Vs Western Michigan (4-1,4-1 MAC) Saturday December 12, 2020 • 12 Pm • ESPN+ Muncie, Ind
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Ball State (4-1, 4-1 MAC) 6 vs (4-1,4-1 MAC) Western Michigan Saturday December 12, 2020 • 12 pm • ESPN+ Muncie, Ind. • Schuemann Stadium (22,500 • SprinTurf) WMU (4-1, 4-1 MAC) • THIS WEEK’S DRIP: Western Michigan will Cannon, beating rival Central Michigan 31-15 wear gold helmets, white jerseys and white to open MAC play, also claiming conference NOVEMBER pants for the regular season finale at Ball wins over Miami, Bowling Green, Ball State, 4 at Akron W, 58-13 State. and Ohio ... for the second straight year 11 TOLEDO W, 41-38 the Broncos earned a bowl bid but fell in to 18 at Central Michigan W, 52-44 • Western Michigan owns an all-time record Western Kentucky, 23-20, in the SERVPRO 28 NORTHERN ILLINOIS W, 30-27 of 581-450-24 in 114 seasons. First Responder Bowl. DECEMBER • Despite the loss to Eastern Michigan, WMU • The Broncos have reached bowl eligibility still retains the Michigan MAC Trophy due to in six consecutive seasons, the longest streak 5 EASTERN MICHIGAN L, 42-53 EMU’s loss to Central Michigan. It’s the third in program history. 12 at Ball State 12:00 PM straight season the Broncos have held the trophy. • POLLING PLACES: The Broncos were Tim Lester picked to finish second in the MAC West in Hometown Wheaton, Ill. • Saturday’s game against the Eagles was the the MAC Coaches Poll and fourth in the West Date of birth February 8, 1977 third straight that redshirt sophomore quar- in the MAC Media Poll. WMU received two Alma mater Western Michigan, 2000 terback Kaleb Eleby has thrown at least three first place votes in the coaches poll and three Hired at WMU January 13, 2017 touchdown passes this season. Eleby has in the media poll. Career Record (D1 only) games of three or more TD passes in four of 23-18/4th season the five games this season and a MAC-best Toledo and Miami were picked to win their at St. Joseph’s College 7-4/1 season 16 on the season. divisions by the coaches, while Central Michi- at Elmhurst 33-19/5 seasons gan and Buffalo were picked by the media. at Western Michigan 24-19/4th season • La’Darius Jefferson had a career-high two Bowl games 0-2 rushing touchdowns against Eastern Michi- • CollegePressBox.com is the official media vs. Ball State 2-1 MAC Freshman of the Year gan. The Michigan State transfer also racked website for Division I football ... Access and 1996 (WMU) up 121 yards on the ground for his second ca- download weekly game notes, quotes, sta- Western Michigan Hall of Fame reer 100-yard rushing game for the Broncos. tistics, media guides, headshots, logos and Class of 2011 more for each conference and its member • In 2019, the Broncos went 7-6 overall and schools ... Register for access at colleg- Broadcast Information 5-3 in MAC play ... Western Michigan went epressbox.com/register Television Network ESPN+ 2-2 in conference play with home wins over Play-by-play Joel Godett Monmouth and Georgia State, while falling Analyst Jay Walker on the road to No. 19 Michigan State and Sideline n/a Syracuse ... WMU defended the Battle of the Radio Bronco Radio Network BRONCOS BY THE NUMBERS Play-by-play Robin Hook Analyst John Creek 100 - The percent of games this season that 5 - Straight games with a touchdown for Affiliate stations WZOX 96.5 FM Jaylen Hall has caught a touchdown pass. Hall D’Wayne Eskridge, a career-best streak. Es- Portage-Kalamazoo (Flagship Station) played in four of the team’s five games, catch- kridge caught a touchdown pass early in the WWDK 94.1 FM Lansing-Jackson ing at least one TD in the four and catching two third quarter against EMU to extend the streak. WMAX 96.1 Grand Rapids, Muskegon, in two of them. He has a career-best six on the Holland season. 3+ - Redshirts sophomore Kaleb Eleby has thrown for three or more touchdowns in four of 69 - The number of receiving yards for senior the five games this season. He had a career- WMU Communications wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge in the loss to best five against Central Michigan, four against the Eagles. It was the first time this season he Eastern Michigan and three against Akron and Assistant AD, Communications Michael Scholl had been held under 100 yards. Toledo. Email [email protected] Cell 574-876-6248 0 - Touchbacks on kickoffs by Eastern Michi- Website WMUBroncos.com gan. The Eagles attempted to kick away from Twitter @WMU_Football D’Wayne Eskridge during every kickoff. PRESEASON ACCOLADES season. TEAM NOTES • Phil Steele Preseason All-MAC . WMU VS BSU • First Team: LB Treshaun Hayward, DE Ali 300-100-100 • Saturday’s meeting is the 47th all-time be- Fayad, CB