Western Michigan Beats Illini, EIU Downs Illinois St.

Western Michigan came to Illinois Saturday as three-point favorites to pick up its second win in three weeks over a Big Ten team.

Maybe that line should have been a little bigger.

The Broncos (3-0) knocked off Illinois 34-10, two weeks after beating Northwestern on the road, 22-21.

Western Michigan looked the part of a Big Ten team for much of the game Saturday, pushing the Illini (1-2) around the field. The Broncos held Illinois to 3 yards rushing while they piled up 287 yards on 54 carries.

Sophomore running back Jamauri Bogan led Western Michigan with 189 yards on 24 carries, including a pair of long touchdowns.

Bogan now has 425 yards - 6.8 a carry - and four touchdowns. He praised an offensive line that dominated the Illini defensive line, considered the strength of the Illinois team.

''Line came to play,'' he said. ''It's always the guys around me that allow things to happen when we play good football games.''

Broncos coach P.J. Fleck celebrated the win with fans who made the trip and said his team was never overwhelmed by the idea of facing another Big Ten team.

''They never flinched; they weren't going to be intimidated,'' he said, while trying to play down the significance of beating Illinois on the road. ''It's no bigger or less than any other win.''

Western Michigan opened up a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and finished the afternoon with 437 yards of offense.

EIU 24, Illinois State 21

Addison Bounds recovered an onside kick attempt with 31 seconds remaining and Eastern Illinois upset No. 5 Illinois State, 24-21, in the 105th playing of the Mid-America Classic.

It was EIU's first win over a top five ranked opponent since Nov. 7, 1992 when the Panthers beat No. 1 ranked Northern Iowa.

EIU built a 10-0 lead at the half with Nick Bruno knocking home a 42-yard field goal and Bounds catching a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Kimble.  Both Panther scores were set up the turnovers as Vince Speller forced a fumble that led to Bruno's field goal.  Tyree Stone-Davis picked off a pass in the second quarter that led to the Bounds touchdown.

Illinois State cut the margin to 10-7 early in the third quarter as Christian Gibbs hauled in a 16-yard touchdown.  EIU quickly answered with a touchdown pass to Ben Odugbesan with 8:06 to play in the third quarter.

Devin Church appeared to ice the game in the fourth quarter as he slipped through gap during an ISU blitz and raced 30-yards for a touchdown.  Church finished with 76 yards on the ground.

ISU scored twice in the final five minutes.  Jake Kolbe scored on a 58-yard quarterback scramble and then connected with Spencer Schnell on a two-yard pass with 36 seconds left to make it a three point game.

Bounds recovered the onside kick and EIU improved to 2-1 on the year and will host Austin Peay next Saturday at 1 p.m. in the OVC opener.

ISU fell to 2-1 on the season and will open Missouri Valley Football Conference play next week.

Seth McDonald led EIU's defense with ten tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss.  Jarvis Williams was credited with 3.5 tackles for loss.  Nick Horne had six tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the fourth quarter.