Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football Hits The Road To Take On Buffalo
October 11, 2005 | Football
Oct. 11, 2005
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Bowling Green (3-2, 2-0 MAC) at Buffalo (0-5, 0-2) Saturday, October 15 • 1:30 p.m. • UB Stadium (29,013) BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker, John Gibson and Jason Aldrich) SERIES: Tied 1-1 LAST MEETING: at BGSU 35, Buffalo 0 (September 8, 2001)
The Falcons play their lone road contest in a five-game stretch when they visit the University at Buffalo. BGSU is the lone unblemished league team in the MAC's East Division. Buffalo's UB Stadium is the only MAC facility the Falcons have never posted a win at. In 2000, BGSU lost 20-17 in its only previous visit to New York. The Falcons and Bulls last met on September 8, 2001 when BGSU captured a 35-0 win at home.
After struggling on defense early in the season, BGSU has allowed just 10.5 points and 251 yards per game in the last two weeks. The Falcons held Ohio to just 68 yards rushing and 239 total yards overall.
For the second week in a row, the Falcons have had a defensive player earn MAC East Player of the Week honors. Junior defensive end Devon Parks captured the honor after recording 10 tackles, two TFL's and a pass deflection against Ohio. Senior wide receiver Charles Sharon took home the division's offensive honors after a 10-catch, 185-yard performance against the Bobcats.
The Falcons also are 16-0 in the month of October since the end of the 2001 season.
BGSU has been ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls in each of the last three seasons. The Falcons received votes in both polls in the preseason and were ranked 21st by The Sporting News and 23rd by Sports Illustrated in their preseason publications.
BGSU's 40-14 record since 2001 is the best among all MAC schools over that time span. BGSU also is the only MAC team with a winning record (10-5) vs. Division I-A non-conference opponents.
Junior All-American quarterback Omar Jacobs leads the nation in TD passes per game (3.8) and points responsible for (23.6) and is second in the nation in total offense (364.5) and total offense (371.4). He also is eighth in the country in pass efficiency (166.1). He now is the all-time BGSU leader with 64 career TD passes, a total which ranks sixth all-time in MAC history. Jacobs also is the NCAA's active career leader in passing yards per game at 293.3 and total offense per game at 314.4.
The Falcons boast two big-play senior wide receivers in Charles Sharon (3,036 yards and 33 TDs) and Steve Sanders (1,988 and 19 TDs). Their 225.6 yards per game average (Sharon, 122.8, 3rd nationally and Sanders, 103.8, 13th nationally) this season combined is the highest of any teammates which average more than 100 yards receiving per game. Sanders is fourth in the nation in scoring at 12 points per game and is tied for the national lead with nine TD receptions. Sharon has the second most TD passes among active NCAA players with 33.
BGSU is ranked third in the nation in passing (362.6), eighth in passing efficiency (163.6) and scoring (42.0), 13th in total offense (484.6), 19th in punt returns (14.0), 21st in turnover margin (+.8), and 22nd in pass defense (178.4).
Senior Jelani Jordan picked off two passes against Ohio, giving him four INTs in the last two games. He is third in the country in pickoffs. Freshman Antonio Smith is tied for the national lead in interception returns for a TD with two.
ACTIVE NCAA LEADERS PASSING YARDS PER GAME 1. Omar Jacobs, BGSU, 2003- 293.3 2. Matt Leinert, USC, 2002- 258.3
TD passes 1. Matt Leinert, USC, 2002- 83 2. B. Gradkowski, UT, 2002- 65 3. Omar Jacobs, BGSU, 2003- 64
PASSING EFFICIENCY 1. Omar Jacobs, BGSU, 2003- 168.98 2. Matt Leinert, USC, 2002- 161.83 3. B. Gradkowski, UT, 2002- 160.84
TOTAL OFFENSE 1. Omar Jacobs, BGSU, 2003- 314.4 2. Matt Bohnet, EMU., 2004- 280.1 3. Brad Smith, Mizzou,2002- 272.8
