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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Falcon Comeback Falls Short at CMU, 31-14
October 19, 2006 | Football
Oct. 19, 2006
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Mt. Pleasant, Michigan - Looking to post one of the biggest comebacks in recent Falcon history, BGSU couldn't take advantage of favorable field position in the third quarter and saw MAC West leading Central Michigan make two momentum-changing plays as the Chippewas posted a 31-14 over the Falcons Thursday night.
CMU is now 5-3 and 5-0 in the MAC, while the Falcons are now 4-4 and 3-2 in the league.
"That's just the youth of our team said BGSU football coach Gregg Brandon. "We are still fighting through that. Our kids showed a lot of courage and determination out there today. We had a chance to win the football game."
Trailing 17-0 in the second quarter, the Falcons used a nine-play, 59-yard drive to put points on the board when sophomore Anthony Turner completed a six-yard pass to freshman Freddie Barnes with 7:58 to go in the half. On the drive, freshman Chris Bullock, who finished with a team-high 91 rushing yards, carried the ball five times for 42 yards on that drive.
Two plays later, freshman Jerett Sanderson forced a fumble and freshman Jahmal Brown recovered it on the BGSU 45 and the momentum shift was on.
The Falcons took 14 plays to go 55 yards to cut the lead to 17-14 with 1:33 left in the half. On the drive, BGSU converted on a third and nine when Turner found senior Kenneth Brantley for a 18-yard gain. Facing a fourth and eight, Turner hit Barnes for a 19-yard pass that put BGSU inside the Chippewa 10-yard line. On fourth down, Barnes took the direct snap and just broke the plane of the end zone with one final reach.
In the third quarter, the Falcons had the field position edge and twice were inside Chippewa territory but came away empty.
"We had great field position opportunities throughout the game but we didn't exploit them and that's the most frustrating thing," added Brandon.
The Falcon pass rush put pressure on CMU signal caller Dan Lefevour with senior Devon Parks and sophomore Diyral Briggs both collecting sacks.
As the fourth quarter started, CMU was facing a second and 18 at the BGSU 12 when Lefevour hit Obed Cetoute over the middle and he split two Falcon defenders to go 88 yards for a Chippewa TD.
BGSU got the ball back and drove to the CMU seven yard line, but a 24-yard field goal attempt by Sean Ellis was blocked and the Chippewas would score on their next possession to put the game away.
The Falcons will play the second of their three straight road games on Saturday, October 28 at Temple.
