Bowling Green 56, Buffalo 44
Falcons ride big plays to first MAC victory
STAFF REPORT
BUFFALO, NY -- Buffalo may have dominated much of the stat sheet, but visiting Bowling Green owned the scoreboard as BGSU earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of 2021 with a 56-44 upset of the Bulls Satuday at UB Stadium.
""I am super excited for our team. I thought we played all three phases of the game with much better production," BGSU head coach Scott Loeffler said. " Last week, we had such a disappointment because we are working on taking steps. We took some huge steps forward today."
Buffalo (4-5, 2-3 MAC) had a 36-11 advantage in first downs and held the ball for 38:14. UB also benefitted from a huge turnover differential as it was penalized five times for 54 yards, while BGSU drew 15 flags for a massive 177 penalty yards.
None of that mattered, however, as the Falcons took advantage of two Buffalo turnovers and nearly equaled Buffalo's 499 yards of offense with 484 of their own. Bowling Green made big play after big play to come out on top of an offensive slugfest.
Matt McDonald's 81-yard pass to Christian Sims on the third play from scrimmage set the game's tone. Six of BGSU's eight touchdowns were from at least 20 yards and half covered at least 47 yards.
Bowling Green was up 14-0 after one quarter and 21-3 midway through the second stanza. "Getting up ahead on this team was really important," Loeffler said. "We talked all week long about wanting to start fast, and I think we did start fast. We had big explosion plays, ran the ball better, which was great, and defensively with all the injuries and everything, I think they did a great job."
A 64-yard pass from McDonald to Tyrone Broden left Bowling Green with a 28-10 halftime lead, but Buffalo battled back with two third-quarter TDs to pull within five (28-23).
Loeffler was ejected in the third quarter after drawing unsportsmanlike penalties on back-to-back possessions. However, the Falcons then exploded for 28 fourth quarter points.
After McDonald's 30-yard scoring strike to Broden at 14:58 of the final frame, each team scored three more touchdowns -- one each in the final minute. Dominic Johnson's 4-yard reception from Matt Myers with 57 ticks left left the Bulls down five at 49-44. However, Bowling Green recovered the onside kick, and McDonald scampered 47 yards for a score on the next play.
McDonald completed 13 of 19 passes on the day, good for 263 yards and four TDs. Broden and Sims combined for nine catches, 213 yards and four scores to lead receivers. Terion Stewart, meanwhile, logged 11 carries for 170 yards and two scores as BGSU totaled 221 yards on the ground.
Buffalo starting QB Kyle Vantrease completed 5 of 10 passes for 38 yards with one interception before leaving with an injury late in the first half. Junior Matt Myers stepped in, completing 12 of 24 attempts totaling 239 yards with one interception and one pick. Dominic Johnson led UB receivers with four catches for 96 yards and one touchdown. Quian Williams collected five receptions for 87 yards.
Dylan McDuffie was the workhorse of a Buffalo gruond game that accumulated 222 rushing yards. He carried 34 times for 166 yards and a pair of TDs. Myers also had two scores, while Mike Washington tallied on a 14-yard run.
Alex McNulty connected on five PATs and hit a 50-yard field goal in one of two successful FG attempts.
BUFFALO, NY -- Buffalo may have dominated much of the stat sheet, but visiting Bowling Green owned the scoreboard as BGSU earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of 2021 with a 56-44 upset of the Bulls Satuday at UB Stadium.
""I am super excited for our team. I thought we played all three phases of the game with much better production," BGSU head coach Scott Loeffler said. " Last week, we had such a disappointment because we are working on taking steps. We took some huge steps forward today."
Buffalo (4-5, 2-3 MAC) had a 36-11 advantage in first downs and held the ball for 38:14. UB also benefitted from a huge turnover differential as it was penalized five times for 54 yards, while BGSU drew 15 flags for a massive 177 penalty yards.
None of that mattered, however, as the Falcons took advantage of two Buffalo turnovers and nearly equaled Buffalo's 499 yards of offense with 484 of their own. Bowling Green made big play after big play to come out on top of an offensive slugfest.
Matt McDonald's 81-yard pass to Christian Sims on the third play from scrimmage set the game's tone. Six of BGSU's eight touchdowns were from at least 20 yards and half covered at least 47 yards.
Bowling Green was up 14-0 after one quarter and 21-3 midway through the second stanza. "Getting up ahead on this team was really important," Loeffler said. "We talked all week long about wanting to start fast, and I think we did start fast. We had big explosion plays, ran the ball better, which was great, and defensively with all the injuries and everything, I think they did a great job."
A 64-yard pass from McDonald to Tyrone Broden left Bowling Green with a 28-10 halftime lead, but Buffalo battled back with two third-quarter TDs to pull within five (28-23).
Loeffler was ejected in the third quarter after drawing unsportsmanlike penalties on back-to-back possessions. However, the Falcons then exploded for 28 fourth quarter points.
After McDonald's 30-yard scoring strike to Broden at 14:58 of the final frame, each team scored three more touchdowns -- one each in the final minute. Dominic Johnson's 4-yard reception from Matt Myers with 57 ticks left left the Bulls down five at 49-44. However, Bowling Green recovered the onside kick, and McDonald scampered 47 yards for a score on the next play.
McDonald completed 13 of 19 passes on the day, good for 263 yards and four TDs. Broden and Sims combined for nine catches, 213 yards and four scores to lead receivers. Terion Stewart, meanwhile, logged 11 carries for 170 yards and two scores as BGSU totaled 221 yards on the ground.
Buffalo starting QB Kyle Vantrease completed 5 of 10 passes for 38 yards with one interception before leaving with an injury late in the first half. Junior Matt Myers stepped in, completing 12 of 24 attempts totaling 239 yards with one interception and one pick. Dominic Johnson led UB receivers with four catches for 96 yards and one touchdown. Quian Williams collected five receptions for 87 yards.
Dylan McDuffie was the workhorse of a Buffalo gruond game that accumulated 222 rushing yards. He carried 34 times for 166 yards and a pair of TDs. Myers also had two scores, while Mike Washington tallied on a 14-yard run.
Alex McNulty connected on five PATs and hit a 50-yard field goal in one of two successful FG attempts.
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