Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football Travels To Akron On Saturday
October 31, 2006 | Football
Oct. 31, 2006
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BOWLING GREEN (4-5, 3-2) at AKRON (3-5, 1-3) Saturday, November 4 • 1 p.m. Rubber Bowl (31,000) RADIO: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker, Cal Bowers and Jason Aldrich) Live Internet Video: MAC-Sports.com SERIES RECORD: BGSU leads 8-6 LAST MEETING: Akron 24, at BGSU 14 (10/29/06)
FIRST AND TEN
BGSU and Akron will meet for the 15th time in a series which began in 1941. The Falcons lead the series 8-6 and are 4-3 on the road in this series. In their last meeting in Akron in 2001, BGSU traveled home with a 16-11 triumph. Last year, Akron defeated BGSU, 24-14 in Bowling Green.
BGSU concludes a three-game road trip. Overall this season, BGSU will play eight games away from home (7 road, 1 neutral) and four at Perry Stadium.
The Falcons lead the MAC in rushing offense (193.2), first downs (173 in nine games) and are second in time of possession (31.42). BGSU is third in the league in total offense (355.4), third down conversions (40.4), sacks (22), sacks allowed (16) and fewest penalties (49.8).
The Falcons boast three of the top pass rushers in the MAC in senior defensive end Devon Parks, sophomore defensive end Diyral Briggs and senior linebacker Terrel White. The trio has combined for 16.5 sacks this season. Parks is third in the league with seven, Briggs is sixth with 5.5, and White is 10th with four after having a career-high three against Temple.
MAC Freshman of the Year candidate Chris Bullock rushed for a career-high 182 yards and two scores against Temple. In the last six games, he has rushed for an average of 109.5 yards per game. The redshirt freshman is averaging 5.3 yards per carry during that time frame, and has gained more yards than any other rookie ball carrier in the league with 679. His 84.9 rushing yards per game ranks third in the nation among all freshmen running backs.
BGSU, Clemson, Michigan State and Navy are the only schools to have three different 100-yard rushers this season. Along with Bullock, redshirt freshman Freddie Barnes had 158 yards rushing against Wisconsin and sophomore quarterback Anthony Turner had 127 yards rushing against Buffalo.
Last year, the Falcons posted their fifth straight winning season with a 6-5 record. BGSU was nationally ranked in one or both major polls in 2002, 2003 and 2004. They finished 24th in the final BCS poll in 2003. The Falcons are looking to post their sixth consecutive non-losing season, a feat not accomplished at BGSU since Don Nehlen's teams posted six straight winning seasons from 1971-76.
The Falcons boast one of the youngest teams in the country having played 27 true or redshirt freshmen. Twenty-one players have made their first career start this season.
BGSU's .681 winning percentage since 2001 (47-22) is the best among all MAC schools during the last five-plus seasons.
Akron is 2-0 this season at home with wins over North Texas and Miami. They close out the season with three of their last four games at home, after opening the campaign with six of their first eight away from home.
