2007 Western Michigan Broncos football team

2007 Western Michigan Broncos football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	West
Record	5–7 (3–4 MAC)
Head coach	Bill Cubit (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Bill Miller (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium (Capacity: 30,200)

2007 Mid-American Conference football standings

	Div							Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L					W		L
East Division
Miami (OH) xy		4	–	2					5	–	2					6	–	7
Bowling Green x		4	–	2					6	–	2					8	–	5
Buffalo x		4	–	2					5	–	3					5	–	7
Ohio		3	–	3					4	–	4					6	–	6
Temple		3	–	3					4	–	4					4	–	8
Akron		2	–	4					3	–	5					4	–	8
Kent State		1	–	5					1	–	7					3	–	9
West Division
Central Michigan xy$		4	–	1					6	–	1					8	–	6
Ball State x		4	–	1					5	–	2					7	–	6
Eastern Michigan		3	–	2					3	–	4					4	–	8
Western Michigan		2	–	3					3	–	4					5	–	7
Toledo		2	–	3					3	–	5					5	–	7
Northern Illinois		0	–	5					1	–	6					2	–	10
Championship: Central Michigan 35, Miami 10
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Due to an unbalanced conference schedule, the team with best division record within each division was awarded that division's championship game berth.

The 2007 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill Cubit and played their homes game in Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Broncos finished the season 5–7 overall and 3–4 in the Mid-American Conference. The highlight of the season was the 28–19 road victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that finished fifth in the Big Ten Conference .

Preseason

The 2007 Bronco team returned 17 starters from an 8–5 team that finished 6–2 in the Mid-American Conference and participated in the 2007 International Bowl. While the team lost the bowl game 27–24, Western Michigan was picked to finish first in the MAC West Division and to win the MAC Championship Game by the MAC News Media Association.

Watch lists

• Robbie Krutilla, C, Outland Trophy
• Jim Laney, P, Ray Guy Award
• Branden Ledbetter, TE, John Mackey Award

All-MAC preseason teams

• First team
  • London Fryar, CB
  • Robbie Krutilla, C
  • Jamarko Simmons, WR
• Second team
  • Louis Delmas, FS
  • Branden Ledbetter, TE
  • Brandon West, RB

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	3:30 pm	at No. 3 West Virginia*	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV	ESPN+	L 24–62	60,563
September 8	8:00 pm	Indiana*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPNU	L 27–37	32,129
September 15	2:00 pm	at Missouri*	Faurot Field Columbia, MO		L 24–52	53,480
September 22	7:00 pm	Central Connecticut State*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI		W 51–14	15,718
September 29	7:00 pm	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	BCSN	W 42–28	18,542
October 6	7:00 pm	Akron	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI		L 38–39	25,610
October 13	4:00 pm	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	CSNC	W 17–13	23,057
October 20	2:00 pm	Ball State	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	Comcast Local	L 23–27	17,892
October 27	3:30 pm	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy)	Comcast Local	L 2–19	7,002
November 6	7:30 pm	Central Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI (WMU–CMU Rivalry Trophy, Michigan MAC Trophy)	ESPN2	L 31–34	16,952
November 17	3:30 pm	at Iowa*	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	BTN	W 28–19	70,585
November 24	2:00 pm	Temple	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI		W 16–3	8,662
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Roster

