MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The Victory Cannon is staying in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan built a three-touchdown cushion on Saturday and then held off a late Central Michigan push for a 21-14 win in the state’s biggest Mid-American Conference rivalry.
Running back Jalen Buckley did most of the damage, piling up 150 rushing yards and both of the Broncos’ rushing touchdowns, from 9 and 7 yards out. Western Michigan leaned on the ground game all afternoon, finishing with 224 yards on the ground while quarterback Broc Lowry attempted just eight passes and completed five for 48 yards.
One of those completions counted for a score, a 10-yard toss to Nate Levicki that capped a 13-play, 89-yard march. Buckley’s second touchdown came at the end of an even longer grind of 14 plays and 86 yards, and the Broncos carried a 21-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
Central Michigan woke up late. Quarterback Angel Flores hit Jaden Allen for a 32-yard touchdown to finish a 93-yard drive that took only five plays, and Jadyn Glasser punched in a 2-yard run with 44 seconds left to end a 15-play, 67-yard possession and make it a one-score game. The Chippewas could not recover the onside kick that followed.
Flores was the Chippewas’ engine, going 14 of 25 through the air for 162 yards and adding 117 rushing yards on 31 carries.
Western Michigan improves to 6-2 overall and stays perfect in the MAC at 4-0. Central Michigan falls to 3-4 and 1-2 in league play and returns home next Saturday against Miami (Ohio).
Dieter Kelly made all three extra points for the Broncos. Saturday marked the 97th meeting in the series, and Western Michigan now leads it 55-40-2.
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