CFB: Western Michigan whacks Nevada 52-24 in Quick Lane Bowl

Western Michigan (8-5) rolled over Nevada (8-5) in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday afternoon to finish the season on a high note. The Broncos jumped out to a 14-3 lead and never looked back, securing a 52-24 win, behind a stellar performance from MVP Sean Tyler. The sophomore running back racked up a game-high 281 total yards, including a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown early in the first quarter. Jaxson Kinclaire also added 105 yards and two touchdowns on the ground against his former team as the Broncos took home the second bowl win in school history.

“Doing it in Detroit was really special to have so many fans and alumni here. There were tons of people from Kalamazoo that made the trip. To play the way we did in front of them, with their support, it all came together," Lester said in the postgame press conference following the bowl victory. "The future is now and this bowl game matters. Last time we were able to finish a season like this was in 2015. We’re going to continue to work because we have a long way to go but I hope that our guys have a lot of confidence and hunger going into the offseason."

Nevada took an early lead thanks to Devonte Lee’s 34-yard sprint on the opening series but had to settle for a field goal attempt after Marshawn Kneeland sacked Nate Cox on the ensuing third down. Brandon Talton's kick was good from 32 yards out but WMU responded immediately as Tyler housed a 100-yard kickoff to put his team up 7-3. A few minutes later, Kaleb Eleby added to the lead with a 74-yard TD pass to Corey Crooms. Nevada tried to keep up the pace as Lee pushed himself into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown but the Broncos quickly answered on the other end.

Eleby hit a wide open Brett Broske over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown as the Broncos offense continued to move the ball at will in the second quarter. Kincaide then scored the first of two touchdowns against his former school, helping Western Michigan to a 31-10 lead at halftime. He spent four seasons with the Wolf Pack before transferring to Western Michigan in 2020. Lester’s team kept their foot on the gas as Kincaide found the end zone again in the fourth quarter. The Broncos proved to be the much more aggressive and physical team on both sides of the ball in the 28-point win.

Kincaide talked about facing his former program in the final game of his career in the postgame press conference: “It felt surreal. We went to a museum on Thursday and seeing them all for the first time, my heart was racing. I was nervous and ready to play then. Today I calmed down and it was a great feeling to leave with some of the guys that I came in with in 2016. There were a lot of familiar faces. It was great to go out this way. We had a chip on our shoulder this game because we had a guy go down. La'Darius Jefferson was out with COVID and we just made sure that there was no fall off."

"Just humble, hardworking, and a great student and great representative of our program. Transfer players don't always become leaders in your program. Some do and he's one. Comes in, shows up and works hard every day. I'm hoping he becomes a coach. I'm trying to talk him into it. I will hire him," Lester later said about Kincaide's impact since transferring to Western Michigan. "It was a big game for him and to watch him go over 100 yards and protect the ball and see the vision. I was proud of him and he got in the end zone a couple times. What a great day for him."

Photo Credit: Streamable.