The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN A year filled with previous "nevers" accomplished by the Western Michigan Broncos, the college added another on Christmas Eve with the 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl title, the first bowl win in school history.

The Broncos surged late to outscore the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders 21-7 in the fourth quarter and claim an historic 45-31 win at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

"The schedule was built to accomplish ‘nevers’. And we just accomplished two more – first back-to-back eight-win seasons in programme history and the first bowl game championship in programme history," Broncos head coach P J Fleck said. "I think that makes the ninth never we’ve accomplished, which is absolutely incredible."

Jamauri Bogan rushed for a Popeyes Bahamas Bowl record 215 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries. He was named the offensive MVP to cap a season when he was named freshman of the year in the MAC conference.

"Amazing. There’s no better feeling. Coach [P J Fleck] told us it was going to be an amazing feeling, and I think it exceeds that," he said. "The offensive line came to play. [Wide Receiver] Corey [Davis], Brave [wide receiver, Daniel Braverman] and [quarterback] Zach [Terrell] were doing their thing. It opened up so many things. It allows running lanes to be open, and it allows me to do the things that I do. I’m blessed. That’s what happened today. Those guys made plays and opened everything up."

Broncos quarterback Terrell finished 18-26 for 297 yards and two scores. As expected he targeted his All-Conference weapons on the outside, Corey Davis and Daniel Braverman. Davis finished with eight catches for 183 yards and a touchdown while Braverman caught five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Senior linebacker Grant DePalma was the defensive MVP as he capped a career which began as a walk-on to the programme. "It feels surreal to me. From where I came from, entering a family that accepted me with open arms, accepted the ways I did things. This programme is built up on a lot of hard work and perseverance," he said. "To leave this programme this way, it couldn’t be more perfect."

Blue Raiders' sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill finished 26-39 for 327 yards and three touchdowns. All-American receiver Richie James caught eight passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran twice for 61 yards and another score.

In a game that featured six touchdowns of 40 yards from more, it was a pair of one-yard touchdown runs from Bogan that sealed the win for the Broncos.

Following a Rontavious Atkins 29-yard interception return to the Middle Tennessee four yard line, Bogan gave the Broncos a two-touchdown lead with five minutes to play. Bogan also had a 62-yard touchdown and a 46-yard score and another run of 61 yards to average 11.3 yards per carry.

The first quarter featured a 47-yard touchdown run from James, the 62-yard touchdown run from Bogan, a 44-yard touchdown pass to James and finally an 80-yard touchdown pass to Davis. The teams were tied at 17-17 at the end of the period. The second quarter shifted to a defensive struggle when neither team was able to add to the scoreboard. Both defences stepped up in the second half, forcing punts, the Broncos staged a goallsine stand and we saw our first turnovers of the game.

The big plays resumed in the third quarter when Bogan opened with his second touchdown run. The Blue Raiders capitalised on good field position to tie the game again at 24-24 on a 17-yard touchdown run by Christian Collis. The game went back and forth, with the Broncos regaining the lead on the next possession on a Braverman 69-yard catch and run.

Blue Raiders head coach Rick Stockstill said his team made it difficult for themselves by giving up a series of what he called "explosive plays".

“It’s difficult to win games when you do that (give up numerous big plays). I thought that was the difference in the game, those two factors," he said. “I never thought it broke open in their favour until the end … To me the difference was, we just couldn’t get stops. The explosive plays just killed us. I don’t know how many times … the fourth-and-one there at the start of the third quarter, they break that for a touchdown. I just believe the big plays, the explosion plays, were the difference in the game."

The game marked Western Michigan’s seventh overall bowl game appearance and the second straight for the Broncos under head coach Fleck, who is in his third season at the helm and is the youngest head coach at the FBS level.

It’s another step. We’re celebrating, but Western Michigan isn’t shutting down after today," Coach Fleck said. "We’re going back to work. We have a lot more 'nevers' to accomplish."