Thursday, Aug. 31 - 7 p.m. ET
Waldo Stadium - Kalamazoom MI
ESPN+
Western Michigan opens its 2023 campaign Friday when the Broncos host St. Francis (PA).
The FCS-member Red Flash went 9-3 in 2022, winning eight straight games before falling to Delaware (56-17) in the season finale. They were 7-0 in Northeast Conference play. Last season Saint Francis finished the 2022 season receiving votes for five straight weeks in the FCS national polls and reached as high at 27th.
Saint Francis won its second NEC title in program history with a 52-23 victory over Merrimack last season. Saint Francis completed the ninth undefeated conference season in NEC history with a 7-0 record. During conference play, Saint Francis won all seven games by an average margin of victory of 34.6 points per game.
>> NEC Offensive Player of the Year Cole Davis returns at quarterback. He ranked fifth in the FCS last year with a pass efficiency rating of 169.6. Davis threw for 1,931 yards and 21 TDs.
>> Four of the team's fop five runners are back, led by QuaSean Holmes (479 yards, 5 TDs)
>> Dawson Snyder is back at WR after registering 38 catches for 758 yards and four scores in 2022. His 19.95 yards per reception was 10th among FCS receivers.
>> The offensive line ranked 11th in FCS with 1.08 sacks per game. Four of five starters are back.
>> The Red Flash offense set team records in total touchdowns (54), passing TDs (30) and total points.
>> Redshirt senior DB Kerry Galloway (5-7, 150) has started every game over the last three seasons and consistently covers oppposing team's top receivers.
>> Junior LB William Middleton (5-11, 205) is the top returning tackler (37 hits, 22 solo). Eddie Bireals (6-2, 270, JR) recorded 7.5 TFL last year.
>> The Red Flash are replacing both the starting kicker and punter.
WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS
>> Complete season preview HERE