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Kickers critical late in WMU win over Eagles

10/21/2017

 
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YPSILANTI, Mich.- Western Michigan improved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference with a 20-17 overtime win on the road at Eastern Michigan Saturday.

After missing what would have been a game-winning 37-yard field goal at the end of regulation, freshman Josh Grant got a shot at redemption and nailed a 21-yarder through the goalposts in overtime.

Switching over . . . 

. . .  to defense up 20-17 in overtime the Broncos were called for a pair of penalties that helped Eastern Michigan (2-5, 0-3 MAC) reach the two. Caleb Bailey and Robert Spillane then stuffed EMU with back-to-back tackles. Eagles' kicker Paulie Fricano's field goal try just shaved the outside of the right goalpost, cementing Western Michigan's win.
Western Michigan senior running back Jarvion Franklin had his third straight 100-yard rushing game with 104 yards on 24 carries. He became Western Michigan's all-time career rusher with 4,281 yards, breaking Robert Sanford's previous record of 4,219.
 
Franklin had a 7-yard touchdown run that put WMU up 17-10 in the third quarter for his 52nd career TD. That touchdown followed an interception deep down the field by the Broncos' Sam Beal.

WMU took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 36-yard field goal by Grant and led 10-7 at halftime. Quarterback Jon Wassink found sophomore wide receiver Keishawn Watson for an 11-yard touchdown up the left sideline with 58 remaining before the half.

Eastern Michigan tied the score twice in the second half, pulling even at 10-10 in the third quarter and 17-17 in the fourth quarter.

Wassink took a hard hit in the fourth quarter and was forced to leave the game. Freshman quarterback Reece Goddard managed the remainder of the contest for the Broncos. Wassink was 16-for-24 passing for 190 yards and one touchdown before his exit.

Senior tight end Donnie Ernsberger picked up several key gains and third down conversions for Western Michigan. Ernsberger caught six passes for 91 yards, both career highs.

The Broncos had just 60 yards rushing at the half and finished with 220 in the game. WMU had 422 yards of total offense while Eastern Michigan totaled 459.

WMU's defense had an interception and two fumble recoveries for three takeaways. The Broncos registered nine tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries. Spillane led the team with 12 tackles. Stefan Claiborne and Malik Rucker each had 10 and Bailey recorded nine.
 
Eastern Michigan’s Brogan Roback completed 28 of 44 for 308 yards with one TD and one interception. Senior Antoine Porter topped EMU receivers with 10 catches for 93 yards.
The Eagles totaled 151 rushing yards, led by Ian Erickson’s 203rushes for 91.yards.

Western Michigan has a 10-day break before its next contest, hosting rival Central Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
Eastern Michigan tangles with northern Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 26. (7 p.m. ET).


(Courtesy of WMU Athletics)
 


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