The Broncos set a break-neck pace early in a blowout victory.
In the only postseason matchup which pitted two champions from “non-Power” conferences against one another, Western Michigan (10-4, 9-1 MAC) made sure to leave no doubt.
The Broncos posted 14 points in the game’s first three minutes before ending the game on a 27-6 run to take the 2025 Myrtle Beach Bowl by a final score of 41-6 over Conference USA champion Kennesaw State (10-4, 9-1 CUSA).
Western started with possession, and immediately cashed in on the first play from scrimmage, as Jalen Buckley picked up where he left off two weeks ago with an electric 65-yard rushing touchdown to put WMU up 7-0. It would be the defense’s turn on the very next possession, as defensive end Rodney McGraw pulled down KSU quarterback Amari Odom for a sack-fumble— which was recovered by fellow edge rusher Keshawn Fisher for a 47-yard return touchdown to put the Broncos up 13-0 after a missed extra-point attempt.
A quick three-and-out gifted the Broncos the ball once again, and they would convert an eight-play, 60-yard drive on Broc Lowry’s first pass attempt of the day to tight end Mareyohn Hrabowski to extend the lead to 20-0. The catch was Hrabowski’s first of the 2025 season, and also the first receiving touchdown for the former quarterback-turned-wide receiver.
Jalen Buckley’s 63 yards rushing on the first two carries of the next WMU drive would set up an eventual touchdown pass from Lowry to tight end Blake Bosma— his first of the 2025 campaign— from three yards out on the flat route to put the score at 27-0 with 2:38 to go in the first quarter.
Kennesaw State’s defense forced their first punt of the day to start the second quarter, but the offense was held to another three-and-out, forcing a punt from their own 21-yard line. The boot by Joshua Huiet was too low, as special teams ace Braden Steely would get through the shield and block the punt, which eventually rolled out of bounds at the KSU 14-yard line.
Halfback Devin Miles, in for Jalen Buckley after his monster first quarter, would convert the special teams play to points a few plays later, putting the score at 34-0 with 7:45 to go in the first half.
The Owls looked to have caught a break with 5:20 to go in the second quarter, as JeRico Washington Jr. forced the ball out of Broc Lowry’s hands, allowing KSU defensive back’s Milon Jones to recover the ball at the WMU 46-yard line.
Unfortunately, as had been the case all game, Kennesaw State was unable to take advantage, with Amari Odom tossing an interception into the hands of WMU safety Tate Hallock on the first play of the new drive.
KSU got one last scoring opportunity to end the half, as a pair of explosive pass plays helped set up the Owls for a field goal try from 34 yards out, with another chance for points after the halftime break on the kickoff.
It wasn’t meant to be, as Britton Williams’ kick would drift wide left, keeping the tally at 34-0 at the halftime break, and Amari Odom would toss another interception on the first drive of the third quarter, this one being a back-breaking pick-six by Joey Pope from 65 yards out to put WMU’s lead at a near-unassailable 41-0.
The rest of the game was elementary, with Kennesaw State finally getting on the scoreboard with an 82-yard touchdown pass from Odom to Javon Rogers to put the score at 41-6 (after a missed extra point) near the end of the third quarter and neither team adding points in the final frame.
The star of the afternoon was Jalen Buckley, who exploded for 174 rushing yards on just eight carries, scoring once. Buckely averaged 21.8 yards per carry, with runs of 65 yards, 31 yards and 57 yards on the ledger. Buckley carried the ball once after the first quarter.
Devin Miles would shoulder the rest of the running load, 19 carries for 86 yards and a score. On the receiving end, Blake Bosma and Mareyohn Hrabowski both hauled in redzone scores. Bosma led WMU with five catches for 44 yards.
WMU won despite a quiet day from Broc Lowry, who finished 12-of-19 for 120 yards, two touchdowns and a late-game pick in the redzone. He was also credited with 23 rushing yards and a lost fumble.
On defense, the Broncos were without All-American edge rusher Nadame Tucker, who was sat to preserve his NFL Draft stock— making the unit’s performance all the more impressive.
The defense forced eight punts, created three turnovers, produced five sacks and seven tackles-for-loss and broke up six passes on the afternoon.
Rodney McGraw stood out on the defensive line, with 2.5 sacks and TFLs, a pass break-up, two QB pressures and two forced fumbles to go along five total tackles. Linebacker James Camden once again led the unit in total tackles (10) in addition to a sack, while Tate Hallock and Joey Pope each had an interception on the day. Aaron Wofford had two pass break-ups to lead the team.
Kennesaw State’s offense struggled immensely, failing to score on both redzone trips and giving up three turnovers with an average time-of-possession of 1:24.
Amari Odom finished 18-of-35 for 209 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, and was credited with two fumbles. Halfback Chase Belcher had a nice day on the ground despite the team’s general woes, with 148 yards on 16 carries, hauling in an additional 18 yards on three receptions. Javon Rogers led the team in receiving yards (111) and touchdowns (one), while Gabriel Benyard led the team in receptions (five) and was second in yards (51.)
Linebacker Baron Hopson once again eclipsed the double-digit mark in tackles, finishing the game with a dozen stops to put his season total at 138. Tayvion Lawson led the team with 1.5 tackles-for-loss, while Caleb Offord— a former Buffalo Bull— would pluck an interception late in the contest.
Western finishes the 2025 campaign at 10-4 overall, winning 10 of their last 11 games to do so. They start the 2026 slate on the road against the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Big House in Ann Arbor.
Kennesaw State fell short of completing a season for the ages, but have a positive record to build upon, finishing with a 10-4 mark under first-year coach Jerry Mack. They start the 2026 campaign against FCS foe West Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 5, on home grounds in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Category: General Sports
