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Fourth quarter FG lifts Illini past Broncos |
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 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A comeback on Western Michigan's final drive was not to be as the Broncos fell to No. 24 Illinois, 23-20 Saturday at Memorial Stadium. A crowd of 43,684 held its collective breath throughout the second half as the game went back-and-forth until the final play.
Down by three points with 1:05 remaining, Western Michigan began a desperate drive to either tie the game or win it. But after Alex Carder found Robert Arnheim for 14 yards to the Broncos' 46-yard line, the Illini came up with only their second sack of the game, forcing WMU to scramble on the next two plays.
Carder found Jordan White twice more for 20 total yards but the clock hit triple zero as White was tackled in bounds at Illinois' 41-yard line, ending the game. It was the second time in 21 games against ranked teams that Western Michigan fell by just three points.
White finished with a career-matching 14 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. Carder registered his sixth career 300-yard passing game with 308 yards and two TDs.
Prior to the Broncos final drive, WMU's defense stopped Illinois on fourth-and-4 to get the ball back. Howver, WMU had no time outs remaining.
The Broncos took a 13-10 lead into halftime but fell behind, 20-13 with 1:37 remaining in the third quarter.
The Western Michigan defense held its own and more during the opening 30 minutes against the Illini. The Broncos held the opponent to just 10 points, while sacking Nathan Scheelhaase three times. Drew Nowak came up with a fumble recovery late in the second quarter on a strip by Doug Wiggins.
The Broncos first scoring drive was 18 plays, covering 59 yards and resulting in a John Potter 26-yard field goal. Potter missed on attempts from 44 and 49 yards during the first half but made good on the 26-yard attempt and a 24-yard attempt at the 3:26 mark of the second quarter.
That score put WMU within four points, but the defense came up big on the ensuing Illinois drive. The Broncos went to work on offense at Illinois' 39-yard after a 21-yard punt. Alex Carder then found Jordan White for four yards and, after an incomplete pass to Robert Arnheim, hit Chleb Ravenell with a 35-yard TD strike to give WMU the lead with 1:42 left before the break.
White had 10 catches for 89 yards in the first half, giving him 10 or more catches in three of the first four games of the year. He became the fourth Bronco receiver to go over 200 receptions in a career. Carder was 22-for-34 in the first half for 206 yards.
Illinois, which was stopped in the red zone for the first time this season in the first half, put together a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive to take the lead back, 17-13. The drive was aided by an off-sides call on WMU on third down. The Illini's next drive, which resulted in a field goal, also was kept alive by a defensive penalty on the Broncos.
Western Michigan then regrouped, answering on its final drive of the third quarter.Tevin Drake opened the drive up with an eight-yard run. After a short completion to White for a first down, Carder again connected with White for a first down, this time for 16 yards. Three plays later, Carder found Robert Arnheim for 34 yards inside Illinois' five-yard line. The Broncos scored two plays later on a Carder-to-White hook up from seven yards out. It was Carder's 37th career TD pass and White's 18th career TD reception.
Illinois back in front, 23-20, with 8:14 remaining following an 11-play, 77-yard drive that culminated with Derek Dimke's 21-yard field goal.
Western Michigan hits the road again this week, traveling to Connecticut . The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m.
Courtesy of Western Michigan Atheletics
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