Western Kentucky, Western Michigan treat fans in First Responder Bowl

Despite outgaining Western Michigan by nearly 200 yards, Western Kentucky needed a last-second field goal to emerge victorious at the First Responder Bowl.

One year after the First Responder Bowl was cancelled between Boston College and Boise State, Western Michigan and Western Kentucky met in Dallas for this year’s edition at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. A controversial finish saw the Broncos incur a 12-men-on-the-field penalty, allowing Hilltoppers placekicker Cory Munson to drill the game-winning field goal from 52 yards out on an untimed down. In the process, Western Kentucky prevented overtime and walked away with a 23-20 victory.

Western Michigan, after leading for much of the game and after taking a 20-17 lead inside the final five minutes, is left to second-guess their decision to go for it on fourth down instead of kicking their own potential game-winning field goal from 48 yards inside the final minute.

Ty Storey put in a phenomenal performance for the Hilltoppers. The graduate transfer from Arkansas finished 35-of-51 passing, slinging the ball for 358 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Storey did throw two interceptions which Western Michigan turned into 10 points, including a pick-six that Kareem Ali took 88 yards to the house.

If not for those points off turnovers, the Hilltoppers never would have sweated the result down to the final minute. Western Kentucky outgained Western Michigan 481 to 307 in total offense, holding possession for four extra minutes and gaining 28 first downs to 19 for the Broncos.

The Hilltoppers defense put in a huge day in the First Responder Bowl, holding Western Michigan quarterback Jon Wassink to 193 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. Wassink completed 19 of his 36 attempts, barely finishing above 50 percent after struggling to complete passes for most of the day. The quarterback added 26 rushing yards as the Broncos struggled to move the ball by land or air.

Most critically, Western Kentucky held top Broncos running back Levante Bellamy to 60 yards on 18 carries. Most importantly, the Hilltoppers held Bellamy scoreless after the running back came into the First Responder Bowl leading the nation with 23 rushing touchdowns. Bellamy remained deadlocked with Xavier Jones atop the national leaderboard, opening the door for Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor or Navy’s Malcolm Perry to pass the duo at the top with a three-touchdown game in their respective bowls.

With the win, Western Kentucky finished with their best final record since going 11-3 in 2016. It was just the third time in school history that the Hilltoppers won at least nine games in a season.

Tyson Helton’s first season at the helm proved to be an unqualified success for Western Kentucky as they prevailed in the First Responder Bowl. For Western Michigan, which missed the MAC Championship Game after losing by a field goal to Northern Illinois in the regular-season finale, is left to wonder what might have been had they called the game a little differently in Dallas.