Carrington Thompson collected five receptions for 80 yards. (SFW/BMP) By EVAN MEYER
AKRON, OHIO – The Western Michigan Broncos sent an emphatic message to the rest of the teams in the Mid-American Conference and -- and college football -- Saturday: The Broncos' undefeated record and national ranking in both polls are no fluke.
That message came in the form of a 41-0 demolition of the Akron Zips as WMU improved to 7-0 (3-0 MAC) on the season. The Broncos' victory was their ninth straight dating back to last season. It gives WMU its best start to a season since 1941 and was Western's first shutout since 2000 -- also against UA.
"This game is . . .
AKRON, OHIO – The Western Michigan Broncos sent an emphatic message to the rest of the teams in the Mid-American Conference and -- and college football -- Saturday: The Broncos' undefeated record and national ranking in both polls are no fluke.
That message came in the form of a 41-0 demolition of the Akron Zips as WMU improved to 7-0 (3-0 MAC) on the season. The Broncos' victory was their ninth straight dating back to last season. It gives WMU its best start to a season since 1941 and was Western's first shutout since 2000 -- also against UA.
"This game is . . .
Akron QB Tra'Von Chapman ran eight times for 53 yards. He completed 13 of 31 passing attempts for 153 yards with two interceptions. (SGW/BMP) . . . an incredible credit to our coaching staff and to our players. Broncos head coach P.J. Fleck said. “They played possessed and executed the game plan perfectly. We knew we had to play a certain style to keep them in front of us and I thought we executed that to perfection. “
Akron's 41-point margin of defeat was the worst since Terry Bowden became head coach and was the first home shutout in the eight-year history of UA's on-campus home. The loss also ended a six-game MAC winning streak dating back to 2015.
"Every now and then, you just get beat. Tonight, we just got beat on offense and on defense. Western Michigan just took it to us, and we didn’t have any answers,“ Bowden said.
“We couldn’t make any plays on offense, (and) we missed some opportunities early to match people. Some of the games we had earlier in the season, they would score, then we would score, they would score and then we would score. I mean … we had two three-and-outs and we were down 21-0 and just never could get back at them. The credit goes to them, even with a couple of turnovers, they’re still a very good team and they were just too much for us.”
Akron's 41-point margin of defeat was the worst since Terry Bowden became head coach and was the first home shutout in the eight-year history of UA's on-campus home. The loss also ended a six-game MAC winning streak dating back to 2015.
"Every now and then, you just get beat. Tonight, we just got beat on offense and on defense. Western Michigan just took it to us, and we didn’t have any answers,“ Bowden said.
“We couldn’t make any plays on offense, (and) we missed some opportunities early to match people. Some of the games we had earlier in the season, they would score, then we would score, they would score and then we would score. I mean … we had two three-and-outs and we were down 21-0 and just never could get back at them. The credit goes to them, even with a couple of turnovers, they’re still a very good team and they were just too much for us.”
Akron linebacker John Lako gets a piece of Jarvion Franklin's jersey. Franklin had a huge day with 33 carries for 281 yards and a TD. (SGW/BMP) The game was decided in the first 17 minutes of action as the Broncos scored touchdowns on their first four possessions.
The first was on the opening kickoff as WMU marched 75 yards in 10 plays. Senior QB Zach Terrell applied the finish, using the quarterback sneak from one yard out for the score.
From the first drive, the visitors from Kalamazoo would run and pass almost at will on the Zips defense.
The second touchdown was a seven-play 64-yard march as Jarvion Franklin went up the middle from three yards out for a 14-0 lead. It would be a monster running day for the senior as he gained a career high 281 yards on a sunny afternoon.
WMU’s third touchdown came at the start of the second quarter after another three and out by their defense. Terrell and the offensive 11 put together a 75 yard, 16-play march as he found senior WR Corey Davis on a fade patern in the left side of the end zone to make the score 21-0.
The first was on the opening kickoff as WMU marched 75 yards in 10 plays. Senior QB Zach Terrell applied the finish, using the quarterback sneak from one yard out for the score.
From the first drive, the visitors from Kalamazoo would run and pass almost at will on the Zips defense.
