KALAMAZOO, MI - Before he arrived in Kalamazoo, Western Michigan's Alex Grace was used to making plays with the football in his hands.

Saturday, the junior linebacker showed he can still make things happen when he gets his paws near the pigskin.

The former record-setting running back at Saginaw Swan Valley helped WMU capture its sixth consecutive win by collecting 11 tackles, a pass breakup and his first career interception in the Broncos' 35-10 victory against rival Central Michigan.

Grace's pick came on the heels of four consecutive punts from the WMU offense, while CMU was looking to get points on its third consecutive drive and put a dent it in its 21-10 deficit early in the fourth quarter.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound outside linebacker blanketed his opponent to the sideline, then settled into a deep zone, turning his head just in time to make a leaping catch on a late throw from CMU quarterback Tommy Lazzaro, who was under heavy pressure from Eric Assoua.

4Q - 12:42 | Alex Grace with the INTERCEPTION!

WMU 21

CMU 10



via ESPN+ >> https://t.co/rM1S2QHMJd#LetsRide pic.twitter.com/7n4F3MKZyo — WMU Football (@WMU_Football) October 20, 2018

"The interception he had was the play of the game," WMU head coach Tim Lester said at the team's weekly press conference Monday. "We were in a little bit of a lull in the third quarter, which there are going to be peaks and valleys in every game, and then -- Bam -- he has that interception, and it ignited the entire team.

"That took us through the fourth quarter. I really felt like that was the momentum changer for us."

WMU's offense marched to the end zone four plays later, effectively putting an end to CMU's comeback hopes with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter.

The big play not only helped WMU defeat the rival Chippewas, it also earned Grace MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors, making him the sixth different Bronco to earn the league honor through the first eight weeks of the season.

Grace came to Kalamazoo in 2015 following an incredible high school career at Swan Valley that saw him set a MHSAA state record with 2,962 rushing yards in his junior season. As a senior, Grace set another state record with eight consecutive 200-yard games. His 102 career rushing touchdowns currently rank third in MHSAA history, while his 7,551 career yards are fourth all time.

Swan Valley senior Alex Grace (9) runs the ball during a game against Nouvel Catholic Central on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014. (File | MLive.com)

When he enrolled at WMU, former coach P.J. Fleck saw linebacker potential in Grace's sturdy frame and 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed, so he moved him to defense.

Grace played in 12 games as a redshirt freshman and continued to excel on special teams as a sophomore, registering at least one tackle in every 2017 WMU game.

As a junior, he leads WMU with 59 tackles and is fifth in the Mid-American Conference with eight tackles for loss.

"He's been solid all year, and he's getting more and more comfortable," Lester said. "When his transition went from running back to outside linebacker, he was very mechanical trying to do the right thing, and now it's become comfortable. It's like when you teach a running back how to run, kind of like Chase Brown -- he's a little bit mechanical right now -- and eventually he'll make that turn to comfortable and do everything loosely, make his cuts smoother and more aggressively.

"He's to that point now in the last couple games where he's really playing like he's been a linebacker his whole life. He's been a leader. He's always going to be where he needs to be, but he's starting to make the other plays. He's starting to chase things down. He's starting to learn when he can leave his responsibility to go help somebody else out because (the opponent) is not going to hit (his) gap, so (he'll) dip underneath and make a big play.

"Before he'd just sit in his gap and say, 'Well, he didn't run through my gap.' Watching him be a complete player is awesome."

In an era ruled by the run-pass option, outside linebackers must be quick on their feet and even quicker to react, and there are few people who appreciate the gains Grace has made in his first year as a starter more than Lester.

"That's a hard position to play," the second-year coach said. "That outside linebacker spot in today's offense -- today's spread offenses -- that's the joker; that's the guy, as an offensive coordinator, who I read to see what he's doing.

"Every play, I have an eye on him as far as what I'm going to do with the ball.

"It's a hard position to play because you have to be a space player and you have to be tough enough to come in the box, and he's having a great year."