This great bowl season continues as another team has won its first ever bowl game. The Western Michigan Broncos joined that list on Christmas Eve with a win in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders. That list of first time bowl winners includes the Appalachian State Mountaineers, Akron Zips, and Georgia Southern Eagles. The Broncos leading rusher, Jamauri Bogan, ran for 215 yards and four touchdowns, powering Western Michigan past Middle Tennessee 45-31.
Western Michigan Rights/Wrongs
Western Michigan, who have now finished the season at 8-5, came up with key plays with the game on the line. Neither the Broncos nor the Blue Raiders led by more than a touchdown at any point in the game until Bogan scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 1-yard score with five minutes remaining that provided the final score. Bogan’s touchdown came two plays after Rontavious Atkins key interception with 5:47 left which set up the Broncos offense on the Blue Raiders 4-yard line. Bogan also broke up a tie game with a 1-yard touchdown with 6:12 left in the game, setting up the score with a 61-yard burst. The Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis finished the game with eight catches for 183 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Braverman had five receptions for 101 yards and a score. The Broncos ended up with 613 yard of total offense. The Broncos had a total of 18 first downs on the game. But what kept the game close were the penalties. Western Michigan had a total of nine penalties that cost them 62 yards. The Broncos only turned over the ball once; a Zach Terrell pass intercepted Justin Akins. Before this game, the Broncos were 0-5 this season when Terrell threw an interception.
Middle Tennessee Rights/Wrongs
Middle Tennessee, who have now finished the season at 7-6, did not come up with the key plays they needed to win this game. They were 5 for 14 on third downs and 0 for 2 on fourth downs. The Blue Raiders did better in the penalty department, where they only had five penalties for 40 yards. On the brighter side of things, Richie James had two touchdown catches and one touchdown run for the Blue Raiders. Quarterback Brent Stockstill threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns, but he threw that costly interception with 5:47 left in the game. The Blue Raiders ended up with 442 yards of total offense. The Blue Raiders had a total of 18 first downs on the game. When running, the Blue Raiders averaged 4.4 yards per rush. When passing, the Blue Raiders averaged 8.4 yards per catch.
Final Thoughts
Both teams will more than likely never forget this trip to the Bahamas. For Western Michigan, they were 0-6 in its six previous bowl appearances. For the first time ever, the Broncos finish with back-to-back eight-win seasons. Nobody could have predicted this after the Broncos went 1-11 in 2013. For Middle Tennessee State, it is their second straight season with six losses. This also nobody saw coming after the Blue Raiders won eight games in 2012 and 2013.