Wide receiver 37 Brooks Bunbury - Freshman 35 Nick Davis - Freshman 26 Kurt Ferrell - Freshman 11 Schneider Julien - Junior  5 Deshon Lawrence - Freshman  7 Herb Martin - Senior 86 Kelly Martin - Senior 89 Kyle McDowell - Freshman  4 Jamelle Murray - Freshman 81 Juan Nunez - Freshman 27 Jamarko Simmons - Junior 43 Tyler VanZandt - Freshman 83 Jordan White - Freshman 36 Tyler Aldridge - Sophomore Center 78 Robbie Krutilla - Senior 63 Paul Wasikowski - Sophomore Offensive guard 61 Nick Clemens - Freshman 60 Nick Mitchell - Freshman 65 Phillip Swanson - Freshman 64 Schyler Truesdell - Junior 62 Matt Williams - Senior Offensive tackle 75 James Blair - Senior 76 Steve Ellingsen - Junior 67 Rob Johnson - Junior 56 Andy Laue - Sophomore 77 Matt Lochmann - Sophomore 72 Anthony Parker - Freshman Offensive line 73 Josh Droppers - Freshman 79 Jonathan Jack - Freshman 58 Lee Pethan - Freshman 52 Andrew Yuds - Freshman Tight end 42 Chad Baliko - Sophomore 82 Branden Ledbetter - Junior 88 Anthony Middleton - Freshman 32 James O'Neill - Freshman 80 James Randall - Sophomore 87 Keith Schultz - Senior 84 Matt Stevens - Sophomore 85 Joel Workman - Freshman		Quarterback 12 Robert Arnheim - Freshman 18 Drew Burdi - Freshman 20 Caleb Clark - Sophomore  3 Tim Hiller - Sophomore 14 Thomas Peregrin - Senior 10 Dennis Reedy - Junior Tailback 34 Mark Bonds - Senior 24 Bobby Crawford - Freshman 36 Jaron Deshazor - Freshman 40 Kirk Elsworth - Junior 22 Glenis Thompson - Sophomore  2 Brandon West - Sophomore Fullback 23 Nic Saad - Senior Nose tackle 68 Cody Cielenski - Sophomore 98 Cory Flom - Junior Defensive tackle 92 Kevin Cryille - Freshman 55 Dezmond Gray - Senior 57 Jacoby Love - Freshman 91 Grant Nemeth - Junior 95 Chris Pyant - Freshman 93 John Russell - Junior 99 Nick Varcadipane - Junior Defensive end 94 Alvin Almicar - Freshman 96 Mark Berghuis - Sophomore 48 Justin Braska - Sophomore 90 Zach Davidson - Junior 54 Greg Marshall - Junior 97 Andrew Wersel - Freshman 16 Anthony Williams - Freshman		Cornerback  1 E. J. Biggers - Junior 28 Keith Dixson - Freshman 15 Andy Dorcely - Sophomore  6 Londen Fryar - Junior 25 David Lewis - Freshman 46 Desman Stephen - Junior 30 Dervon Wallace - Freshman Linebacker  8 Darrell Copeland - Senior 59 Dustin Duclo - Junior 80 Fernand Kashama - Junior 41 Dan Krasinski - Sophomore 43 Boston McCornell - Junior 53 Matt Pickens - Freshman 51 Harrison Porter - Freshman 35 Austin Pritchard - Junior 19 Cornelius Robinson - Junior 50 Garrett Sosnovich - Junior 45 Shaun Vernon - Freshman 42 Mitch Vorick - Freshman Free safety  9 Louis Delmas - Junior 38 Anthony Gebhart - Senior Strong safety 21 Antwain Allen - Senior 33 Mario Armstrong - Freshman 29 Scott Gajos - Junior 31 Nick Hunter - Freshman 26 C. J. Wilson - Junior 47 Jonathan Wright - Sophomore Long snapper 69 Tom Harrington - Sophomore 71 Brian Bailey - Junior Punter 37 Ben Armer - Freshman 66 Tim Balice - Freshman 39 Jim Laney - Senior Place kicker 17 Mike Jones - Senior 26 Caleb Morris - Freshman 41 Dylan VanFossen - Freshman
Updated September 11, 2007 Sources: 2007 WMU Football Media Guide, WMUBroncos.com Projected starters are in bold. Players who left the team are struck out.

Coaching staff

• Bill Cubit (Head coach)
• Bill Miller - Defensive coordinator
• Tim Daoust - Defensive secondary
• Grant Heard - Wide receivers
• Scott Kavanagh - Quarterbacks
• Peter McCarthy - Defensive line
• Jake Moreland - Tight ends
• Steve Morrison - Linebackers, recruiting coordinator
• Bob Stanley - Offensive line
• Chris Tabor - Running backs, special teams
• Tim Knox - Director of Football Operations
• Matt Ludeman - Defensive Graduate Assistant
• A. J. Ricker - Offensive Graduate Assistant

Game summaries

West Virginia

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	6	8	7	3	24
Mountaineers	14	14	21	13	62

Jamarko Simmons' 144 receiving yards on 14 catches with two touchdowns were not enough for Western Michigan to upset the #3 West Virginia Mountaineers. West Virginia nearly doubled WMU's offensive production (542 yards to 277 yards) and cruised to a 62–24 victory behind two passing touchdowns by Pat White and four touchdowns (three rushing) by Steve Slaton.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hoosiers	10	21	3	3	37
Broncos	7	0	7	13	27

WMU is 0–3 all-time vs Indiana. The most recent meeting was in 2006 when the Hoosiers won 39–20. All three games have been in Bloomington, Indiana.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Missouri

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	3	7	14	24
Tigers	14	17	7	14	52

