Defense Dominates In 24-0 Win At Massachusetts

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Box Score: PDF | HTML Postgame Audio: Dave Clawson | Matt Schilz 102012.WMA">Matt Schilz | Dwayne Woods 102012.WMA">Dwayne Woods

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.—There is only one word to describe the Bowling Green State University's defensive performance at Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon: dominant. The Falcons defense only allowed 118 total yards, and also held the opponent under 100 yards rushing for the fourth straight game. The shutout was the first by a Falcon defense in eight years, with the last one coming in a 52-0 win over Western Michigan on November 6, 2004. The stellar defensive performance would lead to a 24-0 win on Saturday afternoon over UMass.

In front of 10,846 fans at Gillette Stadium (home of the New England Patriots) on Massachusetts' homecoming game, the Falcons would use four interceptions and good special teams play to give the offense good field position much of the afternoon. Out of the 15 Minutemen drives, the Falcons forced a three-and-out or turnover on 11 of those drives. The defense also held the Minutemen to 1-16 on third down conversions.

The Falcon offense only mustered 282 yards of total offense, including just 94 on the ground.

The Falcons got on the board with 5:12 left in the first quarter, when Matt Schilz found Shaun Joplin on a slant for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Stephen Stein's extra-point would be the final point scored in the first half.

After two straight pass interference penalties called on UMass in the third quarter, Schilz found Alex Bayer for a two-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead.

Less than a minute later, Dwayne Woods would virtually end the game, intercepting a Mike Wegzyn pass and returning it 48 yards for a touchdown. The interception return was Woods' second career touchdown.

Tyler Tate would add a 42-yard field goal with 10:11 to go in the game, giving the Falcons a 24-0 lead.

D.J. Lynch led the Falcon defense with 10 tackles. Gabe Martin had seven tackles on the afternoon, hitting the quarterback on multiple other occasions.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 5-3 overall, 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Minutemen fall to 0-7, 0-4 MAC.

BGSU will return to Doyt L. Perry Stadium next Saturday, when they welcome the Eagles of Eastern Michigan to town. Kickoff is set for 3:30 in that contest.

Notes
*Anthon Sameul moved into a tie for 18th place all-time in total rushing yards with 1,569. He is tied with Anthony Turner. Samuel also had a career-high with 58 yards receiving.

*Tyler Tate had a career-long field goal with his 42-yarder in the 4th quarter.

*The Falcons last road shutout came in a 17-0 win at Ohio in 2001.

*Chris Jones had his stretch of six straight games with a sack snapped.

*The Falcon defense has forced a three-and-out or turnover on 22 of the last 32 drives dating back to the second half at Akron.

*Dwayne Woods' interception was the fourth of his career, and the second that he has taken back to the end zone.

*D.J. Lynch's 10 tackles were a career-high.

*The last time a BGSU defense had four interceptions in a game was vs. Buffalo in 2010.

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