Western Michigan at Miami: What you need to know about Saturday’s game

Who: Western Michigan (2-2, 0-0 Mid-American Conference West Division) at Miami (1-3, 1-0 MAC East).

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Where: Yager Stadium (24,286), Oxford.

Coaches: Western Michigan Tim Lester, second season, 8-8 at WMU, 48-31 overall; Miami Chuck Martin, fifth season, 17-36 at Miami, 91-43 overall.

Last time: Western Michigan wiped out a 10-7 Miami first-quarter lead by outscoring the RedHawks , 28-3, the rest of the way for a 35-13 win at the Broncos' Waldo Stadium on Oct. 24, 2015.

Series notes: Miami leads the series, 37-21-1, including 22-7-1 at Oxford. The Broncos are on a five-game winning streak in the series since the RedHawks' 42-21 win at Kalamazoo, Mich., in 2004.

Stat pack: Western Michigan RB LeVante Bellamy Andrew Clair 50 carries, 389 yards, 7.8 avg., 3 TDs; QB Jon Wassink 78-of-125 passing, 984 yards, 8 TDs, 3 int; WR D'Wayne Eskridge 10 catches, 260 yards, 2 TDs; LB Drake Spears 28 tackles, 18 solo.

Miami RB Alonzo Smith 39 carries, 220 yards, 5.6 avg., 1 TD; QB Gus Ragland 88-of-122 passing, 723 yards, 5 TDs, 2 int.; WR Jack Sorenson 13 catches, 204 yards, 2 TDs; S De’Andre Montgomery 38 tackles, 19 solo.

Local flavor: Fr. TE Jackson Knipper, Beavercreek.

Worth noting: For the second time in three seasons, Western Michigan has seen a kicker transfer before his eligibility expired. This year, it was kickoff specialist Josh Grant leaving a trio of freshmen to compete for the job. Place-kicker Gavin Peddie and punter Nick Mihalic are listed as co-starters on the Broncos' depth chart, but Peddie might have the edge after making two field goals and four extra points during their win over Georgia State on his way to being named the MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week. Backup punter Cameron Braaten also is in the mix.

Quotes: Lester on Wassink going 20-of-25 for 236 yards and three touchdowns with Eskridge and tight end Gio Ricci out of action: "We have a ton of depth, which is something we didn't have before. Having some upperclassmen for a change also helps your depth because upperclassmen, in general, know every position. That depth, obviously. we've had that around here with our running backs for a long time, but we're starting to build it in other places. If we're going to make a run like we want to make, we're going to need it."

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