W. Michigan tops UConn for 2nd straight season

Updated: Sep 22, 2012, 10:42 pm

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Alex Carder threw for 237 yards and a touchdown to lead Western Michigan to a 30-24 win over Connecticut on Saturday.

It marks the second straight season the Broncos (2-2), from the Mid-American Conference, have defeated Connecticut (2-2), from the Big East.

Carder completed 18 of 34 passes before leaving the game late in the third quarter after hitting his throwing hand on a helmet. Josh Schaffer caught six of Carder's passes for 104 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown early in the third quarter that put Western Michigan ahead 24-7.

Chandler Whitmer was 28 of 44 for 333 yards passing and three touchdowns for Connecticut. Lyle McCombs rushed for 119 yards while Geremy Davis caught nine passes for 123 yards for the Huskies.

Connecticut pulled within 24-17 on a 2-yard pass from Whitmer to John Delahunt and a 32-yard field goal from Chad Cristin midway through the fourth quarter. But on the Huskies' next drive, Desmond Bozeman returned a Whitmer fumble 53 yards for a touchdown.

It was the Broncos' first fumble recovery for a touchdown in three years. The score also pushed Western Michigan past the 10,000-point total in team history.

Whitmer added a 7-yard TD pass to Davis with 54 seconds to play, but the Broncos recovered the onside kick.

Antoin Scriven scored from 1 yard out early in the second quarter to cap an 88-yard drive and give Western Michigan a 10-0 lead. It marked his ninth career touchdown, all on 1-yard runs.

The Broncos followed that with a 36-yard drive capped by Dareyon Chance's 9-yard run for a 17-point lead. Chance led Western Michigan with 66 yards rushing.

The Huskies finally got on the scoreboard with 2:36 left in the first half on Whitmer's 9-yard pass to Ryan Griffin.

Donald Celiscar's interception at the 3-yard line stopped a UConn drive midway in the first quarter.

UConn had a 425-330 advantage in total yards.

This marked the first appearance at Western Michigan for a Big East opponent.

The start of the game was delayed by a half-hour because of lightning storms in the area.