In 1999, Missouri beat the Broncos 48–34. That was the only meeting between the two schools.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Central Connecticut State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Devils	0	7	0	7	14
Broncos	17	14	6	14	51

Central Connecticut State is the only Division I Football Championship Subdivision team on WMU's schedule. This is the first ever meeting between the two schools.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Toledo

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	20	15	7	42
Rockets	7	7	7	7	28

This game is the Mid-American Conference conference opener for WMU. Western Michigan defeated Toledo 31–10 in 2006 for the first time since 2000. WMU has not won at the Glass Bowl since 1988 (31–9 victory). Toledo leads the all-time series 36–25.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Akron

	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	10	14	0	15	39
Broncos	10	7	14	7	38

After shutting out Akron last season 17–0, WMU leads the all-time series 11–3 (8–1 at Waldo Stadium).

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Northern Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	3	7	7	0	17
Huskies	10	3	0	0	13

WMU leads the all-time series against Northern Illinois 20–11, including a 16–14 victory in 2006.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Ball State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	10	3	14	27
Broncos	3	10	0	10	23

WMU with possession of the football vs. Ball State.

After losing to WMU 41–27 last season, Ball State went on to finish the season 3–1, with the lone loss being 34–26 against then-#2 ranked University of Michigan. WMU leads the all-time series 19–14. This game is WMU's Homecoming.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Eastern Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	2	0	0	0	2
Eagles	0	3	6	10	19

This game is the first of the 3 games that will determine the 2007 Michigan MAC Trophy winner (Central Michigan vs. WMU November 17 and CMU vs. Eastern Michigan November 17). Western leads the all-time series 26-14-2 and has not lost in Rynearson Stadium since 1991 (7 wins).

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Central Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	0	3	7	24	34
Broncos	7	0	0	24	31

In a nationally televised Tuesday night game, WMU leads the all-time series against CMU 43-32-2 and has not lost at home to Central Michigan since 1993 (6 wins).

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	12	7	6	3	28
Hawkeyes	0	6	7	6	19

The final non-conference game of the season is the first between WMU and Iowa since WMU won 27–21 in 2000. That was the only meeting between the two schools.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Temple

	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	0	3	0	0	3
Broncos	0	6	10	0	16

WMU defeated Temple 41–7 last season in a year when Temple finished the season 1–11. WMU has never lost against Temple and leads the series 5–0.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Awards

Mid-American Conference Player of the Week

• Offense
  • Mark Bonds, RB, week 5 (26 car, 143 yds, 2 TD, 1 rec vs. Toledo)
  • Tim Hiller, QB, week 12 (26–45, 367 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT vs. Iowa)
  • Jamarko Simmons, WR, week 1 (14 rec, 144 yds, 2 TD vs. West Virginia)
• Defense
  • Dustin Duclo, LB, week 7 (10 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries vs. Northern Illinois)
  • Austin Pritchard, LB, week 1 (11 tackles vs. West Virginia)
• Special Teams
  • Mike Jones, PK, week 7 (21 yard field goal, 2 punts inside 20-yard line vs. Northern Illinois)
  • Jim Laney, P (2), week 1 (50.7 avg, 3 inside 20 vs. West Virginia), week 13 (40.2 avg, 2 inside 20, long punt of 57 yds vs. Temple)
  • Brandon West, KR, RB (3), week 2 (5 ret, 212 yds, 42.4 avg, TD vs. Indiana), week 6 (5 ret, 120 yds, 24.0 avg vs. Akron), week 12 (30 car, 116 yds, 9 rec, 93 yds, 4 ret, 82 yds vs. Iowa)

Mid-American Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week

• Tim Hiller, QB (3), week 2, week 6, week 12

Academic All-District

• Anthony Gebhart, S, First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV

John Mackey Tight End of the Week

• Branden Ledbetter, TE, week 11 (5 rec, 124 yds, TD vs. Central Michigan)

Statistics

Team

Team Opp Scoring 223 245   Points per Game 31.9 35.0 First Downs 157 144   Rushing 59 70   Passing 91 60   Penalty 7 14 Total Offense 2799 3042   Avg per Play 5.0 6.1   Avg per Game 399.9 434.6 Fumbles-Lost 12–9 24–11 Penalties-Yards 65-529 44-378   Avg per Game 75.6 54.0

