Western Michigan University’s Dareyon Chance (22) shoots the gap while five NIU defenders close in. Katrina Reed/Western Herald
Chris Willis
Sports Reporter
It’s a different season with the same result.
The Western Michigan University football team dropped an essential Mid-American Conference
West Division game today at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo. The Broncos (3-6, 1-4
MAC) fell, 48-34, to a nemesis that’s had its number for nearly half of a
decade.
WMU was stunned again by the Huskies of Northern Illinois University after taking a
21-17 lead into the half. The Brown and Gold gave up 31 unanswered points and
were down 45-14 before scoring again.
The game was eerily reminiscent of WMU’s second-half blowout loss last year in DeKalb.
The Huskies (8-1, 5-0 MAC) took a 7-0 lead on the opening drive of the game with a 31-yard touchdown pass from NIU
quarterback Jordan Lynch. NIU receiver Tommy Lee Lewis snagged the touchdown as
he leapt into the endzone with WMU junior cornerback Lewis Toler tight on the
coverage.
But both teams opened the game with well executed touchdown drives.
WMU quarter back Tyler VanTubbergen was nearly perfect in the first quarter going 11-for-12
with 120 yards and two touchdowns, but the offense sputtered from then on.
“We had them off balance in the first half,” said WMU head coach Bill Cubit. “They went in
and made adjustments and we knew they would. We just came out and didn’t make
any plays in the second half.”
NIU started three different drives inside the WMU 30-yard line due to horrible special teams play
and it eventually wore down the WMU defense.
“It seems to be the story of the season,” Cubit said. “The kicking game was the worst it’s
been all season. We have a tough time of getting all three facets to play
together.”
NIU has won seven straight games since losing its season opener against the University of
Iowa Hawkeyes, and with today’s win against the Broncos, they’ve reeled off 13
consecutive MAC victories.
NIU QB’s always seem to eclipse 100 yards on the ground and this game was no different. Huskies
QB Jordan Lynch ran for over 130 yards and most of them came in the deciding
second half.
Next week WMU travels to Mt. Pleasant to face its hated foe, the Central Michigan
University Chippewas.
If WMU loses, they’re eliminated from bowl game selection contention.
“We don’t have a great history up there,” Cubit said. “We gotta win the next three to be
eligible and we’re looking forward to the challenge we face.”
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