2025 MAC Football Week 10 Game Recap: Western Michigan Broncos 24, Central Michigan Chippewas 21

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

A back-and-forth brawl between two fierce rivals came down to the wire in front of a sold-out house at Waldo Stadium on Saturday afternooon, but it was ultimately the Western Michigan Broncos (5-4, 4-1 MAC) who would walk away winners over the Central Michigan Chippewas (5-4, 3-2 MAC), re-claiming the Victory Cannon trophy by a final score of 24-21.

The win certainly wasn’t an easy one for the Broncos, as they were forced to punt on their first two possessions and gave up a 13-play, 73-yard scoring taking up 8:55 of game clock to find themselves behind 7-0 early on.

Western would eventually make their own luck, however, as on third-and-six from the WMU 47-yard line, defensive end Nadame Tucker turnstiled offensive tackle Martin Koivisto and jarred the ball loose from Joe Labas on a sack fumble, giving the offense the ball at CMU’s 41-yard line with 12:51 left to go in the second quarter. Quarterback Broc Lowry would cash the turnover into a rushing touchdown to even up the game at 7-7 with 7:43 to go in the first half.

Central responded right away, as Joe Labas found wide receiver Langston Lewis on a crossing route between several WMU defenders and Lewis took the pass 77-yards across the field and down the sideline to give the Chips the lead back only 20 seconds later.

The two sides stalemated over much of the second quarter, but the Broncos eventually got a drive into Central territory near the end of the frame, getting to the CMU two-yard line with 56 seconds remaining. On fourth-and-two, Lowry would once again take the ball and run up the middle. Unfortunately for him, he was walloped at the line by linebacker Dakota Cochran, who forced a fumble in front of the goal line. CMU defensive tackle Jonathan Decker would recover the loose ball to prevent the WMU scoring opportunity.

The quick-witted play would allow CMU to enter the halftime break with the 14-7 lead and an opportunity to expand on it to start the third quarter.

Western had other plans, stymieing Central into a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half and then reeling off an 11-play, 65-yard drive ending in a strong nine-yard rushing touchdown by Jalen Buckley to tir the game back up at 14-all with 8:43 to go in the third quarter.

As they had before, the Chippewa offense replied accordingly— this time on their longest drive of the season by number of plays. Quarterback Marcus Beamon, who made his debut as a Chippewa in today’s game, tossed a 33-yard rainbow pass to Tyson Davis on his first-ever pass attempt to close a 16-play, 75-yard drive lasting 8:50 of game clock.

On the next drive, Central’s defense faltered against Western’s up-tempo attack, drawing two penalties which gifted WMU first downs while also giving up a 23-yard pass play to Aveion Shenault and a 12-yard scramble from Broc Lowry. The CMU defense stiffened up to force a field goal from 46 yards out, which Palmer Domschke hit true to put the score at 21-17.

The field goal proved to be the difference, as the Western defense stuffed three Beamon runs to force a three-and-out on CMU’s next possession, then ran down nearly five minutes of clock before Lowry connected with Tailique Williams on a seven-yard touchdown toss to take a 24-21 lead with 2:08 remaining.

Central’s last-gasp offensive effort would get stopped quickly. After a holding call nulled the first play and moved CMU back five yards, Joe Labas’ sidearm pass on first-and-15 would get tipped at the line by defensive lineman Marcel Tyler, who reeled it in with one hand for the pick.

Broc Lowry would end the game with three runs up the middle and three kneel-downs, ensuring the rivalry spoils would rest in Kalamazoo until next season.

Lowry once again starred on offense, finishing 17-of-24 passing for 150 yards and a touchdown, while leading the rushing game with 22 carries for 82 yards and a score. Jalen Buckley contributed a hard-earned 68-yard effort on 14 carries, scoring once. Tailique Williams’ touchdown capped off a team-leading seven-catch, 48-yard performance on the receiving end. True freshman Aveion Shenault continues to shine as well, with two reception for 25 yards. Baylin Brooks set up a scoring drive on a 30-yard reception.

WMU defensive back Jarvarius Sims got revenge on his old squad, holding the Broncos’ joint-lead in total tackles (seven) on the afternoon. Nadame Tucker collected a sack, a tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble on the afternoon, while Rodney McGraw forced and recovered a fumble each.

The win over Central not only gifted the coveted Victory Cannon back to Western, but it also gave the Broncos the upper hand in the Michigan MAC Trophy race, as they now own the three-way tiebreaker assuming they beat Eastern near the end of the season.

WMU, now sitting at 4-1 in league play, also retained control of their own destiny in the MAC title race. Currently, their only loss is to undefeated Miami. If WMU wins out, they have a good chance at going to Detroit for the first time since their magical 2016 Cotton Bowl campaign.

The visiting Chippewas struggled mightily in the second half, falling to 5-4 (3-2 MAC) after the loss. As a unit, CMU finished the day with a measly 1.6 yards per rush, lost the time of possession battle by nearly five minutes despite having two of their longest drives of the season in the same game and committed two turnovers to boot.

Primary quarterback Joe Labas finished 8-of-11 for 152 yards, a touchdown and two turnovers (lost fumble, interception), while backup QB Marcus Beamon had 19 rushing yards, 33 passing yards and a passing touchdown in his debut.

Brock Townsend led the rushing attack with 26 yards on nine carries, while Langston Lewis (four catches, 111 yards, touchdown) and Tyson Davis (two catches, 45 yards, touchdown) were the receivers of note for CMU.

Senior linebacker Dakota Cochran had one of his best games of the season despite the loss, leading all tacklers in total stops (11), while also collecting 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a half-sack and a forced fumble on the afternoon. Defensive back Jaion Jackson had a TFL, a sack and a forced fumble to go along with four tackles.

No longer in control of their MAC destiny, CMU can still clinch a spot in the postseason if they win one of their next three games.

Both Central and Western will get extended BYE weeks before their respective forays in to weeknight conference action.

The Broncos will host the Ohio Bobcats on Tuesday, November 11th, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, while the Chippewas will host the Buffalo Bulls on Wednesday, November 12th at 7 p.m. Eastern time. TV networks will be determined at a later date.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos