BroncoBlitz.com - Post game analysis and quotes

October 24, 2009

D. Burgardt
BroncoBlitz.com Publisher

Analysis

I've heard a lot of grumbling from Bronco fans that WMU played a bad team. I disagree, this was a good win. Buffalo is a very solid team in spite of losing some key personnel. The Bulls have one of the better defenses in the league and it showed. Zack Maynard has stepped in nicely for Drew Willey as has running back Ike Nduka. Look for the Bulls to be a power in the MAC East for the next two years at least.

The Bronco defense played a solid first half while missing one of it's top DB's in Mario Armstrong. Holding the Bulls to 7 points in a half is no easy task. Baring a fumble that led to a Bull touchdown, the defense may have had a first half shutout.

Offensively, Tim Hiller was his usual self, throwing 54 times for 350 yards. More impressive was who he was throwing to. Leading receivers Jordan White and Juan Nunez were sidelined with injuries. Youth you say-- Some of Hiller's targets were riding a school bus last year. When the Broncos were in four wide, the most veteran guy on the field was a sophomore. Ansel Ponder finished the game with 10 catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns, and converted QB Robert Arnheim had 7 catches for a 107 yards.

While not the statistical leader, Trey Smith really caught my eye. Smith's 26 yard catch may have been the most important play of the game, and it was done by a true freshmen. Smith has the potential to be a special player in the coming years. He's simply too big and too strong for most corners to handle.

Defensively, the Broncos showed pressure, but always seemed to be a tad too late to hurry Maynard. Freddie Bishop has solidified himself as the starter on the right side, and could be that edge guy with more experience. Justin Braska and Jamail Berry had picks, with Berry's return going for 45 yards.

The Broncos need to get healthy before taking the 6 hour bus ride to play an improving Kent State team.

- This was the 86th annual Homecoming game for WMU.
- WMU is 4-1 in Homecoming games under Bill Cubit.
- WMU has never lost to the University of Buffalo (5-0).
- WMU S Doug Wiggins needs two forced fumbles to tie the WMU single season record with six.
- West needs 168 kickoff-return yards to become the all-time NCAA leader.
- The Bulls are 3-17 all-time against the MAC West under Head Coach Turner Gill.

Post Game Quotes

Head Coach Bill Cubit

On the game:
" Great job. I know it's frustrating sometimes but you go out there dealing with some of the conditions, and injuries, but our kids kept fighting. Even though we didn't play very well defensively, some of our kids made some great plays. John Potter, going in there, it's a lot of pressure for a young kid, but he knocked it through and we win the game. I'm proud of the kids, really proud. Like I said, there was a lot of adversity going in because of the kids we had out, but they went in and just played, I can't ask for much more. On defense we just gave up way too many big plays. They had 180 something yards at halftime and ended up at 541, that's not real productive."

On the winning field goal:
"There's a lot of pressure, there's pressure on Tom (Harrington - long snapper), and on Robert (Arnheim - holder). And of course John, it's probably fortunate they only had one timeout left so they could only freeze him one time. He kicked really well, he did a good job on the kickoffs. You can see the difference when he kicks into the wind. I'm proud of John, and just as proud of Tom and Robert."

On younger kids stepping up:
"Well, we draw off information and plays, and we say who we can put where. Sometimes when they do something a little different, they took away certain things in what they do really well, and then you have to adjust. You go in there, and I was hard on those guys this week. I'd rather have them practice harder than the games. Seeing Ponder go out there and play so well, he had 10 catches, that's impressive. We got everybody back on that. We lose Tim and Matt Stevens, but we have a chance to be pretty good. I think somebody is going to have to step up in those spots."

On bowl games, and winning this game:
"I know what the key is. You have to get to 7 and preferably 8 wins. That's what we're shooting for. Those kids understand that. We went out and drive down there, it's inexcusable. At the same time, the energy by the offense, they were behind the defense the whole time. Andy Dorcely made a great play, and there's a guy that hasn't played as much, but did a great job. The next one we got fortunate. But you can see in the offense, as soon as they missed it, everybody on the football team knew we were going to win that football game."

Buffalo Head Coach Turner Gill

On the overall effort:
"We're obviously disappointed, but I think our guys were resilient. We'll come back ready to play in 10 days and play another football game. I think we did enough and had enough opportunities to win the game with offense, defense and special teams. The bottom line is Western Michigan made more plays than we did."

Box Score

Final

Buffalo (3-5)	7	0	14	10	31
Western Michigan (4-4)	14	3	7	7	34

Scoring Summary
	Western Michigan: Ansel Ponder 10 yd pass from Tim Hiller (John Potter kick)
	Buffalo: Ike Nduka 11 yd run (A.J. Principe kick)
	Western Michigan: Ansel Ponder 9 yd pass from Tim Hiller (John Potter kick)
	Western Michigan: John Potter 28 yd FG
	Buffalo: Ike Nduka 2 yd run (A.J. Principe kick)
	Western Michigan: Brandon West 2 yd run (John Potter kick)
	Buffalo: Brett Hamlin 33 yd pass from Zach Maynard (A.J. Principe kick)
	Buffalo: Ike Nduka 56 yd run (A.J. Principe kick)
	Western Michigan: Brandon West 3 yd run (John Potter kick)
	Buffalo: A.J. Principe 28 yd FG
	Western Michigan: John Potter 28 yd FG

Team Statistics
	Western Michigan	Buffalo
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS	27	24
TOTAL NET YARDS	505	541
Total Plays	88	79
Average Gain	5.7	6.8
NET YARDS RUSHING	155	214
Rushes	33	28
Average per rush	4.7	7.6
NET YARDS PASSING	350	327
Completions-attempted	34-55	26-51
Sacked	0	0
Yards Lost	0	0
TOTAL TURNOVERS	2	2
Interceptions	0	2
Fumbles Lost	2	0
OTHER
Penalties	4	4
Penalty Yards	30	33
Time of Possesion	33:41	26:19
Punts	6	6
Punt Average	44.83	42.17
Return Yards	129	57

Passing
Western Michigan	CMP	ATT	YDS	TD	INT	YDS/ATT
Tim Hiller (0)	34	55	350	2	0	6.4
Buffalo	CMP	ATT	YDS	TD	INT	YDS/ATT
Zach Maynard (0)	26	51	327	1	2	6.4

Rushing
Western Michigan	ATT	YDS	TD	AVG
Brandon West (0)	27	133	2	4.9
Glenis Thompson (0)	2	16	0	8.0
Alex Carder (0)	1	8	0	8.0
Aaron Winchester (0)	1	4	0	4.0
Tim Hiller (0)	2	-6	0	-3.0
Buffalo	ATT	YDS	TD	AVG
Ike Nduka (0)	18	172	3	9.6
Zach Maynard (0)	6	34	0	5.7
Mario Henry (0)	3	10	0	3.3
Team (0)	1	-2	0	-2.0

Receiving
Western Michigan	ATT	YDS	TD	AVG
Ansel Ponder (0)	10	86	2	8.6
Robert Arnheim (0)	7	107	0	15.3
Chleb Ravenell (0)	6	48	0	8.0
Trey Smith (0)	4	57	0	14.3
Brandon West (0)	4	41	0	10.3
Matt Stevens (0)	2	6	0	3.0
Glenis Thompson (0)	1	5	0	5.0
Buffalo	ATT	YDS	TD	AVG
Brett Hamlin (0)	10	146	1	14.6
Naaman Roosevelt (0)	8	63	0	7.9
Jesse Rack (0)	5	89	0	17.8
Ike Nduka (0)	2	20	0	10.0
Terrell Jackson (0)	1	9	0	9.0