Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football Hosts Ohio For MAC East Lead
October 03, 2005 | Football
Oct. 3, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
OHIO (2-2, 1-0 MAC) AT BOWLING GREEN (2-2, 1-0 MAC) Saturday, October 8, 6 p.m. Doyt L. Perry Stadium (23,724) TELEVISION: BCSN (Delayed) RADIO: BGSU Radio Network SERIES: BGSU leads 33-21-2 LAST MEETING: BGSU 41, at Ohio 16, 10/23/04
Game Notes
The Falcons and Bobcats are the lone unbeaten teams in the MAC's East Division. BGSU is coming off a 70-7 Homecoming win over Temple, while Ohio defeated Kent State at home, 35-32, on September 24. BGSU has won the last three meetings with the Bobcats, including a 41-16 triumph last year in Athens.
Senior cornerback Jelani Jordan was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting a career-high two passes against Temple. He also had five tackles and a tackle for a loss.
The Falcons forced a season-high five turnovers and held Temple to 263 yards of offense.
The Falcons are in a stretch which will see them play four of five games at home. BGSU is 22-2 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium since the 2001 season. The Falcons also are 15-0 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 39-14 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 (4.3) and points responsible for (26.5) and is second in the nation in total offense (364.5) and total offense (358.0). He also is sixth in the country in pass efficiency (170.87). With 62 career TD passes, he needs two more scoring throws to establish a new BGSU record surpassing Brian McClure, who had 63 TD tosses from 1982-85.
The Falcons boast two big-play senior wide receivers in Charles Sharon (2,851 yards and 32 TDs) and Steve Sanders (1,906 and 18 TDs). Their 216.4 yards per game average (Sanders, 109.2, 9th nationally /Sharon, 107.2, 14th nationally) this season combined is the second-most balanced effort in the nation of any tandem which averages more than 100 yards per game receiving. Sanders leads the nation in scoring (13.3 points per game) and in TD receptions (8).
BGSU is ranked third in the nation in passing (358.0), seventh in passing efficiency (167.48), ninth in scoring (43.0), 16th in punt returns (15.6), 17th in total offense (462.5), 17th in turnover margin (+1), and 27th in pass defense (180.3).
Freshman Antonio Smith returned an interception for 53 yards for a TD, his second such return of the season. He and Ohio's Dion Byrum are the only players in the nation to return two picks for scores in 2005.
Special teams showed improvement against Temple. Freshman Corey Partridge returned a punt 79 yards for a TD and senior Nate Fry tied a MAC record with 10 PATs. Partridge's return tied teammate Charles Sharon for the fourth longest punt TD return in BGSU history.
