Chris Willis
Sports Reporter
On consecutive Saturdays, the Western Michigan University
football team has suffered Mid-American Conference road losses.
Each game presented numerous opportunities for a Brown and
Gold victory, but turnovers and untimely penalties ultimately sealed the
Broncos fate.
In both games this was the case.
WMU gave up a touchdown on the opening drive of the game to
the slashing Golden Flash, Dri Archer, who scored on a 22-yard statue of
liberty play.
On the other side of the ball, dropped passes by the Broncos
wideouts ended multiple WMU drives.
“We had back-to-back drops in the endzone,” WMU head coach
Bill cubit told reporters. “Then we lost Jaime Wilson and some other guys had
to step up and we just don’t have anybody.”
WMU’s biggest play came on an early 81-yard touchdown bomb
from Tyler VanTubbergen to Josh Schaffer to tie the game, 7-7.
WMU turned the ball over six times today against KSU. The Bronco backfield matched VanTubbergen’s
three interceptions with three lost fumbles.
The Broncos (3-5, 1-3 MAC) fell, 41-24, at the hosting Kent
State University Golden Flashes (6-1, 3-0 MAC) today at Dix Stadium in front of
a homecoming crowd.
WMU has basically eliminated itself from MAC Championship
game contention with its third conference loss.
“To have that many turnovers after the emphasis on it this
week is just surprising,” Cubit told reporters. “It’s just inexcusable.”
The Brown and Gold did possess a 24-17 third quarter lead
and the game was tied 24-24 entering the final quarter.
After WMU took the lead the defense thought they’d forced
KSU to a punt on the ensuing possession, but instead, there was a late personal
foul penalty called on WMU that gave the Golden Flashes another first down
instead of the Broncos a chance at a punt return.
WMU never recovered.
The biggest play of the game came on a swing play as WMU
trailed 34-24. The Brown and Gold were driving and had the ball on the KSU 15
yardline with a chance to cut the lead to three.
WMU fumbled, and the Golden Flashes carried the ball 85
yards for the nail in the coffin score, giving KSU an insurmountable 41-24 lead.
“We jumped ahead and we were moving the ball at will,” Cubit
told reporters. “Then we threw a pick or fumbled the ball. It’s just
inexcusable.”
The only WMU takeaway come on a Dez Bozeman interception,
but the Broncos went for a quick strike touchdown on the first play, and the
Golden Flashes intercepted the VanTubbergen pass in the endzone.
Both of the consecutive Bronco losses have come during its
opponent’s homecoming festivities.
Next week the Broncos return home to Waldo Stadium for the
first time in three weeks to face another tough task in the MAC West rival
University of Northern Illinois Huskies, who are bringing a 30-plus conference
game winning streak into Kalamazoo.
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