WMU Looks for First MAC Win Against UMass
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The 89th Annual Homecoming Game will feature a first for the WMU football program. It will be the first time UMass has visited Kalamazoo to face the Broncos this Saturday.
UMass, which is the newcomer in the Mid-American Conference, will be playing WMU for the first time in program history this Saturday. UMass is 0-5, 0-2 against the MAC and is coming off a close loss against the preseason MAC favorite Ohio 34-37. Though having not won a game yet, that gives no reason to look past the Minutemen.
"They got their own little thing going on over there," said head coach Bill Cubit. "They're feeling good."
Feeling not so good is the Broncos who are itching to get back on the field after the disappointing loss to Toledo on Saturday, 37-17. A hot start by the Rockets and costly turnovers doomed the Broncos and ended WMU's nine-game home winning streak.
"We just didn't get it done," said Cubit. "We just take full responsibility and now go out and face UMass."
Junior quarterback Tyler Van Tubbergen, who had three interceptions last week in his second career start, understands the importance of not making mistakes and executing the offense more efficiently.
"We can't expect to move the ball, if the quarterback isn't hitting the receivers, " said Van Tubbergen.
On the bright side, WMU holds a 5-2 record in homecoming games and have outscored Homecoming opponents 216-160, with three of the four wins coming by more than 20 points. Though just statistics, the Broncos know that UMass is hungry for its first MAC win.
"Their defense has hit their stride the past couple of games," said Van Tubbergen. "It's going to be a tough game but we need to maintain a more balanced attack."
Both UMass and WMU look for their first MAC win this Saturday. Start time for the game is 2 p.m.
