Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Begin MAC Play at Ball State
September 06, 2005 | Football
Sept. 6, 2005
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Bowling Green (0-1) at Ball State (0-1) Saturday, September 10 • 8 p.m. (EDT) Ball State Stadium (22,500) • Muncie, Ind. RADIO: BGSU Radio Network SERIES: BG leads 18-8-1 LAST MEETING: at BGSU 51, BSU 13 (10/16/04)
Game Notes
The Falcons will be looking to win their first MAC opener on the road since the 1996 season. BGSU has lost the last three times they have opened the conference season away from Doyt. L. Perry Stadium (1999 at Marshall; 2000 at Buffalo; 2003 at Northern Illinois).
BGSU's 37-13 record since 2001 is the best among all MAC schools over the last four years. BGSU also is the only MAC team with a winning record (9-4) vs. Division I-A non-conference opponents.
Junior All-American quarterback Omar Jacobs, the 2004 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the nation in TD passes (41) and points responsible for (22.5). He was second in total offense (358.5) and passing yards (4,002) and third in passing efficiency (165.5). He also set an NCAA record for TD/Interception ratio with the 41 scoring strikes and just four interceptions. He was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week after completing 30 of 51 passes for a career-high 458 yards and five TDs at Wisconsin.
For the first time in school history, three BGSU players amassed more than 100 yards or more receiving in a game against Wisconsin. Redshirt freshman Corey Partridge caught eight passes for 160 yards and a score , senior Steve Sanders had 127 yards and two TDs and senior Charles Sharon caught eight passes for 116 yards and a score. Partridge also became the first Falcon freshman in school history to record as many as 160 receiving yards in his first ever game.
BGSU returns to the MAC's East Division which will consist of the Falcons, Akron, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami and Ohio. BGSU spent three years in the MAC West and won a division title in 2003.
BGSU running backs coach Dennis Springer was an assistant coach at Ball State from 1993-2002.
Senior Charles Sharon's 116 yards receiving at Wisconsin enabled him to jump two spots on the career receiving yards list. Sharon passed BGSU Athletics Hall-of-Famers Ronald Heard (2,491 yds. from 1986-89) and Mark Szlachcic (2,507 from 1989-93), and now ranks third all-time with 2,538 yards. He trails school record-holder Robert Redd (2,726 from 1998-2002) by only 188 yards. Stan Hunter (1982-85) ranks second with 2,679 yards.
In 13 starts, junior quarterback Omar Jacobs has passed for more than 300 yards in nine games. His 458-yard performance at Wisconsin was the second-highest output for any Falcon quarterback (479, Brian McClure vs. Ohio, 1985). His five TD tosses were the most ever thrown against the Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium.
BGSU CAREER RECEIVING YARDS 1. 2,726 -- Robert Redd (1998-2002) 2. 2,679 -- Stan Hunter (1982-85) 3. 2,538 -- Charles Sharon 4. 2,507 -- Mark Szlachcic (1989-93) 5. 2,491 -- Ronald Heard (1986-89)
BGSU CAREER 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 10 -- Robert Redd 10 -- Stan Hunter 8 -- Charles Sharon 8 -- Ronald Heard 7 -- Mark Szlachcic 6 -- Steve Sanders 6 -- Reggie Thornton
BGSU CAREER 300-YARD PASSING GAMES 12 -- Brian McClure 9 -- Omar Jacobs 7 -- Josh Harris 6 -- Rich Dackin
BGSU CAREER 400-YARD PASSING GAMES 3 -- Brian McClure 2 -- Omar Jacobs 2 -- Josh Harris
SMITH STARTS AS A TRUE FRESHMAN
True freshman cornerback Antonio Smith became the second true freshman to start in his first collegiate game under Gregg Brandon (Devon Park, 2003). He had six tackles and a TFL and had the "Big Hit" of the game briefly knocking out Wisconsin QB John Stocco out of the game.
FIRST TIME CAREER STARTS AGAINST WISCONSIN
Senior RB B.J. Lane, Senior LB Jamien Johnson, Junior LB Terrel White, Junior OL Derrick Markray, Sophomore OL Drew Nystrom, Freshman WR Corey Partridge.
FIRST TIME APPEARANCE AGAINST WISCONSIN
Junior TE Ruben Ruiz, Freshman WR Marques Parks, Freshman DB Erique Dozier, Freshman DB Nate Waldron, Freshman DL Joe Schaefer, Freshman LB John Haneline, Freshman DL Nick Davis, Freshman OL Jeff Fink, Freshman DL Brandon Curtis.
FALCON FODDER
Junior linebacker Terrel White had a career-high 12 tackles against the Badgers.
Junior defensive end Devon Parks had a career-high 10 tackles.
Senior linebacker Jamien Johnson had a career-best nine stops.
Last year's third string quarterback Van Johnson saw action at cornerback. He had one tackle.
Senior defensive back Terrill Mayberry was moved from cornerback to safety and had an interception in the red zone against the Badgers.
Senior punter Nate Fry, rushed for a career-long 16 yards in giving BGSU a first down in the third quarter.
