The game started with a bang. Middle Tennessee State struck first with a quick 5-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a Richie James 46-yard touchdown run. The Broncos responded three plays later on a Jamauri Bogan 62-yard touchdown run, but the Blue Raiders quickly answered with a Brent Stockstill 44-yard pass to James to make it 14-7, all within the first four minutes.
Western Michigan drove down the field, but after Jarvion Franklin got the Broncos to the 1-yard line, he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for an obvious elbow to the face of a Blue Raider defender.