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First Look: Western Michigan

FOOTNOTES

Western Michigan starting quarterback Jack Salopek did not play in Saturday’s 34-6 loss to San Jose State, reportedly because of an upper-body injury.

Redshirt-freshman Mareyohn Hrabowski got his first collegiate start at QB and completed 4-of-8 passes for 56 yards, and ran for 28 yards on 14 carries. It’s uncertain if Salopek will be available to play when Western Michigan (1-3, 1-0 MAC) faces the University of New Hampshire on Saturday night.

Salopek has completed 52 of 97 passes for 522 yards in three games this season. He has one TD pass and has been intercepted four times.

Western Michigan was held to 206 yards off offense — 135 on the ground and 71 through the air — against San Jose State. Safety Bricen Garner, linebacker Zaire Barnes and linebacker Corvin Moment each recorded a team-high seven tackles. Running back Sean Tyler led the Western Michigan rushing attack with 18 carries for 66 yards.

The Broncos committed 12 penalties for 96 yards and were penalized seven times in the first quarter.

Western Michigan was held without an offensive touchdown in the loss. The team’s only points came on Tyler’s 90-yard kickoff return in the third quarter.

Western’s Michigan’s lone victory this season came against Ball State (37-30). Its other losses were against Michigan State (35-13) and Pittsburgh (34-13). Salopek was 6 of 18 for 99 yards and had three passes intercepted against Pitt.

Wide receiver Anthony Sambucci has the team’s only other TD pass this season.

Field position has also been a problem for the Broncos. Through three games they ranked 114th among FBS teams in average starting field position. Western Michigan’s average starting field position Saturday was its own 18-yard line.

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