COLLEGE PARK, Md. – After trailing 13-6 at intermission, the Bowling Green Falcons exploded for 42 second-half points knock off the Maryland Terrapins, 48-27, Saturday at Byrd Stadium. With the win, Bowling Green improves to 1-1, while Maryland falls to 1-1.
Bowling Green ran 105 plays and outgained Maryland, 692-341. The 692 yards of total offense is the most under head coach Dino Babers. The 48 points is tied for the most under Babers. The Falcons also outgained Maryland on the ground, 201-156.
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Bowling Green ran 105 plays and outgained Maryland, 692-341. The 692 yards of total offense is the most under head coach Dino Babers. The 48 points is tied for the most under Babers. The Falcons also outgained Maryland on the ground, 201-156.
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Redshirt-senior quarterback Matt Johnson completed 36-of-55 passes for 491 yards and six touchdowns. The 491-mark ranks second in school history, while his six touchdown tosses ties a school record. Johnson also became the first Falcon to throw for over 400 yards in back-to-back games, as he registered 424 threw the air last Saturday versus Tennessee.
SPREADING THE AERIAL WEALTH
Sophomore wide receiver Roger Lewis hauled in 15 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns. His 15 receptions ranks tied for fifth all-time, while the 200 yards was sixth best in Falcon football history. Redshirt-sophomore Robbie Rhodes caught two passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Junior Ronnie Moore followed with 79 yards on eight catches, while Maryland-native Ryan Burbrink and tight end Derek Lee added a touchdown reception apiece.
COPPET AND GREENE
Junior Fred Coppet led the Falcon rushing attack with 109 yards on 18 carries. Redshirt-senior Travis Greene scored a touchdown and ran for 65 yards on 18 touches.
SWARMING DEFENSE
Defensively, the Falcons intercepted three passes. Senior Dernard Turner picked off two passes, while sophomore Clint Stephens intercepted one. As a team, BGSU recorded seven tackles for loss, and registered five pass breakups. Graduate transfer defensive back Eilar Hardy and senior linebacker Trenton Greene led the way with eight tackles apiece. Greene had two tackles for loss, while Hardy had one. Defensive linemanZach Colvin also posted two tackles for loss, and Turner picked up a tackle in the backfield, as well.
Redshirt-junior linebacker James Sanford picked up six tackles. Redshirt-senior defensive back Darrell Hunter and redshirt-sophomore linebacker Austin Valdez notched five tackles each. Valdez and redshirt-sophomore linebacker Nate Locke assisted on a tackle for loss.
Bowling Green knotted the game for the first time early in the third quarter. Johnson found Lewis for a 58-yard strike that evened the game at 13-13. The two teams then traded scores, as Maryland took the lead on the ensuing drive, but the Falcons answered right back. Redshirt-junior defensive back Alfonso Mack – who had two tackles and a pass breakup – recovered a fumbled punt return inside the Maryland 20-yard line.
DRIVING THE FIELD
Bowling Green proceeded to drive 14 yards in four plays, capped by a Greene three-yard rush that tied the game at 20-20. Early in the fourth quarter, the Orange and Brown took the lead for the first time all afternoon, as Burbrink hauled in a five-yard touchdown pass, capping a 14-play drive that started from Bowling Green's own one-yard line.
ALL FALCONS DOWN THE STRETCH
Maryland would answer one final time to tie the game at 27-27, but the Falcons scored the final 21 points of the ballgame to run away with the victory.
On second-and-10, Johnson floated up a deep ball down the Maryland sideline. Lewis adjusted for the ball and came down with it in the end zone. Turner registered his first interception of the contest on Maryland's next drive, setting up Rhode's first career touchdown. On third-and-seven, Rhodes caught a deep pass and shed a tackle en route to a 44-yard score.
Maryland's backup quarterback, Caleb Rowe, then entered the game, but Stephens intercepted his very first pass. Five plays later, the Falcons scored again. Dieter's lone reception – a 14-yard strike from Johnson – put BGSU on top, 48-27. The Terrapins' starter, Perry Hills, was limited to just 15 completions on 30 attempts.
The Terrapins scored on their opening drive, driving 52 yards before settling for a Brad Craddock 41-yard field goal. Maryland later increased its lead to 10-0, as William Likely returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown as the first quarter expired.
ANOTHER WEATHER DELAY
The Falcons answered right back on their ensuing possession. Bowling Green marched 82 yards over 10 plays, and capped off the scoring-drive with Lee's first career touchdown. Johnson pitched the ball to Lee, who carried it in from five yards out. The Falcons' two-point conversion failed, however, keeping the Orange and Brown's deficit at four.
On Maryland's next possession, Hills rushed for 36 yards down to the BGSU 11 on third-and-five, but the Falcon defense stood tall. Greene blew up a run in the backfield on third-and-short, forcing the Terrapins to settle for another field goal. The score stood still for the remainder of the quarter, and Maryland took a 13-6 lead into halftime. For the second week in a row, lightning delayed the ballgame, forcing both teams to sit in the locker room for an extra 55 minutes.
