Football Faces First MAC Road Test at UMASS
Ashley Blanchard, WMU Photographer
Football
DATE | Oct. 4, 2025
TIME | 2:30 PM ET
LOCATION | Amherst, Mass.
VENUE | McGuirk Alumni Stadium
TV | ESPN+
RADIO | Bronco Media Network
LIVE STATS | WMUBroncos.com
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan heads to Massachusetts for its first Mid-American Conference road test of the season on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The game can be watched live on ESPN+ and heard live on the Bronco Media Network.
THE SERIES
WMU leads the all-time series at 2-0 but Saturday will be its first trip to McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The Broncos’ only road trip to take on UMASS was back in 2013 but played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
A WHOLE LOT OF FIRSTS
Western Michigan’s win over Rhode Island brought about a whole lot of career and Bronco firsts….
– RS freshman wide receiver Terence Marshall caught his first career pass in the first quarter.
– Freshman wide receiver Aveion Chenault caught his first career touchdown pass.
– Junior college transfer running back Ofa “Lolo” Mataele had his first career rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
– Senior Devin Miles had his first career touchdown run in the second quarter.
– First career sack for Will Gerig
– First career two-touchdown game for Mataele
ALMOST THERE…
Western Michigan heads into its sixth game of the season, the mid-way point, on Saturday at Massachusetts. Through five games this season, the Broncos have recorded 18 sacks. In all of the 2024 season, WMU’s defense produced 19 sacks.
For all of 2024, only two Broncos had 3.0 or more sacks and three had 2.0 or more. Through five games James Camden (2.0), Marcel Tyler (2.0), Will Gerig (2.0), Rodney McGraw (3.0) and Nadame Tucker (3.0) have at least 2.0.
LUCKY NUMBER…
James Camden, Nadame Tucker, Rodney McGraw, Dakari Frazier, Will Gerig and Marcel Tyler combined for 7 sacks in last weekend’s 47-14 win over FCS Top-10 opponent Rhode Island. The Broncos have not had 7 sacks in a game since a 16-10 win at Miami (OH) back on Oct. 22, 2022.
TOP 20
Western Michigan defensive end Nadame Tucker nos sits tied for 19th in the nation in tackles for loss per game at 1.40. His 7.0 total tackles for loss also ranks ninth in the country. Tucker has recorded at least 0.5 tackles for loss in all five games this season. He opened the season with 3.0 at Michigan State, had 1.0 against North Texas, 0.5 at Illinois, 1.0 against Toledo and 1.5 against Rhode Island.
