KALAMAZOO, Mich. — After last season's 17-14 loss in DeKalb, Illinois to NIU, Western Michigan was seeking revenge on Saturday at Waldo Stadium.
The Broncos trailed 3-0 in the first quarter when La'Darius Jefferson took a handoff 43 yards for the score to make it 7-3.
In the second quarter, Western Michigan would trail 17-13 before D'Wayne Eskridge fielded the kickoff at his own goal line and went 100 yards for the score to put the Broncos back in front.
In a back-and-forth game, the Broncos would trail 27-20 in the fourth quarter until Kaleb Eleby found Skyy Moore for the touchdown to knot the game late.
The Broncos would get the ball back and with just over two minutes left, Grandville's Gavin Peddie would get the call for the go-ahead field goal after going 0-for-2 on attempts in 2019.
Peddie's attempt would be up and good to give Western Michigan a 30-27 lead.
The Bronco defense would force a turnover on downs in the final minute and they'd prevail, 30-27 the final.
"I told them that we're going to have to win some down to the wire games," head coach Tim Lester said, "it happens every single year to every single team and this team hung tight and leaned on each other and made plays. We're proud to be 4-0 but we have a lot of work to do," he added.
D'Wayne Eskridge would catch seven passes for 134 yards and also added the 100-yard kickoff return, the first of his collegiate career.
"Overall, I'm just proud of the guys," Eskridge said, "we really showed grit today because NIU came in with a plan that outlasted the whole game. I'm just proud of the guys for showing grit and making plays."
The Broncos will host Eastern Michigan next Saturday at 2 PM in the home finale of the 2020 season.