Team Opp Punts-Average 35–43.8 28–41.1 Time of Possession/Game 32:18 27:42 3rd Down Conversions 45/113 40% 48/105 46% 4th Down Conversions 10/18 56% 4/12 33% Touchdowns Scored 30 32 Field Goals/Attempts 5/6 7/11 PAT/Attempts 24/27 30/31 Attendance 73,457 155,642   Games/Avg per Game 24,486 38,910

Offense

Rushing

Player	Att	Yards	Yds/Att	TD	Yds/Game
Mark Bonds	109	492	4.5	6	70.3
Brandon West	101	461	4.1	3	58.6
Glenis Thompson	24	88	3.7	1	12.6
Schneider Julien	3	11	3.7	0	1.6
Herb Martin	1	8	8.0	0	1.1
Bobby Crawford	3	6	2.0	0	6.0
Thomas Peregrin	5	1	0.2	0	0.3
Jamarko Simmons	3	−8	−2.7	0	−1.1
Drew Burdi	3	−11	−3.7	0	−5.5
Tim Hiller	30	−48	−1.6	1	−6.9

Passing

Player	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD	Int	Avg	Rating
Tim Hiller	159	244	65.2	1713	13	8	244.7	135.16
Thomas Peregrin	15	24	62.5	129	1	1	32.2	113.07
Drew Burdi	2	3	18	66.7	1	0	9.0	227.07
Herb Martin	1	1	100.0	14	1	0	2.0	547.60

Receiving

Player	Rec	Yds	Yds/Rec	TD	Yds/G
Jamarko Simmons	60	696	11.6	6	99.4
Branden Ledbetter	27	308	11.4	4	44.0
Brandon West	25	213	8.5	1	30.4
Herb Martin	21	251	12.0	1	35.9
Juan Nunez	10	169	16.9	1	24.1
Mark Bonds	8	34	4.2	0	4.9
Schneider Julien	7	49	7.0	0	7.0
Anthony Middleton	5	46	9.2	1	6.6
Keith Schultz	5	34	6.8	1	4.9
Jordan White	4	33	8.2	0	8.2
Jamelle Murray	3	27	9.0	1	6.8
Glenis Thompson	1	8	8.0	0	1.1
Kelly Martin	1	6	6.0	0	3.0

Defense

Tackles

Player	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL	Sacks	Fumble force	Fumble rec
Anthony Gebhart	15	16	31	1	0	0	0
C.J. Wilson	10	16	26	1⁄2	0	1	0
Dustin Duclo	13	12	25	2	0	0	0
Boston McCornell	8	15	23	2	1⁄2	1	0
Londen Fryar	15	11	26	0	0	0	0
E. J. Biggers	12	4	16	1	0	1	1
Zach Davidson	6	9	15	4+1⁄2	1+1⁄2	0	0
Nick Varcadipane	3	9	12	1	0	0	0
Austin Pritchard	5	6	11	0	0	0	0
Mark Berghuis	4	4	8	1+1⁄2	1⁄2	1	0
Justin Braska	3	5	8	1⁄2	1⁄2	0	0
Cody Cielenski	4	4	8	2	1⁄2	0	0
Greg Marshall	2	6	8	1+1⁄2	1⁄2	0	0
Andy Dorcely	5	2	7	0	0	0	0
Cory Flom	1	6	7	1⁄2	0	0	0
Harrison Porter	1	6	7	0	0	0	0
Desman Stephen	2	3	5	0	0	0	0
Cornelius Robinson	1	3	4	0	0	0	0
Mario Armstrong	3	1	4	0	0	0	0
Matt Pickens	1	2	3	0	0	0	0
Scott Gajos	2	1	3	0	0	0	0
Grant Nemeth	0	3	3	0	0	0	0
Garrett Sosnovich	1	2	3	0	0	0	0
Fernand Kashama	1	1	2	0	0	0	0
Louis Delmas	1	1	2	0	0	0	0
Brandon West	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
Antwain Allen	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Nic Saad	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Herb Martin	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Mike Jones	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Glenis Thompson	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Phillip Thompson	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Jim Laney	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Phillip Swanson	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Kirk Elsworth	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Tom Harrington	0	0	0	0	0	0	1

Interceptions

Player	Int	Yds	Break Up
Anthony Gebhart	1	24	2
C.J. Wilson	1	46	1
Andy Dorcely	1	5	1
E. J. Biggers	0	0	3
Londen Fryar	6	167	24
Nick Varcadipane	0	0	2
Dustin Duclo	0	0	2
Cory Flom	0	0	1
Garrett Sosnovich	0	0	1

See also

• 2007–08 Mid-American Conference season

External links

• 2007 WMU Football Media Guide