It was a historic night on the ground for the Broncos, registering a program-record seven rushing touchdowns with . . .
Senior LeVante Bellamy led the offensive charge with 15 carries for 192 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Bellamy averaged 12.8 yards per carry and broke off a career-high 73-yard run for a score early in the second quarter. Bellamy become the first Bronco with three or more rushing touchdowns since Jamauri Bogan had four against Bowling Green in 2018.
For the first time in his career, freshman Sean Tyler went over the 100-yard mark with 138 yards on six carries with two touchdowns. Tyler became the first Bronco rookie with two touchdowns in a game since Bogan recorded four against MTSU in the 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
The 450 rushing yards by the Brown & Gold is the most under head coach Tim Lester. It's also the fifth time under Lester that WMU had two rushers go over 100 yards and fourth time the Broncos have went over the 50-point plateau under the third year head coach.
Through the air, senior Jon Wassink was 15-of-20 for 246 yards and one touchdown. The senior quarterback also had four carries for 33 yards and one rushing touchdown. Wassink now has 37 career passing touchdowns, moving him into sole possession of seventh on the all-time WMU career chart.
Defensively junior Treshaun Hayward had a solid performance in his first start of the season with a career-high 15 tackles (6 solo), along with 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
The Bronco defense forced three Georgia State turnovers with one fumble and two interceptions. Senior Justin Tranquill earned his second career interception and first of the season late in the second quarter while sophomore Harrison Taylor earned his second career interception and first of the season as well midway through the fourth.
Overall the Bronco offense totaled 694 yards to Georgia State's, 336 and held the Panthers scoreless after the first quarter. Western Michigan improves its overall record to 2-1 and hits the road next weekend for its final non-conference match-up, against Syracuse on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 12:00 p.m. on the ACC Network.
It was a fast and furious first quarter for both teams as WMU and Georgia State combined for 494 yards and 34 points as the Broncos held a 24-10 lead after the first 15 minutes of play. All four of WMU's scoring drives were under three minutes in the first quarter highlighted by touchdown runs of 60, 36 and 61 from Bellamy and Tyler.
The Broncos exploded out of the gate in the second quarter thanks to Bellamy breaking away for a 73-yard touchdown run just three minutes into the quarter to extend WMU's lead to 30-10. WMU added two more rushing touchdowns in the quarter to take a 43-10 lead into halftime.
At halftime, WMU had 490 total yards with 319 of it coming on the ground with six touchdowns. Of the six rushing touchdowns, Bellamy was responsible for three in the first half.
After a Georgia State punt on the opening drive of the third quarter, WMU marched down the field on its next possession. The Broncos embarked on an 11-play 96-yard drive lasting 5:04 resulting in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Wassink to redshirt freshman DaShon Bussell. It was the first career touchdown reception for Bussell.
WMU's final touchdown came with three minutes left in the fourth as senior Davon Tucker ran it in from 19 yards out for his eighth career rushing touchdown. In the second half, the Bronco defense held Georgia State to just 38 yards of total offense en route to the 57-10 victory.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)