Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
FIU
Falcons Hold Off Florida International, 33-28
September 17, 2006 | Football
Sept. 17, 2006
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Miami, Fla. - Quarterbacks Anthony Turner and Freddie Barnes led BGSU to more than 400 yards of total offense and defensive back Jerett Sanderson picked off two fourth quarter passes and scored in the first half on a fumble recovery to lead BGSU to a 33-28 road win at Florida International. BGSU, 2-1, will return home to face Kent State on Family Weekend. Kickoff for the September 23rd game is at 1 p.m.
"Freddie Barnes is a competitor and Anthony Turner is a warrior," said BGSU coach Gregg Brandon, who saw his team improve to 2-1 and win its fourth straight game on the road dating back to last year. Both of those guys demonstrated we can win with them. They both make plays and more importantly, they made them in the clutch."
Turner, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 185 yards and a TD and rushed for 59 yards in 13 carries, left the game late in the third quarter with an injury to his non-throwing arm. With the Falcons holding on to a 23-21 at the start of the fourth quarter, Barnes led the Falcons on a four minute drive which saw him rush for 44 yards and convert twice on third down, including a 16-yard pass to Kenneth Brantley which would set up a Barnes seven-yard run for a score two plays later.
Following a quick Golden Panther TD which cut the BGSU lead to 30-28, Barnes again led the Falcons on a six minute drive, twice converting on third down with a 19-yard pass to Brantley and a nine-yard toss to junior Sean O'Drobinak which set up a 25-yard field goal by freshman Sean Ellis which gave BGSU its final 33-28 margin with 3:03 to go.
"It was up to me to get us the victory, said Barnes "The last couple of games Anthony and I have just tried to provide leadership. I like it better when it is the two of us, but it was my job to get us home."
Sanderson, who is making just his third career start, picked off FIU's Josh Padrick with 1:58 to go on second down and it appeared BGSU could run out the clock. However, FIU was able to use all three of its time outs and following a punt by freshman Alonso Rojas, the Golden Panthers would have one more shot at their first win of the season.
FIU started at its own 20 with 1:07 left and converted one fourth down opportunity in moving the ball to the BGSU 40-yard line. With 11 seconds left, Padrick hurled the ball toward the end zone, but Sanderson again read the play and his second pick of the game ended the FIU threat.
"I was just trying real hard to help the team out," said Sanderson. "Any win on the road is a good win."
Turner guided the Falcons on a 59-yard drive to start the game and hit Barnes for a three-yard TD pass to start the scoring. Following an 80-yard TD run by A'mod Ned which tied the game with 5:34 left in the first quarter, the game would change on consecutive plays.
Turners pass hit off the hands of one of his receivers and FIU's Lion Singleton returned the pick to the BGSU 16-yard line. However, on the next play Padrick went for the end zone only to find BGSU's Kenny Lewis who made his second interception of the season.
The Falcons march 80 yards in 12 plays with Turner hitting junior Dan Macon on a 30-yard screen play and O'Drobinak for a 20-yard toss. O'Drobinak would cap the drive by catching a three-yard pass from Barnes and BGSU led 13-7.
On the next kickoff, junior Loren Hargrove belted Chad Williams who fumbled the ball into the hands of Sanderson who scooped and scored from nine yards out to give the Falcons a 20-7 lead with 13:07 left in the first half.
FIU would cut the lead to 20-14, but a Turner-engineered drive in the final 1:19 would lead to the first collegiate field goal for Ellis, a 37-yard effort as the half expired.
"We made some big plays in the kicking game," said Brandon It was great to see Rojas boom a couple and it was nice to see Ellis make a couple of field goals. You can see they have talent, they just need to gain confidence and consistency."
Rojas averaged 47.7 yards on four punts. Sophomore Corey Partridge made his first start of the season and caught a team-high five passes for 79 yards. Five different players for the Falcons had catches of 19 yards or more.
BGSU, which entered the game ranked first in overall defense in the MAC, broke the back of FIU with the three interceptions and timely sacks by senior Devon Parks, sophomore Antonio Smith and sophomore Diyral Briggs.
BGSU also won the time of possession battle in the second half by keeping the ball for 21:07 compared to just 8:53 for the Golden Panthers.
