Western Michigan Broncos vs Georgia Southern Eagles football recap: Eagles run all over Broncos 43-17

Western Michigan had no answer for Georgia Southern's rushing attack, and the Broncos lost convincingly to the Eagles by a score of 43-17.

Georgia Southern had something to prove this week, and they definitely proved it. The Eagles' rushing attack was unstoppable, rushing for 205 yards in the first half alone behind a three touchdown effort from Matt Breida. A late touchdown by Daniel Braverman put the Broncos within two touchdowns, but the Eagles were unfazed. Whatever P.J. Fleck told the Broncos at halftime, it didn't work. The speedy Brieda broke a tackle on the Eagle's opening drive in the second half and took the ball 70 yards to the end zone, putting Georgia Southern up 33-9 and put a stamp on a game that only moments into the third quarter appeared over.

To the untrained eye, one might think Western Michigan was the team that just lost 44-0 the week before, but on this night, the Broncos were no match for Georgia Southern - the team that did. Everything about the Broncos' performance was uncharacteristic, including three interceptions by the always reliable Zach Terrell, who ended the game with 227 yards and two touchdowns to go along with the turnovers. Uncharacteristic also were the Bronco special teams units. The punting unit soared a snap into the Bronco end zone for a safety early in the first quarter to make the game 9-3 in favor of the Eagles, and later fumbled the ensuing kickoff after Georgia Southern made it 40-17. The Eagles tacked on a field goal as a result to push the game to its final tally, 43-17.

Bronco stars Jarvion Franklin and Corey Davis were about as absent from this contest as two stars could be. Neither logged over 100 yards in rushing or receiving, and Davis especially looked nothing like the player he was just a week ago at Waldo Stadium. In fact, Davis caught just two passes, both in the first half, and left with an injury in the second quarter. Braverman was the best player for the Broncos, though he wasn't innocent in the bad case of the drops that plagued the wide receiving corps all night. Braverman finished with 13 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Make no mistake about it, the show belonged to Breida and Georgia Southern. The Eagle back carried the ball 11 times for 176 yards and four touchdowns, three in the first half, and seemed to do whatever he wanted every time he touched the football. The Eagle defensive and special teams units bested the Broncos who had to be coming in with a great deal of confidence on the offensive side of the football. The Eagle defensive front neutralized everything the Broncos wanted to do offensively, forcing the Brown and Gold into a struggle from the opening kick. Four turnovers later, the Eagles were on route to their first win of the season.

The Broncos head home to take on the Murray State Racers on September 19th at Waldo Stadium