2019 First Responder Bowl

The 2019 First Responder Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 30, 2019, with kickoff at 12:30 p.m. EST (11:30 a.m. local CDT) on ESPN.[5] It was the 10th edition of the First Responder Bowl (although only the ninth to be played, as the 2018 edition of the game was declared a no contest while the game was in the first quarter), and was one of the 2019–20 bowl games concluding the 2019 FBS football season. Sponsored by fire and water cleanup and restoration company Servpro, the game was officially known as the Servpro First Responder Bowl.

2019 Servpro First Responder Bowl
10th First Responder Bowl
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Western Michigan Broncos
(8–4) (7–5)
C-USA MAC
23 20
Head coach: 
Tyson Helton		 Head coach: 
Tim Lester
1234 Total
Western Kentucky 010013 23
Western Michigan 3773 20
DateDecember 30, 2019
Season2019
StadiumGerald J. Ford Stadium
LocationUniversity Park, Texas
MVPLucky Jackson (WR, Western Kentucky)[1]
FavoriteWestern Kentucky by 3[2]
RefereeJeremy Parker (Sun Belt)[3]
Attendance13,164
PayoutUS$824,545[4]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersDave Neal (play-by-play), DJ Shockley (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (sideline)

The 2019 First Responder Bowl was played in Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the campus of Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas. The move was necessitated by the National Hockey League's announcement that the league's annual New Year's Day outdoor game would be played in the bowl's normal host stadium, Dallas' Cotton Bowl, which created a scheduling conflict. Ford Stadium previously hosted two editions of the Armed Forces Bowl due to construction at its host stadium, Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.[6]

Teams

The game featured the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers of Conference USA (C-USA) and the Western Michigan Broncos of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). This was the 16th meeting between the two programs, and the first since 1947; Western Michigan led the all-time series, 11–3–1.[7]

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Main article: 2019 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Western Kentucky entered the game with an 8–4 record (6–2 in conference). The Hilltoppers finished tied for second place with Marshall in the East Division of C-USA.

Western Michigan Broncos
Main article: 2019 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Western Michigan entered the game with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference). The Broncos finished in second place of the West Division of the MAC. Each of their five losses during the regular season were away games.

Game summary
2019 Servpro First Responder Bowl
1 2 34Total
Western Kentucky 0 10 01323
Western Michigan 3 7 7320

at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • University Park, Texas

  • Date: Monday, December 30, 2019
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST (11:30 a.m. CST)
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: WNW 12 mph
  • Game attendance: 13,164
  • Referee: Jeremy Parker
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), DJ Shockley (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (sideline)
  • ESPN game summary
Game information
First Quarter
  • (4:17) WMU – Thiago Kapps 30 yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 57 yards, 6:11; Western Michigan 3–0)
Second Quarter
  • (10:54) WKU – Ty Storey 17 yard pass to Jahcour Pearson, Cory Munson kick (Drive: 11 plays, 93 yards, 5:28; Western Kentucky 7–3)
  • (2:22) WKU – Cory Munson 26 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 68 yards, 5:25; Western Kentucky 10–3)
  • (0:59) WMU – Kareem Ali 88 yard interception return, Thiago Kapps kick (Tied 10–10)
Third Quarter
  • (8:18) WMU – Jon Wassink 6 yard pass to DaShon Bussell, Thiago Kapps kick (Drive: 10 plays, 90 yards, 4:30; Western Michigan 17–10)
Fourth Quarter
  • (10:40) WKU – Ty Storey 5 yard pass to Lucky Jackson, Cory Munson kick (Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 6:32; Tied 17–17)
  • (4:58) WMU – Thiago Kapps 20 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 62 yards, 5:42; Western Michigan 20–17)
  • (1:36) WKU – Cory Munson 31 yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 3:22; Tied 20–20)
  • (0:00) WKU – Cory Munson 52 yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 36 yards, 0:27; Western Kentucky 23–20)

Statistics
StatisticsWKUWMU
First downs2819
Plays–yards80–48167–307
Rushes–yards28–12331–114
Passing yards358193
Passing: Comp–Att–Int35–52–219–36–1
Time of possession32:0127:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingTy Storey35/51, 358 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingGaej Walker15 carries, 93 yards
ReceivingLucky Jackson17 receptions, 148 yards, 1 TD
Western MichiganPassingJon Wassink19/36, 193 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingLeVante Bellamy18 carries, 60 yards
ReceivingSkyy Moore4 receptions, 68 yards

References
  1. @FRBowl (December 30, 2019). "Your @FRBowl MVP is Lucky Jackson" (Tweet). Retrieved December 30, 2019 – via Twitter.
  2. "Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  3. "2019-20 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  5. "2019-20 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, times, TV channels". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  6. Baby, Ben (May 23, 2019). "Conflict with Winter Classic forces First Responder Bowl to move from Cotton Bowl to SMU's Ford Stadium". dallasnews.com. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  7. "Winsipedia - Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Western Michigan Broncos football series history". Retrieved December 8, 2019.
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