MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Western Michigan won the Michigan MAC Trophy and the Battle for the Cannon after rallying from a 14-0 deficit to defeat Central Michigan 32-20 in front of 17,652 Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas (7-5, 5-3 MAC) scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, but from then on the Western Michigan (8-3, 6-1 MAC) defense held CMU out of the end zone for the rest of the game. Overall, the Bronco defense forced two interceptions and held CMU's rushing attack to just 70 yards on the day, including zero yards in the second half. Donald Celiscar had four pass break ups and an interception to lead the team.
“After we got behind early, we just kept rowing,” WMU head coach P.J. Fleck said.
The Chippewas (7-5, 5-3 MAC) scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, but from then on the Western Michigan (8-3, 6-1 MAC) defense held CMU out of the end zone for the rest of the game. Overall, the Bronco defense forced two interceptions and held CMU's rushing attack to just 70 yards on the day, including zero yards in the second half. Donald Celiscar had four pass break ups and an interception to lead the team.
“After we got behind early, we just kept rowing,” WMU head coach P.J. Fleck said.
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Zach Terrell finished 15-for-20 for 222 yards and three touchdown passes. Corey Davis had a game-high nine receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns, while Daniel Braverman caught five balls for a game-high 117 yards. Freshman running back Jarvion Franklin ran for 77 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, breaking the MAC freshman rushing record in the process.
After Cooper Rush found Ben McCord open in the end zone for his second touchdown of the game, the Broncos responded by scoring 22 points in the second quarter. WMU embarked on an 11-play 72-yard drive to cut the lead to 14-8. Franklin, Dareyon Chance and Terrell combined to run for 58 yards on the drive before Franklin punched it in from two-yards out for his 23rd rushing touchdown of the season. Western Michigan reached into its bag of tricks and sophomore wide receiver lined up as the holder on the extra point and ran it in from the three to earn the two points.
WMU forced a three-and-out by the Chippewas and the Broncos drove down the field to take the lead 15-14. This time it was Terrell doing the work through the air, going 3-for-3 on the drive for 60 yards and a nine-yard touchdown pass to Eric Boyden with 7:11 left in the second quarter.
Central Michigan responded with a 6-play 27-yard drive that ended with a 43-yard field goal by Brian Eavey.
After a few back-and-forth possessions the Broncos found themselves with the ball at their own 2-yard line with 1:39 left in the half. After a short rush by Chance, Terrell found Braverman over the middle for 63 yards to the CMU 33. After calling a timeout, Terrell found Davis over the middle and the sophomore receiver did the rest, running into the end zone for his first touchdown of the game.
WMU and CMU traded possessions until Ronald Zamort intercepted a Rush pass that was batted by Jarrell McKinney at the CMU 45-yard line. From there the Broncos drove the ball down inside the 10 and Andrew Haldeman kicked a 19-yard field goal to push the lead to 25-17.
After Central Michigan intercepted a Terrell pass and drove 28 yards, it managed to score on a 37-yard field goal by Eavey to cut the lead to 25-20.
The Broncos iced the game after Amarai Coleman muffed a punt and Trevor Sweeney pounced on in it at the CMU three-yard line. A false start pushed the ball back to the seven, and Terrell found Davis in the corner of the end zone to push the lead to 32-20 after the extra point.
Western Michigan's final home game is on Friday at 11 a.m. against Northern Illinois. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics/MRO Edit)
After Cooper Rush found Ben McCord open in the end zone for his second touchdown of the game, the Broncos responded by scoring 22 points in the second quarter. WMU embarked on an 11-play 72-yard drive to cut the lead to 14-8. Franklin, Dareyon Chance and Terrell combined to run for 58 yards on the drive before Franklin punched it in from two-yards out for his 23rd rushing touchdown of the season. Western Michigan reached into its bag of tricks and sophomore wide receiver lined up as the holder on the extra point and ran it in from the three to earn the two points.
WMU forced a three-and-out by the Chippewas and the Broncos drove down the field to take the lead 15-14. This time it was Terrell doing the work through the air, going 3-for-3 on the drive for 60 yards and a nine-yard touchdown pass to Eric Boyden with 7:11 left in the second quarter.
Central Michigan responded with a 6-play 27-yard drive that ended with a 43-yard field goal by Brian Eavey.
After a few back-and-forth possessions the Broncos found themselves with the ball at their own 2-yard line with 1:39 left in the half. After a short rush by Chance, Terrell found Braverman over the middle for 63 yards to the CMU 33. After calling a timeout, Terrell found Davis over the middle and the sophomore receiver did the rest, running into the end zone for his first touchdown of the game.
WMU and CMU traded possessions until Ronald Zamort intercepted a Rush pass that was batted by Jarrell McKinney at the CMU 45-yard line. From there the Broncos drove the ball down inside the 10 and Andrew Haldeman kicked a 19-yard field goal to push the lead to 25-17.
After Central Michigan intercepted a Terrell pass and drove 28 yards, it managed to score on a 37-yard field goal by Eavey to cut the lead to 25-20.
The Broncos iced the game after Amarai Coleman muffed a punt and Trevor Sweeney pounced on in it at the CMU three-yard line. A false start pushed the ball back to the seven, and Terrell found Davis in the corner of the end zone to push the lead to 32-20 after the extra point.
Western Michigan's final home game is on Friday at 11 a.m. against Northern Illinois. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
(Courtesy of WMU Athletics/MRO Edit)
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