Western Michigan gets ripped apart by MSU

Western Michigan Broncos 2009 ... Head Coach: Bill Cubit

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 7-5
2009 Record: 4-6

9/5 at Michigan L 31-7
9/12 at Indiana L 23-19
9/19 Miami Univ. W 48-26
9/26 Hofstra W 24-10
10/3 at No. Illinois L 38-3
10/10 at Toledo W 58-26
10/17 CMU L 34-23
10/24 Buffalo W 34-21 OT
10/31 at Kent St L 26-14
11/7 at Mich St L 49-14
11/14 at E. Mich
11/24 Ball St

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 8-4
2008 Record: 9-4

8//30 at Nebraska L 47-24
9/6 No Illinois W 29-26
9/13 at Idaho W 51-28
9/20 Tenn Tech W 41-7
9/27 at Temple W 7-3
10/4 Ohio W 41-20
10/11 at Buffalo W 34-28 OT
10/18 at Cent Mich L 38-28
10/25 OPEN DATE
11/1 East Mich W 31-10
11/8 Illinois (Det.) W 23-17
11/15 Toledo W 27-17
11/22 OPEN DATE
11/25 at Ball State L 45-22
Texas Bowl
12/30 Rice L 38-14

Western Michigan Broncos

Oct. 7
at Michigan State 49 … Western Michigan 14
Asthon Leggett ran for four touchdowns and Kirk Cousins was almost perfect in the blowout win. Leggett tore off scoring runs from 71, one and 13 yards away, while Cousins connected with Garrett Celek for a 13-yard touchdown and hit Dion Sims for a seven-yard score. WMU was outgained 602 yards to 211 with 80 of its yards coming on a Brandon West scoring run in the third.
Player of the Game: Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins completed 22-of-25 passes for 353 yards and two scores, & Ashton Leggett ran 14 times for 110 yards and four scores.
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 15-37, 111 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Brandon West, 7-98, Receiving: Robert Arnheim, 5-40
Michigan State: Passing: Kirk Cousins, 22-25, 353 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Ashton Leggett, 14-110, 4 TD, Receiving: Blair White, 6-70 
What It All Means: The WMU defense struggled all season long and wasn’t going to start producing this week against Michigan State, but Tim Hiller and the WMU offense was supposed to be able to produce against anyone. Even when MSU took its foot off the gas, the passing game didn’t work. Hiller tried to get something going short but couldn’t even connect on the safe passes. It’s a loss, and it’s the third loss in four games, but Eastern Michigan is coming up next. 6-6 is still possible even after all the problems.

Oct. 31
at Kent State 26 … Western Michigan 14
Spencer Keith threw for 373 yards with touchdown passes from 34 yards out and 19 yards to Tyshon Goode on the way to a 20-7 lead. Western Michigan battled back with a nine-yard Robert Arnheim touchdown catch in the fourth, but the Golden Flashes were able to put the game away with a 15-yard Jacquise Terry touchdown run. Freddy Cortez hit two field goals for the Golden Flashes and Monte Simmons came up with three sacks.
Player of the Game: Kent State QB Spencer Keith completed 24-of-34 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 31-49, 255 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Brandon West, 15-61, Receiving: Robert Arnheim, 7-78, 1 TD
Kent State: Passing: Spencer Keith, 24-34, 373 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Jacquise Terry, 23-90, 1 TD, Receiving: Tyshon Goode, 11-198, 2 TD
What It All Means: Tim Hiller and the high-powered Western Michigan passing game have a hard time producing when defensive linemen are sitting on the star quarterback’s head. Kent State not only do a strong job of getting into the backfield, but it threw at will on a struggling WMU secondary that isn’t getting any help. The pass rush isn’t there, it’s one of the worst in America, and the defensive backs aren’t making any plays to make up for the problems. While the season ends up with layups against Eastern Michigan and Ball State, the only real hope for a bowl game is to pull off the upset at Michigan State next week. 

Oct. 24
at Western Michigan 34 … Buffalo 31 OT
Western Michigan’s John Potter hit a 28-yard field goal in overtime after Buffalo’s John Rachuna missed a 43-yard attempt. UB’s A.J. Principe forced overtime with a 28-yard field goal to cap a wild final few minutes, answering a three-yard Brandon West run with 1:58 to play. The two teams traded punches all game long highlighted by UB’s Ike Nduka, who was playing hurt, rushing for scores from 11, two, and 56 yards away and WMU’s Tim Hiller throwing two touchdown passes to short touchdown passes to Ansel Ponder. UB outgained WMU 541 yards to 505.
Player of the Game: Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller completed 34-of-55 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns
Buffalo: Passing: Zach Maynard, 26-51, 327 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Ike Nduka, 18-172, 3 TD, Receiving: Brett Hamlin, 10-146, 1 TD
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 34-55, 350 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Brandon West, 27-133, 2 TD, Receiving: Ansel Ponder, 10-86, 2 TD 
What It All Means: Tim Hiller bombed away and finally had something to show for it. He threw for 410 yards against Central Michigan and lost, and now he came up with 350 yards and the win. The run defense wasn’t ignored, but this was Hiller’s game. Defensively, the run defense got rumbled over and the secondary wasn’t a rock against Zach Maynard, but even with a rough second half, the Broncos came up with a key win with three straight road games ahead. Hiller will have to show he can deal with a pass rush against Kent State.

