Saturday afternoon proved to be the culmination of a season of growth for the Western Michigan Broncos (9-4, 8-1 MAC), who picked up their ninth win in their last 10 games over the Miami RedHawks (7-6,
6-3 MAC) to secure the MAC Championship in Detroit, Michigan.
The road for Western to even be in contention for such an opportunity looked daunting after a dubious 0-3 start to the season, but a stunning comeback win over the Toledo Rockets to open the league put WMU on the radar, and WMU fell only once over their remaining games to secure their ticket to the Motor City.
Broncos head coach Lance Taylor summed the team’s season succinctly in a post-game interview: “It’s never been pretty, but it was sure as hell gritty.”
The game itself, which was expected to be a grind-em-out defensive bout on paper, had a madcaps opening act.
Western scored just three plays into the game, as Jalen Buckley took his first touch on third-and-two all the way to the house for a 67-yard touchdown to give the Brown and Gold an early 7-0 lead.
The RedHawks came out blazing in their replying drive, as Thomas Gotkowski stood tall in the pocket and took two huge hits to secure connections of 21 yards and 26 yards to Kam Perry on back-to-back plays to get into the WMU redzone. Three plays later, Jordan Brunson would cross the goal line for a one-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 7-6.
Unfortunately for Miami, the holder bobbled the ensuing snap on the extra point operation, causing placekicker Dom Dzioban to kick the ball directly into the line of scrimmage, keeping the score at 7-6 in favor of Western.
The Broncos marched forward looking to add to their lead, getting all the way to the Miami two-yard line. Looking at second-and-goal, Broc Lowry was plastered by Eli Blankey on a defensive back blitz and dropped the ball, allowing Miami EDGE rusher Adam Trick to scoop the ball and return it 78 yards the other way. Fortune once again did not shine for Miami, as a replay review determined Lowry’s knee was down before the ball was dislodged.
WMU would convert the drive into a 27-yard field goal from Palmer Domschke, extending their lead to 10-6.
The Bronco defense bowed up to preserve the lead on the ensuing Miami possession, forcing a three-and-out to get the ball back. Sensing a potential to extend the lead to two scores, WMU pounced, managing to pick up two first downs thanks to two 12-yard runs and draw two defensive pass interference calls to set up shop inside the Miami 22-yard line.
The RedHawks defense managed to stop the bleeding after the start of the second quarter, limiting WMU to a 31-yard field goal to put the margin at 13-6.
Both teams exchanged punts— though WMU’s Nadame Hunter did have a fumble recovery touchdown called back on review— until the final minutes of the first half, when Brock Uilein and Bai Jobe knocked Broc Lowry backwards for an eight-yard sack and forced WMU into settling for a 50-yard field goal. Domschke converted, and the Broncos once again added to their lead, 16-3, with 50 seconds remaining.
Miami tried to get points on the last possession of the first half, knowing they would get the ball back to start the third quarter, but the offense started and stuttered en route to setting up a 58-yard field goal attempt by Dom Dzioban.
Dzioban, a 90 percent field goal kicker ahead of Saturday’s contest, hooked the attempt wide left, keeping the margin at 16-6 in favor of Western at the halftime break.
The game would start to slip away from Miami in the third quarter, as the offense went three-and-out to start the third quarer and Western responded with Buckley’s second rushing touchdown of the day— this time from 64 yards out— to extend the Bronco lead to 23-6.
Redshirt senior Henry Hesson would replace Thomas Gotkowski at quarterback on the following drive, but fared no better than his younger teammate, turning the ball over on his first possession, then dropping the snap and getting sacked for a 12-yard loss on fourth down inside WMU territory on the next series.
Western would salt the game away by keeping the ball on the ground through the rest of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter before Henry Hesson’s six-yard scoring connection with Cole Weaver presented an opportunity to change the game.
Now down 23-13, Miami’s defense forced a four-and-out on WMU’s next possession to give Miami the ball back with 6:21 remaining. Hesson would go on to toss three-straight incompletions before getting sacked by Nadame Tucker to effectively end any serious chance of a comeback.
WMU opted for a fake field goal run by punter Ryan Millmore to force Miami into unfavorable field position on their final offensive play, then kneeled in victory formation to end the game in the final minute after yet another fourth-down stop on defense to claim their prize.
Western Michigan running back Jalen Buckley was named the Offensive Player of the Game for his performance, carrying the ball 19 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns to lead all rushers. Quarterback Broc Lowry was second on the rushing table for WMU, with 23 carries for 65 yards to go along with 8-of-13 passes for 111 yards.
Michael Brescia (47 yards), Baylin Brooks (32 yards) and Aveion Shenault (20 yards) each had two receptions for the Broncos.
Western Michigan EDGE rusher Nadame Tucker continued making his case to pro scouts, earning Defensive Player of the Game honors after collecting six tackles, two tackles-for-loss and two sacks to help cement the victory.
Cornerback Joshua Franklin led the team with nine tackles, two pass break-ups and two assists on TFLs. Defensive back Jarvarius Sims led the team in solo tackles (four) to cap off a six-stop performance.
Palmer Domschke was 3-of-3 on field goals, including a long kick of 50 yards, and perfect on extra points to earn Special Teams Player of the Game honors. Ryan Millmore averaged 44.5 yards per punt, including a long boot of 54 yards, and managed four rushing yards on his fake field goal run.
Miami struggled immensely on offense, losing the time-of-possession battle (35:17 for WMU, 24:43 for Miami), converting on only 6-of-15 third-down attempts and going 0-of-3 on fourth-down attempts. The first quarter was particularly brutal; Miami held the ball for 2:59 on eight offensive plays, compared to WMU’s 12:01 of possession on 21 plays.
Thomas Gotkowski started the game at quarterback before being pulled in the third quarter, finishing 7-of-17 for 92 yards through the air. Henry Hesson managed to complete 7-of-20 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown— but also had a lost fumble and was sacked twice on fourth down.
Kam Perry had seven catches for 101 yards in a losing effort, while Cole Weaver had the team’s lone receiving score to put a bow on a three-catch, 65-yard afternoon. Jordan Brunson led the rushers with 14 carries for 60 yards.
Miami’s defense held on as much as they could, with three players hitting the double-digits in total tackles. Defensive back Eli Blankey was the catalyst, with 15 stops (leading all defenders), a TFL and a sack to help the effort. Linebackers Jackson Kuwatch (14 tackles) and Brock Uihlein (11 tackles, three TFLs) also highlighted. Kaleb Martin led all defenders with two pass break-ups.
Dom Dzioban had an uncharacteristic day, missing his only field goal attempt and going 1-of-2 on extra points. Pierse Stainton averaged 46.3 yards per punt, with a long kick of 58 yards.
Western Michigan, who has been a member of the MAC since 1947, claims the program’s fourth-ever conference title— and their first since the legendary 2016 Cotton Bowl run under PJ Fleck.
Miami, who featured in Detroit for the third-straight time on Saturday, now falls to 2-2 in MAC title game appearances under Chuck Martin’s tenure, losing for the second year in a row.
Both teams now await their bowl assignments, which should be finalized on Sunday afternoon.
