Photo by Ashley Blanchard, WMU Photographer
Western Michigan couldn’t hold on to a halftime lead and fell in overtime to North Texas, 33-30, on Saturday evening at Waldo Stadium.
The Broncos (0-2) led 17-7 at the break and pushed their advantage to 24-10 midway through the third quarter, but the Mean Green’s high-powered offense took over late. North Texas out-gained WMU 305-86 in the second half and forced overtime with a game-tying field goal in the final two minutes of regulation.
Palmer Domschke was a bright spot for the Broncos, drilling all three of his field goal attempts—each from at least 40 yards—including a clutch 48-yarder to give WMU a 30-27 lead on the first possession of overtime. But UNT responded quickly, moving inside the 10-yard line after a penalty and sealing the game with a 3-yard touchdown run by Mackenzie McGill II.
Running back Jalen Buckley powered the Bronco offense, rushing 30 times for 112 yards and adding two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Broc Lowry delivered a career day with three total scores—two on the ground and one through the air—while also rushing for a personal-best 66 yards. Senior tight end Blake Bosma led the receiving corps with four catches for 31 yards.
On defense, Western Michigan tallied three sacks, highlighted by Rodney McGraw’s career-best 2.5. Nadame Tucker contributed a half-sack and three tackles, while Sefa Saipaia Jr. led the team with six stops.
The Broncos built their early advantage behind Lowry’s legs and Buckley’s versatility. Lowry broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, then connected with Buckley on a 17-yard scoring play to make it 14-7. Domschke’s 40-yard field goal before halftime sent WMU into the locker room up 17-7.
After UNT trimmed the lead to 17-10 in the third, the Broncos extended it when Lowry capped a short drive with his second rushing touchdown of the night, putting WMU ahead 24-10. But from there, the Mean Green seized momentum, scoring 17 of the game’s final 20 points in regulation before finishing the comeback in overtime.
Western Michigan now heads on the road to face No. 11 Illinois next Saturday night, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET on FS1.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
