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Alex Carder picks up a first down. Top left, Miami's Zac Dysert finds a target. Bottom left, Willie Culpepper looks for room. Middle right, Jordan White holds on to the ball as he struggles in for a touchdown. John Potter, bottom right, finishes a PAT. He also kicked a field goal that proved critical to the Broncos win. Photos by Mike Smith.

Not only was it a senior night loss for the Hawks, the setback finished off any remaining title hopes the defending MAC champions might have had.

Indeed, after making history in 2010 by becoming the first FBS team to go from double digit losses to double digit wins, MU is now guaranteed a losing season. The RedHawks are 4-7 overall (3-4 MAC) with one game at Ohio next week remaining on their schedule.

Western Michigan, on the other hand, raised its 2011 record to 6-4 overall (4-3 MAC). The Broncos, a prolific offensive team, finish the regular season next week at home against an Akron team that is 1-9 overall (0-6 MAC) and struggles to produce points.

Ironically, Miami’s loss to WMU was by the identical score of a defeat at Temple the previous week. In fact, the ending itself was remarkably similar.

Miami trailed the Bronocs 24-14 late in the fourth quarter. But as he did against Temple, MU quarterback Zac Dysert connected with Nick Harwell on a TD pass to pull the RedHawks within three.

There was 3:57 remaining after the final tally in MU v Temple and 3:00 left after Harwell scored against WMU. In both cases, Miami followed with a “pooch” kick that was recovered, and the opposing offense ran out the clock to preserve their win.

Neither Miami nor Western Michigan could come close to cracking 100 yards rushing. The RedHawks, missing Jason Semmes, picked up 53 net yards on the ground. Western Michigan netted 42.

But with two of the MAC’s best quarterbacks at the helm of offenses that live by the pass, running yards can be an ancillary stat.
Carder, the MAC’s No. 1-ranked quarterback, completed 36-of-57 for 429 yards and three TDs. He threw one interception and was sacked three times.

Dysert, meanwhile, completed 42-of-54 for 413 yards. Like Carder, he threw one interception – just a few plays after Carder’s INT, Unlike Carder, Dysert was sacked seven times. That was more than double a previous season high of three for the Broncos, who have struggled in recent weeks but turned up the “D” in the second half against the RedHawks.

“The offense has been putting up great numbers,” senior defensive tackle Drew Nowak said. “”It was a great feeling that we were able to help out (tonight).”

Head coach Bill Cubit explained that Miami’s Dysert was successfully releasing outside in the first half, but the Bronco’s improved their defensive lane integrity after intermission.

Not only did the Bronco’s register seven sacks, their intensity contributed to Miami’s six penalties for 55 yards. Some of those flags set up long down-and-distance situations that MU was unable to convert at times when they needed to keep drives alive in the second half.

“The first thing I said (when I got to the locker room) was, ‘How about that defense?” Cubit said.

“We decided, ‘You know what. We’re going to put our feet in the ground,” Nowak said, explaining that the defense felt like it had given up too many plays in recent weeks.

Although there were just five yards difference in total offense (WMU 471-MU 466) and many other stats reflected a close game, the Broncos defense provided enough key plays and stops to make a difference.

One of those stops came on the first drive of the game. Miami drove deep into WMU territory and picked up a first down at the Broncos 9-yard line. After a short rush and seven yard pass to Andy Cruse moved the ball to the one, Western dropped running back Tyrone Jones for a 3-yard loss on third down. Mason Krysinski came on for a field goal attempt but missed, wide right, on the try.

“When you’ve got a chance to put some points on the board in the red zone, you’ve got to do that,” Miami head coach Don Treadwell said.

Miami was moving again on its next drive when Dysert hit Harwell over the middle. But after 13 yards, freshman safety Donald Celiscar punched the ball out from behind and it was recovered by Nowak.

After a scoreless first quarter, Miami finally cashed in with a six-play, 84-yard drive early in the second period. Senior Chris Givens, who had 13 catches for 141 yards on senior night, pulled in two passes and Dysert contributed a 20-yard run to keep the drive moving. Dysert drilled a two-yard pass to Harwell to complete the trip, and Krysinski added the PAT.  Harwell, a sophomore, had 14 receptions for 138 yards and three touchdowns on the evening.

Western responded with a score on its next possession, moving 71 yards in 10 plays. Carder found Jordan White on a pass for the final 19 yards. The nation’s No. 1-ranked receiver registered 106 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches against the MAC’s No. 1-ranked pass defense.

Miami regained the lead with a nine-play, 75 yard drive on the ensuing possession.  Dysert hit Harwell twice, for 17 yards and 11 yards, to complete the drive.

Carder led his team back into Miami territory, but the RedHawks’ defense stiffened at the MU 22. When Brian Fields tried to convert a fourth-and-one play, Anthony Kokal stopped him for a three-yard loss.

Miami took over with 2:49 remaining and appeared to pick up a first down on a 15-yard aerial to Willie Culpepper. That was wiped out, however on a penalty. WMU called time outs after the next two plays, forcing MU to punt on 4th-and-14. Zac Murphy boomed a 53-yarder out of bounds at the WMU 26.

There was 1:07 remaining when Carder put the Broncos hurry-up offense into another gear. He completed six-of-eight passes in a 10-play drive that nearly came up empty. On his last completion, Ansel Ponder could not get out of bounds and almost was unable to get down. When he finally hit the ground, WMU was able to call a time out. John Potter came on with one second remaining and drilled a 35-yard field goal – three points that eventually spelled the difference in the game.

“Luckily, he got down fast enough for us to call a time out,” Carder said of Ponder’s critical dive.

After closing to 14-10 on the final play of the half, Western Michigan carried its momentum into the third quarter. The Broncos moved 66-yards in eight plays, using just 2:29, to take the lead. White’s second TD catch, this one from six yards out, finished the drive.

Shortly after a Miami punt, the RedHawks got the ball back on a Pat Hinkel interception at the Miami 40. Two plays later, however, MU gave the ball back on an interception by Aaron Winchester.

Carder passes to Chleb Ravenell (21 yards ) and Josh Schaffer (32 yards) helped set up the Bronco’s final touchdown, a 2-yard toss to Robert Arnheim two plays into the fourth quarter.

Now holding a 10-point lead (24-14), Western Michigan turned up the defensive heat. Dysert was sacked three times on the next possession, bringing up a 4th-and-14 at the WMU 45. When punter Zac Murphy took off around the left side, he was met for a one-yard loss.

Dysert was sacked two more times on Miami’s next drive, but the RedHawks later put together a scoring drive, beginning a 4:33.  Harwell’s 24-yard TD reception down the right side – his third touchdown of the contest – finished the drive and Krysinski’s kick at 3:00 left Miami with a 24-21 deficit.

As they had the week before, the RedHawks went for a pooch kick behind the front lines of Broncos lined up for a possible on-side kick. Trey Payne grabbed the ball at the WMU 26, and the Broncos picked up two first downs while running out the clock.

Treadwell said the final kickoff was about position and indicated the RedHawks were close to recovering the ball. Alluding to that kickoff and the critical Broncos field goal with one-second left in the first half, Treadwell said, “Not only is is a game of inches, it’s a game of seconds.”