Oct. 17
Central Michigan 34 … at Western Michigan 23
Tim Hiller threw 66 times for 410 yards and two touchdowns, but Central Michigan took control in the second quarter with Bryan Schroeder breaking a 13-13 tie with a 15-yard touchdown catch and a two-yard run. Dan LeFevour ran for a score and threw for two touchdowns with his nine-yard pass to Antonio Brown putting the game away. The two teams combined for 21 penalties.
Player of the Game: Central Michigan LB Nick Bellore made 12 tackles with 2 tackles for loss and an interception with a 50-yard return
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 40-66, 410 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Brandon West, 21-96, Receiving: Robert Arnheim, 9-112
Central Michigan: Passing: Dan LeFevour, 18-30, 238 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Antonio Brown, 8-100, Receiving: Bryan Anderson, 7-133
What It All Means: Tim Hiller and the passing game are starting to roll, he was terrific at spreading the ball around against CMU with 12 different receivers catching the ball, but the points didn’t follow. The Broncos beat the Chippewas everywhere but on the scoreboard, and with ten penalties, not enough key stops, and a rough second half converting drives into points, it was a tough loss that all but ends the MAC season. Now at 3-4, the Broncos have to go on a run to get to a bowl, but after Buffalo there are three straight road games including a trip to Michigan State. 

Oct. 10
Western Michigan 58 … at Toledo 26
Tim Hiller threw three touchdown passes with a 54-yarder and a 18-yarder to Jordan White for a 14-0 lead, and he connected with Juan Nunez for scores from 12 and 19 yards away on the way to a 41-6 Western Michigan lead. Brandon West added touchdown runs from 15, 19, and 70 yards. Toledo couldn’t keep up the pace and didn’t get into the endzone until late in the first half on the first of three Austin Dantin touchdown passes.
Player of the Game: Western Michigan RB Brandon West ran 14 times for 153 yards and three touchdowns, and he caught two passes for 24 yards.
Toledo: Passing: Austin Dantin, 17-28, 160 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Morgan Williams 17-97, Receiving: Stephen Williams, 6-59, 1 TD
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 16-26, 270 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Brandon West, 14-153, 3 TD, Receiving: Jordan White, 5-117, 2 TD
What It All Means: Welcome to the 2009 college football season, Western Michigan. This was the Bronco team that everyone was waiting to see, and this was the explosive, balanced attack that was supposed to be so strong from the start. The passing game cranked out 282 yards, the running game came up with 252, and Toledo had no prayer of getting into the game. Now comes the big fun with Central Michigan coming to town. That seemed like a foregone conclusion a few weeks ago, but now, with Tim Hiller and the attack getting hot at the right time, the Broncos have a shot. 

Oct. 3
at Northern Illinois 38 … Western Michigan 3
Chad Spann ran for three touchdowns as part of a run of 31 unanswered points scoring from one, 20, and five yards out, and the defense that stuffed WMU all game long came through late with a 79-yard interception return for a score from Jake Coffman. The Broncos had the ball for just 23 minutes, turned it over four times, and got its only points on a 40-yard John Potter field goal.
Player of the Game: Northern Illinois RB Chad Spann ran 22 times for 132 yards and three touchdowns
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 18-35, 176 yds
Rushing: Brandon West, 14-54, Receiving: Jordan White, 6-81
Northern Illinois: Passing: Chandler Harnish, 9-15, 135 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Chad Spann, 22-132, 3 TD, Receiving: Landon Cox, 3-14 
What It All Means: What’s happening with the WMU offense? Tim Hiller and the passing game were supposed to blow up everyone, but it’s sputtering and was only able to come up with 176 yards against NIU. The season isn’t crashing and burning, but after a disappointing 2-3 start and with Toledo and Central Michigan are up next, the offense has to be far, far more effective. The turnovers, giving it away four times, were a problem and the time of possession really did matter. WMU had the ball for just 23 minutes.

