WMU vs. Kent State Game Notes
Western Michigan vs. Kent State Game Notes
Pre-Game:
- Western Michigan leads the all-time series vs. Kent State, 35-20-1
- It’s the final home game for the 2017 senior class.
- The 2017 senior class has the most wins in school history (35).
- Western Michigan Captains: Andre Turner, Donnie Ernsberger, Jarvion Franklin
- Kent State won the toss and deferred to the second half.
First Quarter:
- Jarvion Franklin moved into second place at WMU for career all-purpose yards, passing 2017 NFL Draft No.5 overall pick Corey Davis.
- Freshman Reece Goddard earned his first touchdown of his career with a one-yard rushing touchdown.
- Senior Robert Spillane collects his first interception since the MAC Championship game vs. Ohio (12/2/2016) and returns its 35 yards for the touchdown.
- It’s the first interception return for a touchdown since Asantay Brown returned an interception 21 yards against Toledo (11/25/2016) on the first play of the game.
- Former WMU kicker Andrew Haldeman (2012-15) proposed to his girlfriend, Jessica Bobik during a media timeout…and she said YES. Haldeman is the career record holder for points with 337 and career field goals made at 57.
- Junior Derek Mitchell collects his fifth punt over 60 yards this season with a 61-yard punt.
- Senior Jarvion Franklin with a career-long 72-yard touchdown.
- In the first quarter, Franklin has nine rushes for 147 yards and one touchdown.
- Franklin has went over 100 yards for the fifth consecutive game and 21st time in his career
- The 35 combined points is the most points scored between MAC schools this season in a quarter.
- End of first quarter: WMU 21, Kent State 14
Second Quarter:
- First career appearance for running back Matt Falcon
- Matt Falcon has a career-high 33 yard run midway through the second quarter
- Josh Grant connects on a 22-yard field goal to give WMU a 24-14 lead
- Darius Phillips with his fifth interception return for a touchdown, tying the FBS record.
- Phillips now has 12 career runbacks, an FBS record
- Broncos outscore Kent State, 10-0 in the second quarter and don’t allow Kent State to get a first down.
- At the half, WMU has 259 yards with 206 rushing
- Halftime: WMU 31, Kent State 14
Third Quarter:
- Reece Goddard completes a pass to Anton Curtis for 20 yards, the longest pass of his career
- Sophomore Drake Spears collects his first career fumble recovery with 3:30 left in the third quarter
- It’s the third straight game, Western Michigan has forced at least two turnovers.
- End of the third quarter: WMU 34, Kent State 14
Fourth Quarter:
- Freshman AJ Thomas with his first career fumble return for a touchdown
- It’s the second fumble return for a touchdown this season for the Broncos
- Freshman walk-on Ra’Sean Davie runs 46 yards for his first career touchdown.
- Davie moved to running back this week after playing wide receiver.
- Davie is the fifth running back to score for Western Michigan this season
- With 191 yards, Jarvion Franklin is now over 1,000 yards this season.
- WMU forced eight straight three and outs.
- Final: WMU 48, Kent State 20
Post-Game:
- WMU has defeated Kent State in 15 of their last 18 meetings
- The Broncos became bowl eligible for a program record fourth straight season
- Goddard became the first freshman quarterback to win a game since Zach Terrell defeated UMass, 31-30 on Oct. 26, 2013.
- WMU has four of its last five mid-week MAC games.
- Western Michigan hits the road for its final two road games against Northern Illinois on Nov.15 and Toledo on Nov.24