The second touchdown was a seven-play 64-yard march as Jarvion Franklin went up the middle from three yards out for a 14-0 lead. It would be a monster running day for the senior as he gained a career high 281 yards on a sunny afternoon.
WMU’s third touchdown came at the start of the second quarter after another three and out by their defense. Terrell and the offensive 11 put together a 75 yard, 16-play march as he found senior WR Corey Davis on a fade patern in the left side of the end zone to make the score 21-0.
Akron's Kevin Gladney battles safety Justin Ferguson for a pass. (SGW/BMP) Just into the second period, not only did the Broncos have 21 points, they owned 204 yards of total offense to just 14 for the Zips.
The Broncos defense then stuffed the Zips on a fourth down at their own 44. The offense then capitalized with a six-play drive capped by freshman RB Davoin Tucker blasting up the middle from 13 yards away to make the score 27-0.
There were only two blemishes on the Broncos almost perfect afternoon. The first came in the kicking game as freshman PK Butch Hampton missed the conversion after the fourth score, then was woefully short on a 52-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first half.
The second came as they turned the ball over for the first time this season when Tucker fumbled midway through the middle stanza.
WMU eventually padded its lead by adding a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to cap a pair of 90-plus yard drives.
The first was a 95-yard drive as Terrell and Davis hooked up for the second time in the game, this one over the middle from 17-yards out. Davis finished the day with eight receptions for 63 yards and the two scores.
The second was on the Broncos final offensive possession of the afternoon. With the first team still in the game, they marched 92 yards. Franklin finished, easily getting into the end zone for his second touchdown from a yard out.
The Broncos defense then stuffed the Zips on a fourth down at their own 44. The offense then capitalized with a six-play drive capped by freshman RB Davoin Tucker blasting up the middle from 13 yards away to make the score 27-0.
There were only two blemishes on the Broncos almost perfect afternoon. The first came in the kicking game as freshman PK Butch Hampton missed the conversion after the fourth score, then was woefully short on a 52-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first half.
The second came as they turned the ball over for the first time this season when Tucker fumbled midway through the middle stanza.
WMU eventually padded its lead by adding a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to cap a pair of 90-plus yard drives.
The first was a 95-yard drive as Terrell and Davis hooked up for the second time in the game, this one over the middle from 17-yards out. Davis finished the day with eight receptions for 63 yards and the two scores.
The second was on the Broncos final offensive possession of the afternoon. With the first team still in the game, they marched 92 yards. Franklin finished, easily getting into the end zone for his second touchdown from a yard out.
Broncos quarterback Zach Terrell passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more. (SGW/BMP) For the day, WMU amassed 585 yards of total offense, their second largest of the season, while scoring over 40 points for the fourth consecutive game.
For the Zips, they gained only 268 yards of offense, their lowest output of the season as they could not get anything moving offensively. Their longest drive of the game was a 65-yard nine play trip midway through the second quarter. That drive ended with Chapman throwing an interception.
On the day, Chapman completed 13-of-31 passes for only 153 yards and the two interceptions. He also rushed for 49 yards.The defense was again led by LB Ulysses Gilbert,along with LB John Lako. Both registered 13 total tackles.
If there was one silver lining for UA, was that they are still tied for first place in the Eastern Division with Ohio after the Bobcats home loss to Eastern Michigan
Next week, WMU heads home to face the surprising Eagles, while the Zips begin a two-game road swing at Ball State.
For the Zips, they gained only 268 yards of offense, their lowest output of the season as they could not get anything moving offensively. Their longest drive of the game was a 65-yard nine play trip midway through the second quarter. That drive ended with Chapman throwing an interception.
On the day, Chapman completed 13-of-31 passes for only 153 yards and the two interceptions. He also rushed for 49 yards.The defense was again led by LB Ulysses Gilbert,along with LB John Lako. Both registered 13 total tackles.
If there was one silver lining for UA, was that they are still tied for first place in the Eastern Division with Ohio after the Bobcats home loss to Eastern Michigan
Next week, WMU heads home to face the surprising Eagles, while the Zips begin a two-game road swing at Ball State.
Michael Henry (83) puts a move on Akron safety Zach Guiser. Henry had six receptions for 43 yards as the Broncos remained undefeated with a lopsided 41-0 win at Akron. (SGW/BMP)
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