Sept. 26
at Western Michigan 24 … Hofstra 10
Tim Hiller threw two touchdown passes and Brandon West ran for a nine-yard score as Western Michigan went on a 24-3 run to close out the game. Hofstra was up early on a 43-yard Aaron Weaver touchdown catch, but the offense only managed a 23-yard field goal the rest of the way.
Player of the Game: Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller completed 34-of-43 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Hofstra: Passing: Cory Christopher, 17-27, 188 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Kwabea Asante, 10-50, Receiving: Aaron Weaver, 8-109, 1 TD
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 34-43, 338 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Brandon West, 25-128, 1 TD, Receiving: Jordan White, 9-101, 1 TD
What It All Means: This is not a plus. WMU beat Hofstra without much of a problem, but now is when the offense is supposed to be jelling into an unstoppable force, and it’s basically doing enough to get by. There was finally a little bit of a running game, Brandon West ran well, and Tim Hiller was effective with 338 passing yards, but this was Hofstra, not Northern Illinois. WMU has to play far better over the key three week make-or-break stretch at NIU, at Toledo, and against Central Michigan. This will define the season.

Sept. 19
at Western Michigan 48 … Miami University 26
Western Michigan jumped out to a 35-0 lead on three of Tim Hiller’s four touchdown passes, with two to Juan Nunez, and Jamail Berry returned a fumble for a score in the easy win. Brandon West ran for a score and caught a pass for a seven-yard third quarter touchdown on the way to a 48-6 lead. Miami, who didn’t score in its first two games, got its first points of the year on a 14-yard Eugene Harris touchdown catch, and he scored again in the third from 42 yards out.
Player of the Game: Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller completed 17-of-29 passes for 185 yards and four scores.
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 17-29, 185 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Brandon West, 18-91, 1 TD, Receiving: Juan Nunez, 6-79, 2 TD
Miami University: Passing: Daniel Raudabaugh, 25-42, 288 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Roman Lawson, 7-43, 1 TD, Receiving: Armand Robinson, 9-95 
What It All Means: WMU got the easy win over a miserable Miami team and now has to hope the offensive production wasn’t a mirage. Capitalizing on five turnovers was a big help, but the offense deserves credit for taking advantage of every mistake to make it a laugher. Eventually, the team will have to show that the offense works against someone with a pulse, and fortunately, that won’t happen next week with a game against Hofstra to sharpen up further for MAC play.

Sept. 12
at Indiana 23 ... Western Michigan 19
Western Michigan had its chances late but couldn't come through. A blocked kick set up a drive deep into IU territory, getting down to the five, before losing a fumble. Forced to punt, the Hoosiers took a safety to get out of their own end, but the Broncos almost made them pay with a wild hook-and-lateral play that just missed. Demetrius McCray ran for 134 yards with a 59-yard scoring dash, and Nick Freeland nailed three field goals to keep the Hoosiers ahead, but WMU fought back with a 41-yard Robert Arnheim touchdown pass and a 35-yard John Potter field goal, but the comeback fell short.
Player of the Game: Indiana RB Demetrius McCray ran 17 times for 134 yards and a touchdown
Indiana: Passing: Ben Chappell, 18-28, 185 yds
Rushing: Demetrius McCray, 17-134, 1 TD, Receiving: Tandon Doss, 6-85
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 28-43, 266 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Brandon West, 15-36, Receiving: Jordan White, 7-55
What It All Means: Tim Hiller and the passing game haven't gotten rolling yet. The 266 yards against Indiana weren't enough to pull off the comeback, and while the defense did its job late, and there were a few chances to pull off the win, Hiller couldn't come through when the chances were there. The defense got gouged against the run, but Austin Pritchard had a nice game with 12 tackles and David Lewis did a nice job with seven tackles and two broken up passes. Now comes the MAC season; Hiller and the Broncos should explode on Miami University.

Sept. 5
at Michigan 31 … Western Michigan 7
Michigan came out roaring with Junior Hemingway catching a 28-yard touchdown pass and Denard Robinson running for a scintillating 43-yard score on the way to a 31-0 lead. Tate Forcier threw three touchdown passes, with a 44-yarder to Hemingway in the third, before Western Michigan finally got on the board with a 73-yard Juan Nunez scoring play. Michigan held WMU to 38 rushing yards.
Player of the Game: Michigan QB Tate Forcier completed 13-of-20 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 11 times for 37 yards.
Michigan: Passing: Tate Forcier, 13-20, 179, 3 TD
Rushing: Denard Robinson, 11-74, 1 TD, Receiving: Junior Hemingway, 5-103, 2 TD
Western Michigan: Passing: Tim Hiller, 22-38, 259 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Brandon West, 13-41, Receiving: Juan Nunez, 7-151, 1 TD
What It All Means: Where was the passing game? The defense was going to have problems with the Michigan offense if the parts were working, but there’s no real excuse for Tim Hiller to have only thrown for 259 yards, with 73 of them coming on an oh-by-the-way late play. He needs to be the best player every time he gets on the field, and he struggled way too much early on to lead the way to drives to slow down the Michigan momentum.