 WESTERN MICHIGAN 38, KENT STATE 3 Freshmen running backs Brian Fields and Tevin Drake each totaled over 100 yards on the ground and rushed for two touchdowns apiece. Each had a run of 70 or more yards after the Broncos had not had a run longer than 57 yards this season heading into the game.
On the third play of the game, Mario Armstrong picked off Kent State's Spencer Keith at the 28-yard line. Fields scored four plays later on a two-yard run and John Potter converted the PAT for a 7-0 lead. WMU has registered at least one take away in each of the last 13 games.
Fields broke through a hole in the second quarter, rambling 74 yards before he was drug down at the KSU six. It was the longest rush from scrimmage for WMU this year, as well as a career long for Fields. Carder found Jordan White in the corner for a five-yard touchdown reception. Just before the half, Potter blasted a season-long 42-yard field goal to give WMU a 17-3 halftime lead.
Kent State had three first-and-goal opportunities in the first half, but Western Michigan's defense denied the Golden Flashes the end zone on all three. KSU settled for a field goal on its first trip and tried a fake field goal on its second, but the Broncos didn't bite. Lewis Toler picked off a Kent State pass in the end zone late in the second quarter. WMU came up with a fourth goal-line stop in the third quarter.
Drake rushed for two second-half touchdowns and Dareyon Chance added a third to put the game out of reach. Drake broke off a career-long run of 70 yards on the Broncos' first drive of the half.
Western Michigan totaled 259 total yards on the ground, led by Fields' 132 yards on 13 carries and Drake's 102 yards on eight carries. Kent State had not allowed a 100-yard rusher the entire season. It is the first time WMU has had a pair of 100-yard backs since Sept. 29, 2007 against Toledo.
In the air, Alex Carder became the third Bronco quarterback to throw for 3,000-plus yards in a season, completing 21 of 32 attempts for 163 yards and one touchdown. Senior wide out Jordan White caught eight balls for 77 yards and one touchdown. He passed Greg Jennings and moved into second on WMU's single-season yardage list, needing just nine yards break Jarmarko Simmons' record of 1,276. Senior Juan Nunez hauled in nine passes for 59 yards.
Defensively, the Broncos had three defenders finish the game with double digit tackle performances, led by Jamail Berry with a career high 17 stops, the most since Austin Pritchard's 17 at CMU in 2008. Mitch Zajac continued to play well, finishing with a career high 15 stops. Keith Dixson, who made his first start of the year at Rover, tallied 10 tackles. Western Michigan did not allow a touchdown defensively for the first time since Sept. 27, 2008 at Temple, a 7-3 win.
Western Michigan heads to Bowling Green (2-9) in the final game of the regular season, Friday, Nov. 26. A win against the Falcons would make WMU bowl eligible for the third time in the last five seasons. Kickoff is at 2 p.m and the game will be aired on BCSN (Buckeye Cable Sports Network).
Courtesy of Western Michigan Athletics
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