Patrick Lupro, OT Jaylon Moore, • Saturday’s loss to Eastern Michigan was the tween Ball State and Western Michigan. OG Mike Caliendo, LS Bryce Bouwens fourth time under head coach Tim Lester • WMU holds a 26-20-0 lead in the all-time • Second Team: WR Skyy Moore that the Broncos have had a 300-yard series. WMU is 5-1 in the last six against • Third Team: WR/DB D’Wayne Eskridge, passer, a 100-yard receiver and a 100-yard BSU, with the lone loss coming back in DT Ralph Holley rusher. Kaleb Eleby threw for 304 yards, 2018, 42-41 in Muncie. The Broncos are • Fourth Team: LB Zaire Barnes, LB Corvin La’Darius Jefferson had 130 yards rushing 2-1 in their last three trips to Schuemann Moment and Jaylen Hall had 119 yards receiving. Stadium. • Athlon Sports Preseason All-MAC • WMU also did it earlier this season against • The winner of the game will go on to play • First Team: WR Skyy Moore, OL Jaylon Central Michigan. Buffalo in the MAC Championship Game on Moore, DL Ali Fayad, LB Treshaun Hayward • The Broncos are just 1-3 when acheiving Dec. 18. • Second Team: OL Mike Caliendo, CB Pat- this mark. • WMU head coach Tim Lester is 2-1 against rick Lupro the Cardinals and is 0-1 at Schuemann • Third Team: DL Ralph Holley FINDING A NEW WORKHORSE Stadium. The last two games have been • Fourth Team: QB Kaleb Eleby, RB Sean • The Broncos must replace workhorse run- decided by five total points. A one-point Tyler, WR/DB D’Wayne Eskridge, P Nick ning back LeVante Bellamy, now a member loss in 2018 and a four-point in last season. Mihalic of the Denver Broncos, in 2020. Bellamy combined for 1,527 total yards and 23 SEMIFINALIST NEW FACES ON THE SIDELINES touchdowns on offense en route to winning • Redshirt senior guard Mike Caliendo has • WMU and Lester welcomed the addition of MAC Offensive Player of the Year. WMU been named a semifinalist for the presti- three new assistant coaches to the staff for has quite a few options. gious Wuerffel Trophy. the 2020 season. • Sophomore wide receiver Skyy Moore is the • The award is known as “College Football’s • Greg Harbaugh Jr. (pronounced HAR-bow) top returning player on offense in terms of Premier Award for Community Service” returns to Western Michigan to coach the production. Moore had 802 yards receiving and is presented annually to the FBS player wide receivers. Harbaugh was recently the as a freshman and caught three touchdown who best combines exemplary community quality control coach at Minnesota after passes, while rushing for one. service with athletic and academic achieve- spending the 2018 season as the receiv- • In the backfield sophomore running back ment. ers coach at UT Chattanooga. He was on Sean Tyler produced 390 yards on the • Caliendo has an opportunity to join Bron- WMU’s coaching staff during the 2015 ground on 68 carries, averaging a team- cos Jon Wassink and Tim Hiller as winners. and 2016 seasons as a graduate assistant best 5.7 yards per carry. Tyler found the • WMU and Oklahoma are the only two pro- coach. endzone five times on the ground, while grams with student-athletes that have won • Marvin Clecidor will coach the Bronco cor- chipping in with six receptions for 45 yards. the award multiple times. nerbacks after spending three seasons at • Also in the mix is graduate transfer Jaxson Princeton as the co-defensive coordinator Kincaide. Kincaide played four seasons at THE WATCH LISTERS and defensive backs coach. Nevada, racking up 894 career yards on • Six Broncos are on watch lists for seven • David Denham will work with WMU’s de- the ground on 199 carries, averaging 4.5 awards this season. fensive tackles and also serve as the team’s yards per carry and six scores. Kincaide • Senior linebacker Treshaun Hayward is up assistant special teams coordinator. Den- also provides an option out of the backfield for both the Butkus Award for the nation’s ham was most recently at the University with 38 career receptions. top linebacker and the Nagurski Award for of Indianapolis as the defensive line coach the nation’s top defensive player. and special teams coordinator. • Sophomore wide receiver Skyy Moore was THERE AND BACK AGAIN: named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List OFFENSIVE NOTES A LINEMAN’S TALE for the nation’s top receiver. • With Juriga gone on to the NFL, the Bron- • Senior offensive linemen Mike Caliendo is THE RATIO cos have a new center in former offensive up for three awards. He’s on the watch list • Junior wide receiver Jaylen Hall has played lineman, converted defensive tackle and for the Outland Trophy for the nation’s in four games this saeson with 11 receptions converted back to offensive lineman Wes- best interior lineman, the Wuerffel Trophy for 318 yards.