WMU hopes Waldo Stadium can help end three-game losing skid
KALAMAZOO - Western Michigan is looking forward to coming home.
After three straight losses on the road, the Broncos are hoping to turn things around with their first home game in a month as WMU will host Ball State at Waldo Stadium on Saturday.
"Really excited to get in front of our home crowd this week... first time since the opener," said WMU coach Lance Taylor. "Players are excited about that and excited to be playing Ball State."
The home environment is much needed as the Broncos suffered an emotional loss to Toledo in the Mid-American Conference opener. WMU led 24-14 going into the second half. However, the Rockets outscored the Broncos 35-7 in the second half.
"Saturday's loss was really tough," Taylor said. "You can see it in their eyes, they were hurting after the game, we all were. That's because we gave it everything that we had, weeks of preparation, hard work, but the results haven't showed up and that makes it tough. But what we have learned is that progress is a process and it takes time."
ON TV: Ball State (1-3) at WMU (1-3), 3:30 p.m. on ESPN-plus
Know The Opponent
Saturday will be Ball State's first conference game of the season as the Cardinals have started the season at 1-3, playing a challenging schedule, including a loss to defending national champion Georgia.
The Cardinals are coming off a 40-3 loss to Georgia Southern where Ball State didn't score until the fourth quarter.
Ball State has a strong running game, led by Marquez Cooper, who had 177 yards in a win over Indiana State.
"Ball State is a really good football team," Taylor said. "You can't look at their record, because they have played some really good football teams. They are smart, well disciplined and don't beat themselves."
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Impact Players
WMU continues to see standout play from Jalen Buckley on the offense and Tate Hallock on the defense.
Buckley leads the MAC in rushing as the redshirt freshman running back had 190 yards on 29 carries in the loss to Toledo.
The Bronco defense forced four turnovers in the loss to Toledo with Hallock, the transfer from Michigan State University, causing three of them with two interceptions and a forced fumble.
"Tate and Jalen have both been impact players for us so far this year," Taylor said. "Jalen is sixth in the nation in rushing and Saturday was a career-high for him. He continues to improve every week, really proud of him.
"Tate has been all over the field for us defensively and had a career high in tackles. He has been a great addition. He came in late, put his head down and went to work and has developed himself into a great player and a great leader."
Quarterback Questions
As WMU has rotated quarterbacks early this season, the Broncos have seemingly settled on Treyson Bourget, who earned nearly all the snaps in the loss to Toledo. Bourget was 12-of-22 for 160 yards.
Ball State might still be figuring things out.
The Cardinals played both Kadin Semonza and Kiael Kelly at quarterback in the loss to Georgia Southern and in the win against Indiana State. A third quarterback Layne Hatcher played in the first two games of the year, in losses to Georgia and Kentucky.
"Offensively, they want to run the ball," Taylor said. "They have played some really tough opponents and have played a couple of quarterbacks in those games. I think they are looking at what works here early on, which we are all doing as coaches. Each quarterback has a different skill set and do different things well."
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: WMU hopes Waldo Stadium can help end three-game losing skid
