Buffalo (W, 34-31 in Kalamazoo)

Nov. 18, 2015 –WMU's last MAC loss, at Northern Illinois

WMU leads all-time series vs. Buffalo, 7-2


MAC GAME NOTES
-Western Michigan's 71 points tied for seventh most in a single game in MAC history.
-Buffalo's 68 points marked the most points scored by a losing team in a single game in MAC history.
-The 139 combined points were the most ever in a single game in MAC history.
-The 1,328 combined yards of total offense (WMU-645; UB-683) marked the third most in a single game in MAC history.
-The 10 touchdowns by Western Michigan is tied for third most in a single game in MAC history.
-The 19 combined touchdowns by both teams is the most in a single game in MAC history.
-Buffalo QB Drew Anderson's 597 yards passing is the most in a single game in MAC history.
-Buffalo QB Drew Anderson's 7 passing touchdowns is tied for most in a single game in MAC history.
 

-The 7 OTs were the most in a single game in MAC history. 
-The 7 OTs tied the most in FBS history:  
    7— Western Michigan (71) at Buffalo (68), Oct. 7, 2017; 
           Arkansas (58) vs. Ole Miss (56), Nov. 3, 2001;
           Arkansas (71) vs. Kentucky (63), Nov. 1, 2003;
           North Texas (25) vs. FIU (22), Oct. 7, 2006