Road Weary Broncos Rest

KALAMAZOO - The Western Michigan University football team (1-3 overall, 0-1 MAC) will have this weekend off from competition before resuming Mid-American Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 9, against Toledo in Waldo Stadium (7:00 p.m. kickoff). That contest will mark the first home game in 37 days.

WMU is coming off a 41-14 loss at Ball State Saturday (Sept. 25), the Broncos' first conference opening loss in eight seasons under coach Gary Darnell. WMU reached the end zone on a pair of Ryan Cubit passes - a 12-yard strike to TE Tony Scheffler and a 34-yard completion to WR Greg Jennings. Jennings' TD reception was the 16th of his career, moving him into a fourth-place tie with Bob Phillips (1979-82) on WMU's all-time list.

Saturday's contest included several notable performances. Junior RB Trovon Riley rushed for 95 yards on 24 carries, turning in the second-best performance of his career. Senior LB Mike Giorgianni (pronounced: GEORGE-e-on-knee) led the team in tackles for the third time this season, making eight stops.

The Broncos will conduct a brief workout today and hold standard practices (3:00-5:15 p.m.) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before taking Friday and Saturday off.

NOTES: The tight end trio of Scheffler, Tyson DeVree and Mike Onaga have combined for 22 receptions, 241 yards and three touchdowns * WMU quarterbacks connected with 10 different targets at Ball State (6-receivers, 3-tight ends, 1-running back) * sophomores FS Darrell Copeland (15-11-26) and LB Paul Tithof (11-15-26) stand second in team tackles *the Broncos rank second in pass sacks in the MAC (10), paced by Ernest Osborne's 3.5 sacks * Robert Menchinger extended his PAT streak to 77 - third longest in the nation.