The Falcons ran 50 plays and outgained Maryland in the opening half, 247-187. The Bowling Green defensive limited the Terrapins to 66-passing yards on seven completions, while Johnson completed 20-of-26 passes for 181 yards and the one score. Lewis hauled in 11 receptions for 98 yards, while Greene led the rushing attack with 40 yards on 12 carries.
The Falcons will take on the University of Memphis on Saturday Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. inside of Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
(Courtesy of BGSU Athletics)
SPREADING THE AERIAL WEALTH
Sophomore wide receiver Roger Lewis hauled in 15 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns. His 15 receptions ranks tied for fifth all-time, while the 200 yards was sixth best in Falcon football history. Redshirt-sophomore Robbie Rhodes caught two passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Junior Ronnie Moore followed with 79 yards on eight catches, while Maryland-native Ryan Burbrink and tight end Derek Lee added a touchdown reception apiece.
COPPET AND GREENE
Junior Fred Coppet led the Falcon rushing attack with 109 yards on 18 carries. Redshirt-senior Travis Greene scored a touchdown and ran for 65 yards on 18 touches.
SWARMING DEFENSE
Defensively, the Falcons intercepted three passes. Senior Dernard Turner picked off two passes, while sophomore Clint Stephens intercepted one. As a team, BGSU recorded seven tackles for loss, and registered five pass breakups. Graduate transfer defensive back Eilar Hardy and senior linebacker Trenton Greene led the way with eight tackles apiece. Greene had two tackles for loss, while Hardy had one. Defensive linemanZach Colvin also posted two tackles for loss, and Turner picked up a tackle in the backfield, as well.
Redshirt-junior linebacker James Sanford picked up six tackles. Redshirt-senior defensive back Darrell Hunter and redshirt-sophomore linebacker Austin Valdez notched five tackles each. Valdez and redshirt-sophomore linebacker Nate Locke assisted on a tackle for loss.
Bowling Green knotted the game for the first time early in the third quarter. Johnson found Lewis for a 58-yard strike that evened the game at 13-13. The two teams then traded scores, as Maryland took the lead on the ensuing drive, but the Falcons answered right back. Redshirt-junior defensive back Alfonso Mack – who had two tackles and a pass breakup – recovered a fumbled punt return inside the Maryland 20-yard line.
DRIVING THE FIELD
Bowling Green proceeded to drive 14 yards in four plays, capped by a Greene three-yard rush that tied the game at 20-20. Early in the fourth quarter, the Orange and Brown took the lead for the first time all afternoon, as Burbrink hauled in a five-yard touchdown pass, capping a 14-play drive that started from Bowling Green's own one-yard line.
ALL FALCONS DOWN THE STRETCH
Maryland would answer one final time to tie the game at 27-27, but the Falcons scored the final 21 points of the ballgame to run away with the victory.
On second-and-10, Johnson floated up a deep ball down the Maryland sideline. Lewis adjusted for the ball and came down with it in the end zone. Turner registered his first interception of the contest on Maryland's next drive, setting up Rhode's first career touchdown. On third-and-seven, Rhodes caught a deep pass and shed a tackle en route to a 44-yard score.
Maryland's backup quarterback, Caleb Rowe, then entered the game, but Stephens intercepted his very first pass. Five plays later, the Falcons scored again. Dieter's lone reception – a 14-yard strike from Johnson – put BGSU on top, 48-27. The Terrapins' starter, Perry Hills, was limited to just 15 completions on 30 attempts.
The Terrapins scored on their opening drive, driving 52 yards before settling for a Brad Craddock 41-yard field goal. Maryland later increased its lead to 10-0, as William Likely returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown as the first quarter expired.
ANOTHER WEATHER DELAY
The Falcons answered right back on their ensuing possession. Bowling Green marched 82 yards over 10 plays, and capped off the scoring-drive with Lee's first career touchdown. Johnson pitched the ball to Lee, who carried it in from five yards out. The Falcons' two-point conversion failed, however, keeping the Orange and Brown's deficit at four.
On Maryland's next possession, Hills rushed for 36 yards down to the BGSU 11 on third-and-five, but the Falcon defense stood tall. Greene blew up a run in the backfield on third-and-short, forcing the Terrapins to settle for another field goal. The score stood still for the remainder of the quarter, and Maryland took a 13-6 lead into halftime. For the second week in a row, lightning delayed the ballgame, forcing both teams to sit in the locker room for an extra 55 minutes.
The Falcons ran 50 plays and outgained Maryland in the opening half, 247-187. The Bowling Green defensive limited the Terrapins to 66-passing yards on seven completions, while Johnson completed 20-of-26 passes for 181 yards and the one score. Lewis hauled in 11 receptions for 98 yards, while Greene led the rushing attack with 40 yards on 12 carries.
The Falcons will take on the University of Memphis on Saturday Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. inside of Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
(Courtesy of BGSU Athletics)
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