No. 17 Western Michigan claims title to stay undefeated
DETROIT — Robert Spillane intercepted a pass with 51 seconds remaining, and No. 17 Western Michigan remained undefeated, holding off Ohio 29-23 on Friday night to win its first Mid-American Conference title since 1988.
The Broncos (13-0) led 23-7 at halftime, but Ohio rallied and had the ball in WMU territory in the final minute when Spillane intercepted Greg Windham’s pass over the middle. Spillane imme- diately took a knee at his 30, then was mobbed by his Western Michigan teammates as a Ford Field crowd — the 45,615 was a record for a MAC title game — full of Broncos fans roared.
Ohio (9-4) never led and didn’t do much on offense until the final quarter, but the Bobcats still came close to their first MAC championship since 1968.
Instead, Western Michigan became the first undefeated team to win the MAC title game since Marshall in 1999.
The question is whether t h e B r o n c o s h a v e d o n e enough to make it to the Cotton Bowl. Western Michigan is trying to earn the Group of Five bid to a New Year’s Six bowl.
Western Michigan’s Corey Davis had eight catches for 144 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
Butch Hampton kicked five field goals, the last a 34-yarder that gave Weste r n M i c h i g a n a 2 9 - 2 3 lead with 1:24 remaining. The takeaway
Ohio: The Bobcats can hold their heads high after giving WMU its toughest game against a MAC oppon e n t a l l s e a s o n . O h i o ’s defense held firm early, when a couple fumbles by the Bobcats gave WMU a chance to break it open.
WMU: The Broncos may end up sweating out the bowl announcements Sunday — Navy is putting up quite a fight for that Group of Five spot — but WMU can celebrate a truly special season no matter what happens. The Broncos nearly let it slip away in the second half, but their first conference title in nearly three decades was an accomplishment to savor. Up next
Ohio: The Bobcats’ MAC title drought continues, but Ohio is bowl eligible for the eighth straight season.
WMU: Navy plays Temple for the AAC title today, and WMU will obviously be rooting for the Owls in that one. Navy was t wo spots behind the Broncos in the most recent playoff rankings.
AAC title game today: No. 19 Army (9-2, 7-1) and Temple (9-3, 7-1) will bring similar st yles to the field today in the American Athletic Conference Championship game in Annapolis, Md.
Navy ranks second nationally in rushing offense with 342 yards per game and holds the ball an average of 32 minutes, 40 seconds. Temple ranks fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in time of possession at 34 minutes per game.