Football Welcomes Bethune-Cookman for CommUniverCity Game on Saturday
September 12, 2024
DATE | Sept. 14, 2024
TIME | 6:30 PM ET
LOCATION | Kalamazoo, Mich.
VENUE | Waldo Stadium (30,000)
TV | ESPN+
RADIO | Bronco Radio Network
LIVE STATS | WMUSTATS.com
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan hosts Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The game can be watched live on ESPN+ and heard live on the Bronco Media Network.
SERIES
This is the first meeting between the Broncos and the Wildcats.
AGAINST HBCUs
This is the third-ever game against an HBCU for Western Michigan. The Broncos played North Carolina Central in their first meeting with an HBCU back in 2016, winning 70-21. The most recent meeting came against Delaware State in 2018, resulting in a 68-0 win.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats enter Saturday’s game with a record of 0-2 after losing their season opener to South Florida, with a score of 48-3. Last weekend they hosted Mercer and fell short with a score of 31-2. Redshirt junior quarterback Cam’Ron Ransom started both games for BCU and has recorded 212 passing yards with a completion percentage of 54.2%. Ransom, who is in his second year with Bethune-Cookman after previously playing at McNeese State and Georgia Southern, poses as a threat both through passing and running.
Sixth-year running back Courtney Reese has carried the ball for a total of twenty-one times in the first two games while also making six catches – which is currently leading his team. Sophomore wide receiver Lorenzo Jenkins has accumulated fifty-three receiving yards from five catches.
Raymond Woodie III leads the team defensively with thirteen tackles along with one interception as senior safety. Sophomore defensive end Ejike Brown leads the Wildcats’ defense line-up by recording two-and-a-half sacks while three other players have each contributed one sack.
LOCKING IT DOWN
Western Michigan’s senior cornerback Bilhal Kone has been impressive so far this season by defending four passes (interceptions + pass deflections) through two games - ranking him third nationally and top within Mid-American Conference (MAC).
Kone transferred from Indiana State prior to last season where he defended nine passes overall – eight breakups along with one interception throughout twelve games played last year. Additionally, Kone has showcased his physicality by making fourteen total tackles during WMU’s two games this season.
DONALD’S DOMINATION
Redshirt senior linebacker Donald Willis has been exceptional during Western Michigan’s first two games as he recorded ten tackles against Wisconsin followed by eleven tackles against Ohio State - marking it as his career-high tackle count thus far. His average of ten-and-a-half tackles per game ranks him fifteenth nationally and second within MAC standings.
Willis hasn’t just excelled defensively but also made three pass breakups this season showcasing his versatility on-field.
PASS PROTECTION
In their previous encounters against Power Four opponents this season alone; Western Michigan’s offensive line only allowed four sacks compared to eight sacks given up throughout three matches last year.
