Kelly’s late field goal and goal-line stop lift Western Michigan past Buffalo 20–17

Dieter Kelly kicked a 38-yard field goal with 1:19 remaining, and Western Michigan stopped Buffalo at the goal line to preserve a 20–17 road win on Saturday. The Broncos scored the final 10 points, then survived a last possession that carried the Bulls inside the Western Michigan five-yard line.

Buffalo reached first-and-goal at the four with less than a minute remaining. Nino Hill moved the ball to the two, an incomplete pass followed and Messiah Burch was stopped for no gain. On fourth-and-goal, Jason Wright gained only one yard, leaving Buffalo short of the touchdown it needed.

Lowry brings Western Michigan back

The Broncos trailed 17–10 early in the fourth quarter after Oliver Hautanen’s 35-yard field goal. Broc Lowry answered with a five-yard touchdown run at 6:44, and Kelly’s extra point tied the game. It was Western Michigan’s first touchdown since the opening quarter.

Lowry then helped move the Broncos into position for the winning kick. His 11-yard run and an 11-yard completion to Jalen Buckley produced consecutive first downs on the late drive. A subsequent Lowry run left Western Michigan short of another first down after review, and the Broncos sent Kelly out for the field goal.

Kelly had already made a 43-yard field goal late in the second quarter. His second successful kick gave Western Michigan its first lead since the opening minutes, but Buffalo still had enough time for one final response.

Buffalo’s final drive reaches the one

Wright repeatedly found Chance Morrow as Buffalo moved down the field. Completions of 18, 13 and 20 yards helped the Bulls reach Western Michigan territory. A pass-interference penalty moved the ball closer, and Wright’s 11-yard run set up first-and-goal.

Western Michigan’s defense then allowed only three yards over the next four plays. Domanick Moon and Scoop Gardner Jr. were credited with stopping Burch at the two on third down. Gardner made the fourth-down tackle on Wright, ending Buffalo’s opportunity one yard from the end zone.

The final ESPN play sequence records that fourth-down rush as a turnover on downs. Western Michigan took possession and finished the game without allowing Buffalo another play.

Early exchanges set up the close finish

Buckley opened the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Buffalo answered almost immediately when Wright threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Clacks III. Burch’s one-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter gave the Bulls a 14–7 lead before Kelly’s first field goal.

Lowry completed 19 of 24 passes for 212 yards without an interception and ran for 54 yards and a touchdown. Buckley contributed 62 rushing yards. Wright threw for 170 yards and a touchdown, while Burch finished with 106 rushing yards.

Western Michigan outgained Buffalo 327–305. Neither team committed a turnover. The Broncos improved to 3–2 and opened MAC play 1–0; Buffalo fell to 2–3 and 0–1 in the conference.