For the Miami RedHawks, it was a game of critical mistakes and missed opportunities. For Western Michigan, it was avoiding errors and taking advantages of opportunities.
The result was a 38-16 Bronco victory that -- together with a Toledo loss at Bowling Green -- moved Western Michigan a big step closer to the MAC West's top rung.
LeVante Bellamy, the MAC's second-leading rusher, was . . .
Senior quarterback Jon Wassink, meanwhile, completed 15 of 25 passes, with two big TD tosses. Both went to Keith Mixon Jr -- one for 46 yards and another covering 37 yards.
Miami, coming off a bye week, had a strong defensive effort early and immediately went to the air with its offense. True freshman QB Brett Gabbert completed three of four passes on the RedHawks opening drive, but the Broncos forcd Miami to settle for a 51-yard Sam Sloman field goal.
It was a sign of things to come as MU scored just one touchdown on the day - a fourth quarter run by Jaylen Bester. Sloman was busy, though, and made three of four attempts against Western. His second effort - a 49-yarder at 7:48 of the first period put the visiting RedHawks up 6-0.
The RedHawks were driving in the second quarter when Drake Spears dropped into coverage and picked off a Gabbert pass to the left flat. Seventy-four yards and a PAT later, Western Michigan owned a 7-6 lead.
The Broncos would later pick off two more RedHawk passes, but it was Spear’s second quarter interception that turned momentum. Wassink’s two touchdown passes to Mixon put the Broncos in charge 21-6 at the break.
After trading punts to open the third quarter, Miami put together another seven-play drive that ended in a field goal (37 yards). Opportunity for more came two Bronco possessions later when Emmanuel Rugamba intercepted a Wassink pass. The Broncos’ defense, however, kept MU from registering even one first down.
A roughing the passer penalty by WMU on the first play of the fourth quarter kept alive a Miami drive, and two plays later Gabbert hit Dominique Robinson on the left side. The junior then slipped away for a 46-yard gain. Jaylen Bester covered the final three yards by going around the right side.
That closed the gap to 21-16 with plenty of time left, but Western Michigan did the only scoring as Bellamy got untracked and Thiago Kapps chipped in a 24-yard field goal.
NOTES:
-- As inter-divisional foes, Miami and Western Michigan do not meet every year, but the Broncos have emerged victorious in every meeting since 2006.
-- Bowling Green’s victory over Toledo will help WMU’s situation, but the Rockets still hold a head-to-head edge in the MAC West race thanks to their win over Western last week.
-- Bellamy’s most impressive run of the game was his 47-yard burst. Starting up the middle, it appeared he would be stopped at or behind the line. His start-and-stop move, however, allowed him to slip through, and he used his speed to evade defenders on the way to paydirt.
-- Gabbert’s 45 pass attempts was more than twice the number attempts he has made in any previous game this year. He completed 26 for 260 yards, but also tossed three interceptions.
-- Miami owned a 365-310 advantage in total yards and registered two more first downs (19-17).
-- The RedHawks were outgained by Buffalo in their last outing but prevailed with the help of turnovers. This time around, it was the RedHawks opponent who benefited from turnovers.