Broncos Topple EMU Football in Road Rivalry Contest

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Returning to the gridiron for the first time in two weeks, the Eastern Michigan University football team suffered a 51-7 setback at the hands of the Western Michigan University Broncos Saturday afternoon, Nov. 15, at Waldo Stadium. The Mid-American Conference loss drops the Eagles to 2-8 (1-5 MAC), while the Broncos posted their fifth consecutive victory to run their record to 7-3 (5-1 MAC).

Bouncing back from an injury suffered two weeks ago, EMU quarterback Reginald Bell (Los Angeles, Calif.-Susan Miller Dorsey) went 14-of-21 through the air for a career-high 283 yards passing. The redshirt-freshman found eight different Eagles throughout the afternoon, but his favorite receiver was Tyreese Russell (Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran) as the senior tight end made four catches for a career-high 98 yards. Bell found running back Bronson Hill (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Catholic Central) out of the backfield for a 76-yard touchdown pass for the longest pass of the season and Hill's longest reception of his career. Kray'shawn Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind.-North Central) and Cole Gardner (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia) each had 33 yards receiving to post career bests as well. On the ground, Bell led the way with 33 yards, while Hill added 29 of his own.

On the defensive side of the football, linebacker Anthony Zappone (Westlake, Ohio-Westlake) recorded a team-high 10 tackles, including eight solo wrap-ups. Jalen Williams (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup) also registered four solo tackles, a personal best for the redshirt-junior.

The Broncos were led by quarterback Zach Terrell, who completed 17-of-19 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing a score to go along with 41 yards on the ground. Dareyon Chance carried the ball 14 times for a team-high 53 yards. For the WMU receiving corps, Daniel Braverman hauled in seven catches for 50 yards with two resulting in touchdowns, and Corey Davis added 134 receiving yards on four receptions.

Western started the scoring on the game's first play, returning the opening kickoff 93 yards for the early 7-0 lead. With the EMU putting its offense on the field first after the Western kickoff return, Bell led the Eagles 34 yards down the field into opposing territory. The big play of the drive was a 21-yard pass on play-action to Russell. However, the Green and White was stopped short by a yard on third down, and punter Owen Dubiel (East Jackson, Mich.-East Jackson) did his job by pinning the Broncos at their own four yard line. Despite the deep territory, WMU marched down the field in six plays to increase its lead to a pair of touchdowns. Following two more scores, the Eagles found themselves trailing 27-0 at the conclusion of the first quarter.

The offense continued to struggle getting any production, and Western added three more scores to take a 48-0 advantage into the locker room break behind 340 passing yards from Terrell. The WMU quarterback completed 13-of-14 passes, including four touchdowns, while also rushing for another score. For the Eagles, Bell completed a 21-yard pass to Russell as well as a 17-hard hookup to Gardner and added 14 yards rushing. Hill also carried the rock three times for 17 yards.

After holding WMU to a field goal on its opening drive of the second half, the Eagles found the end zone to get on the scoreboard. Facing a second and long from the EMU 24-yard line, Bell flipped a screen pass to Hill, who shook a pair of defenders before scampering 76 yards down the sideline for the touchdown. The big play was the longest play of the year for the Green and White, and it also marked the third touchdown of the year over 70 yards. Eastern's defense continued to play its best football in the third quarter, allowing just the lone field goal for the first points surrendered in the third quarter over the past three contests.

In the fourth quarter, the Eagles' defense improved once again to keep the Broncos off the scoreboard in the final 15 minutes of play. Bell led the Eagles 83 yards down the field, including a pair of throws to Russell for a combined 52 yards. However, as the redshirt-freshman quarterback reached for the goal line on a scramble, the ball popped loose and into the hands of a WMU defender. The final margin remained at 51-7 following the Green and White's 7-3 advantage on the scoreboard in the second half.

The Eagles will finish up their road portion of the 2014 schedule with another MAC West matchup, facing the Ball State University Cardinals, Nov. 22. The battle of the birds will take place in Muncie, Ind. with kickoff set for 2 p.m. on ESPN3.

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Team Stats

Reginald Bell

Players Mentioned

Reginald Bell

Kray’shawn Brewer

Owen Dubiel

Cole Gardner

Bronson Hill

Tyreese Russell

Jalen Williams

Anthony Zappone

Players Mentioned

Reginald Bell

Kray’shawn Brewer

Owen Dubiel

Cole Gardner

Bronson Hill

Tyreese Russell

Jalen Williams

Anthony Zappone

Eastern Michigan Athletics