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Western Michigan upsets Northwestern after crazy fumble in end zone

Sam Cooper
College football writer
Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck walks the sideline during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck walks the sideline during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Western Michigan held on to a fourth quarter lead to pull off an upset of Northwestern on one of the more bizarre plays you will ever see.

After WMU took a 22-21 lead on a fourth-and-goal touchdown run by Jamuari Bogan with 5:38 to go, the Wildcats quickly put together a drive of their own. Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson kept on a first-and-goal run from the 6-yard line, and lunged for the goal line, but had the ball stripped.

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As the ball was bouncing out of the end zone just past the pylon, WMU’s Davontae Ginwright recovered the fumble on a bounce and inexplicably threw it back into the field of play as he fell out of bounds. Northwestern pounced on the loose ball for what looked like a go-ahead touchdown, but the play was ruled a touchback.

After a video review, the officials ruled that Ginwright still had possession of the ball as his foot hit the ground out of bounds — before he threw it back into the field of play. Because of this, the ruling of a touchback was upheld, and WMU regained possession at its own 20.

From then on out, the Broncos were able to pick up a few first downs to run out the clock and pull out an impressive 22-21 road win.

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The win won’t be a huge surprise for those paying attention to the job P.J. Fleck has been doing in Kalamazoo. The Broncos are the MAC favorites for a reason, and they played like it against a very solid Northwestern team that was looking to contend in the Big Ten West. The Wildcats can still do that, but this isn’t the start they wanted after winning 10 games in 2015.

The win is Western Michigan’s first over a Big Ten opponent since 2008.

For more Western Michigan news, visit BroncoBlitz.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!