Western Michigan beats Eastern Michigan 26-18 to become bowl eligible
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) Zahir Abdus-Salaam ran for a touchdown and caught another as Western Michigan defeated Eastern Michigan 26-18 on Saturday to become bowl eligible, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Abdus-Salaam scored on a 22-yard run for a 23-8 lead in the third quarter and he celebrated by jumping into a snowbank bordering the end zone.
The Broncos (6-6, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) blocked a punt for safety that started a run of 16 points in under four minutes. Abdus-Salaam scored on a 31-yard screen pass then Joey Pope recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to set up Jalen Buckley's 15-yard TD run with 19 seconds before the half ended.
Eastern Michigan's Delmert Mimms II scored two third-quarter touchdowns. The teams exchanged field goals for the only fourth-quarter scoring.
The Eagles got the ball back with 2:18 remaining but on their first play Bilhal Kone intercepted a tipped pass. Eastern Michigan (5-7, 2-6) lost its last five games.
Abdus-Salaam rushed for 135 yards and Buckley 103 on 19 carries apiece. Hayden Wolff threw for 126 yards and a score. Abdus-Salaam had 40 yards receiving.
Mimms rushed for 127 yards on 18 carries. Cole Snyder was only 7 of 22 for 91 yards passing.
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
C. Snyder
15 QB
|
C. Snyder | 7/22 | 91 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Mimms III
34 RB
|
D. Mimms III | 18 | 127 | 2 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mattord
24 RB
|
J. Mattord | 8 | 37 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Snyder
15 QB
|
C. Snyder | 7 | 27 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Lockett Jr.
3 WR
|
T. Lockett Jr. | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
O. Singleton
2 WR
|
O. Singleton | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Brown
30 RB
|
D. Brown | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Allen
8 WR
|
M. Allen | 8 | 3 | 59 | 0 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Mimms III
34 RB
|
D. Mimms III | 3 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Lockett Jr.
3 WR
|
T. Lockett Jr. | 5 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Devereaux
81 WR
|
N. Devereaux | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
O. Singleton
2 WR
|
O. Singleton | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
L. Murphy
20 LB
|
L. Murphy | 10-5 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Djonkam
55 LB
|
J. Djonkam | 8-8 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Price
9 DL
|
P. Price | 5-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Scandrett
3 DB
|
Q. Scandrett | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Adam
85 DL
|
J. Adam | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Nowling
32 LB
|
K. Nowling | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Shelton
92 DL
|
D. Shelton | 2-3 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Carter Jr.
8 DB
|
D. Carter Jr. | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Laing
97 DL
|
T. Laing | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Manning
39 DB
|
B. Manning | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Zelinsky
45 DL
|
J. Zelinsky | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Price
14 DB
|
J. Price | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Green
98 DL
|
D. Green | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. White
4 DB
|
D. White | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jefferson
5 DL
|
J. Jefferson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. Gomez
35 K
|
J. Gomez | 1/1 | 32 | 1/1 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Tomasek
30 P
|
M. Tomasek | 3 | 41.3 | 0 | 53 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Mattord
24 RB
|
J. Mattord | 3 | 17.3 | 20 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
O. Singleton 2 WR
|
O. Singleton | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
H. Wolff
11 QB
|
H. Wolff | 12/17 | 126 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
Z. Abdus-Salaam
10 RB
|
Z. Abdus-Salaam | 19 | 135 | 1 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Buckley
6 RB
|
J. Buckley | 19 | 103 | 1 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Lowry
14 QB
|
B. Lowry | 3 | 13 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Nixon
3 RB
|
J. Nixon | 3 | -4 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Wolff
11 QB
|
H. Wolff | 3 | -11 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
Z. Abdus-Salaam
10 RB
|
Z. Abdus-Salaam | 3 | 3 | 40 | 1 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Bosma
86 TE
|
B. Bosma | 4 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Toudle
15 TE
|
C. Toudle | 3 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Dieudonne
17 WR
|
M. Dieudonne | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Buckley
6 RB
|
J. Buckley | 3 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Sambucci
5 WR
|
A. Sambucci | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. Willis
15 LB
|
D. Willis | 10-4 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Washington
13 CB
|
N. Washington | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Walker
93 DL
|
C. Walker | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Wofford
5 CB
|
A. Wofford | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Roberson
4 LB
|
D. Roberson | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Kone
1 CB
|
B. Kone | 2-1 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Tyler
91 DL
|
M. Tyler | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Nelson
54 DL
|
M. Nelson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hallock
3 S
|
T. Hallock | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Bussell
0 CB
|
D. Bussell | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. McGraw
99 DL
|
R. McGraw | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Bonnema
22 LB
|
B. Bonnema | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Childers
92 DL
|
J. Childers | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Wahlberg
8 LB
|
J. Wahlberg | 0-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Green
10 DL
|
I. Green | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Lee
58 DL
|
T. Lee | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
L. Zurak
18 K
|
L. Zurak | 1/1 | 25 | 3/3 | 6 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
R. Millmore
25 P
|
R. Millmore | 5 | 38.2 | 4 | 49 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Parker
2 WR
|
J. Parker | 4 | 23.3 | 28 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. Thompson 11 DL
|
A. Thompson | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Parker 2 WR
|
J. Parker | 1 | -7.0 | -7 | 0 |