Western Michigan - Northern Illinois Post Game Notes
PRE-GAME:
• Western Michigan is looking for its first win in DeKalb since 2007 (17-13 WMU victory)
• Senior captains for WMU: LB Caleb Bailey, RB Jarvion Franklin, LB Robert Spillane
FIRST QUARTER:
• Senior Asantay Brown makes an appearance in the secondary unit. Brown was a safety his first season before switching to linebacker.
• Senior RB Jarvion Franklin had 83 of Western Michigan’s first 84 yards gained, made back-to-back runs of 23 yards and 29 yards on WMU scoring drive.
• Freshman QB Reece Goddard connects with Keishawn Watson for a 7-yard touchdown, Goddard’s first career passing TD. Watson’s seventh career receiving TD.
• Goddard - Watson touchdown WMU’s first passing TD since 58 seconds remaining of the second quarter vs. Eastern Michigan on Oct. 21.
• NIU muffs a punt after heavy pressure by Robert Spillane, freshman Treshaun Hayward with his first career fumble recovery. WMU’s 14th recovery this season, Broncos entered the game #3 in the nation in fumble recoveries.
SECOND QUARTER:
• Jarvion Franklin with a 2-yard touchdown rush, his 56th career TD, 52nd rushing.
• Reece Goddard hits Keishawn Watson for a career-long 30-yard pass.
THIRD QUARTER:
• Robert Spillane with his first fumble recovery of the season - WMU’s second fumble recovery of the game, 15th of the season
• QB Reece Goddard records second career rushing touchdown on 7-yard rush, tying game 21-21
• Stefan Claiborne forces and recovers fumble - third forced fumble by WMU in the game, 16th of season(WMU forces fumbles on back-to-back drives in third quarter)
• Reece Goddard throws second career TD, 13-yard pass to TE Donnie Ernsberger. Ernsberger’s fourth TD this season
FOURTH QUARTER:
• Reece Goddard connects for a 68-yard pass to Tyron Arnett, career high for both players - longest play pass of the season for WMU
• Freshman Josh Grant makes 21-yard field goal into the wind, giving WMU 31-28 lead
POST GAME
• WMU scored 21 points off of turovers, forcing three fumbles in the game
• In third career start for QB Goddard records highest passing yards (211) and throws for two touchdowns and rushes for one
• RB Jarvion Franklin over 100 yards for seventh time this season, sixth straight game, 22nd time in career
• WMU’s last regular season game is next Friday, November 24th at Toledo. Time TBA.
