MAC FOOTBALL

Buckley bursts, Bronco defense lead WMU to title

Tough day for RedHawks quarterbacks

By MIKE SMITH
DETROIT, MI -- Picked to finish seventh among MAC teams in a preseason coaches poll, the Western Michigan Broncos (9-4) proved their worth Saturday with a 23-13 win over Miami (7-6) in the 2025 MAC Championship game at Ford Field. 
Jalen Buckley powered the Broncos offense, logging 19 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came on WMU's first possession of each half. 

The junior went off . . . 

---

. . . left tackle for 67 yards to give Western Michigan a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. WMU was up 16-6 at intermission, but after forcing a quick Miami punt, the Broncos opened another hole on the left side. Buckley burst through again -- this time sprinting 64 yards. 

His score and the PAT were Western Michigan's final points on the day. However, the vaunted Bronco defense had more than it needed to secure WMU's first MAC title since 2016. That Bronco squad, coached by PJ Fleck, finished 13-1, with the lone loss coming to Wisconsin (24-16) in the Cottom Bowl.

A signifcant reason Western Michigan drew 2025 preseason skepticism was its 2024 defense. That squad allowed 31.3 ppg (9th MAC). This year's defense cut that nearly in half, allowing 18.2 ppg (2nd MAC). A key part of this year's success was DE Nadame Tucker, who was recently named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Vern Smith Leadership Award winner.

After recording 12 sacks during the regular season, Tucker shined again during Saturday's championship matchup. His 2.5 sacks was part of a Broncos siege on Miami quarterbacks through most of the game. Even when not getting official sacks, WMU defenders were repeatedly penetrating for quarterback hurries. 

Miami starter Thomas Gotkowski took several hard shots during his time behind center. He was able to connect on just 7 of 17 pass attempts totaling 92 yards. Henry Hesson took over in the third quarter, eventually completing 7 of 20 for 107 yards and a TD. 


Miami also had its struggles in the ground game. Partially due to six TFL, the RedHawks totaled 73 yards rushing (2.4 ypc) against WMU. Some of the gains came late.

Western Michigan, meanwhile, was able to lean heavily on its ground game. The Broncos rushed 56 times for a total of 286 yards (5.1 ypc) and two TDs.

Sophomore quarterback Broc Lowry, who began his collegiate career at Indiana (2023),  threw just 13 passes (7/10, 100 yards in the first half), completing 8 of 13 for 111 yards on the day. He also ran 23 times for 65 yards. 

After Buckley's early touchdown put WMU up 7-0, Miami quickly responded with a five-play drive. Two Gotkowski completions to Kenny Perry (21 yards and 29 yards) and a Bronco roughing the passer penalty got Miami into the red zone. Two plays and a WMU penalty later, Brunson scored from 1-yard out. However, the PAT attempt failed and Miami trailed 7-6. It would not score again until the fourth quarter. 

Western Michigan's kicking game, meanwhile provided nine points before intermission. After his 27-yard first quarter field goal. Palmer Domschke hit a 31-yard field goal early in the second quarter and nailed a 50-yard boot with 50 seconds left before halftime.

Buckley's second TD put WMU up 23-6 at 13:16 of the third quarter. Miami then closed scoring with Hesson's 6-yard pass to Cole Weaver. 

"Really proud of my guys: We took this thing maybe a little further than I thought we would at different points this year," head coach Chuck Martin said afterward. "At the beginning of the year, I definitely always expect to be in Detroit. I knew we had a changing of the guard; you have 28 seniors you're losing, and you don't have a lot of returners. But I have a lot of confidence in who we had...

"The year was up and down...but really proud of our coaches and players. We regrouped. Tons of kids played for us this year: The amount of kids that actually played and competed and helped us win games...

He concluded, "Just really proud of this group. They kept coming and coming. I'm pretty optimistic, and a few weeks ago...Detroit was the last thing on my mind. Then we regrouped and had a great road win against Buffalo and came back and got Ball State and got here. ... So just proud of everybody in the organization, to be honest with you."

NOTES: 
•  Bowl pairings will be announced Sunday, Dec. 7. 
•  Perry led MU with seven catches for 101 yards (14.4 ypc). His one-handed, toe-drag first quarter catch along the sideline was one of Miami's highlights on the day. The junior limped off in the field in the fourth quarter. 
Weaver recorded three catches for 65 yards and a score. No other RedHawk receiver had more than one catch. 
•  Western Michigan had three receives with two catches and two with one reception apiece.
•  The game's only turnover was a fumble by Hesson. Two WMU fumbles were recovered by Broncos. 
•  Three Miami players recorded double figures in tackles: Eli Blakey (15, 9 solo), Jackson Kuwatch (14) and Brock Uihlein (11). 
•  Junior DB Joshua Franklin led the Broncos with nine tackles. 
•  Although Western Michigan out-gained MU 397-272 overall, both teams registered 18 first downs. 
•  Miami converted 6 of 15 third downs and went 0 for 3 on fourth down chances. WMU was 4 of 15 on third down and 1 of 4 on fourth down). 
•  Western Michigan had a 20:5 -- 19:09 edge in time of possession before intermission. It finished with a 35:17-- 24:43 advantage. 
•  The attendance was listed a 19,114.