KALAMAZOO, Michigan -- On the 27th annual CommUniverCity night at Waldo Stadium, Western Michigan football had seven different players register a touchdown en route to 68-0 shutout of Delaware State.
WMU's defense held Delaware State to just eight yards passing and 127 yards of total offense. The Broncos forced three fumbles, recovering two, one for a touchdown.
The 68-0 victory was WMU's largest margin of victory during the modern football era. The shutout was the Broncos' first since defeating Buffalo, 38-0 on Nov. 19, 2016.
Western Michigan forced Delaware State to a 3-and-out on the opening drive. On the Broncos' first offensive play, junior running back LeVante Bellamy sprinted 40 yards down the sideline for his third touchdown of the season. It was the second time in three years WMU has scored on their first play of the game on a CommUniverCity night.
Special teams played a key role as the Broncos had two punt returns for touchdowns. After initially bobbling the ball, freshman Jayden Reed scooped it up and raced 93 yards for a touchdown, marking the second longest punt return in school history and longest in the NCAA this season. In the fourth quarter sophomore Tyron Arnett returned a punt 75 yards for his first career return TD.
It was an offensive explosion for the Broncos in the second half, scoring 40 points and totaling 236 yards. In the second half alone, WMU scored on a receiving, rushing, punt return and fumble recovery. Freshman kicker Gavin Peddie also connected 24 and 25-yard field goals, the first two of his career.
Junior quarterback Jon Wassink completed 76 percent of his passes, going 23-of-30 for 286 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, the Broncos accumulated 241 rushing yards with Bellamy leading the way with 83 yards on seven carries and a touchdown. Senior Jamauri Bogan had 11 carries for 33 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Prince Walker recorded his first career TD with a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter and had a career-high 59 yards.
BOX SCORE
In the receiving core, seven different players had a reception. Junior Giovanni Ricci led all Broncos with 77 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Jaylen Hall made three catches for 70 yards. Redshirt senior Drake Harris had a team-high seven receptions and totaled 57 yards.
Defensively, junior Najee Clayton, freshman Roy McCree and freshman Andre Carter each forced a fumble. Freshman Patrick Lupro returned fumble recovery 17 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Junior Drake Spears led the team with seven tackles. WMU had two sacks and eight tackles for a loss.
The victory was WMU's (1-2) first of the season. The Broncos now hit the road for the next two games, traveling to Georgia State on Sept. 22 before opening up Mid-American Conference play at Miami, Sept 29.
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
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