Falcons Hit The Road, Travel To #6/7 Boston College

Oct. 2, 2007

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -

GAME #5
Bowling Green at #6/7 Boston College

Oct. 6, 2007  Alumni Stadium, Noon

RECORDS: BGSU 3-1, 1-0 MAC // Boston College 5-0, 3-0 ACC
RADIO: BGSU Radio Network - Todd Walker and Cal Bowers
WBGU (88.1): Ryan Gasser (Play-by-Play) and Alex Mikos (Analyst)
TV: ESPNU  Clay Matvick (Play-by-Play), Larry Coker (Analyst) Gerard Phelan (Sideline)

BGSU Football Game Notes Versus Boston College (29 pages)
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The Bowling Green State University football team will hit the road for a third time this season as they travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass., for a Saturday (Oct. 6) showdown with the #6/7 Boston College Eagles. Opening kickoff is set for Noon, with the game being carried live on ESPNU.
Falcon Role Reversal
After leading the MAC with 176.7 yards on the ground and 41 rushing attempts per game last season (BG threw the ball just 29 times per/game) the Falcons have returned to the air attack, averaging 339.8 passing yards/game this season (50.5 attempts/game), while running the ball just 106 times (26.5) in four games for a 91.8 yard average.
New Quarterback at the Helm
Sophomore Quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who has made just four career collegiate starts, has been the main catalyst to the new Falcon offensive air attack. Through four contests he has completed 127-of-190 passes (67%) for 1,304 yards and 10 touchdown passes (he also has two rushing and one receiving touchdown this season). In his first career start he threw for 388 yards (34-of-51) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also added one reception for a 24-yard touchdown in a 32-31 (OT) win over Minnesota.
Just one week later, versus another Big Ten foe (and second straight road game), Sheehan connected on 32-of-50 pass attempts, finishing the 28-17 loss at Michigan State with 295 yards passing and one touchdown. He also ran for a six-yard score giving the second year quarterback at least one passing, rushing and receiving touchdown this season.
The past two weekends at home (versus Temple and Western Kentucky) he has connected on 61-of-89 passes (69%) for 621 yards, seven touchdowns and just two interceptions.
On the year the sophomore quarterback is averaging 326 yards per game, throwing for 10 total touchdowns and just four INTs.
Fastest Show on Turf
With the installation of FieldTurf at Doyt Perry Stadium, the Falcons have played three games on artificial surfaces, after hosting Temple and Western Kentucky, and a road contest with Minnesota to open the season. In those three games the Falcons have scored 121 points (40.3/game) and have posted 1,384 yards of offense (461.3/game), including 1,064 yards through the air (355.0/game). From here-on-out the Falcons will play on some sort of artificial surface the rest of the season.
Dynamic Duo Leads the Way for the Falcon Wide Receivers
Through four games this season the Falcons have had eight receivers catch at least seven passes this season, with five of those guys grabbing at least one pass. The Falcons are led by Freddie Barnes (29-318-3), who ranks 14th in the country with 7.25 receptions per game, and Corey Partridge (22-203-1), 13th in the country with 7.33 catches per game, but the dynamic duo is not alone. Willie Geter (19-126) and Marques Parks (18-237-3) round out the top four, with Tyrone Pronty (9-87-2), Derek Brighton (7-67) and Zach Charles (7-52) make the Falcon wide receiver position one of the strongest on the field.
More on the Pass Catchers
 Barnes, who opened the 2006 season as the Falcons' starting quarterback, had 20 catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns last season. He has posted career numbers in all three of those categories this year with 29 receptions, 318 yards and three touchdowns.
 Partridge led the Falcons in receptions (55), yards (658) and touchdowns (3) last season. He had six catches for 52 yards in the first quarter versus Minnesota before leaving with an injury (he also missed the MSU game), so his 22 catches and 203 yards has been in just nine quarters of action. He also caught his 100th career reception on his last catch of the game versus Western Kentucky.
 Parks had five catches for 30 yards in the entire 2006 season. 2007 has been a bit different as the junior nearly as many touchdowns (3) this year as catches (5) all of last season. His 18 catches, 237 yards and three touchdowns are all career-bests this season.
 Pronty also had just five catches last season. This year his nine catches, 87 yards and two touchdowns are all career-bests.
 Brighton, filling in for an injured Partridge at the Michigan State game had seven catches and 67 yards.
Falcons Have Top Passing Offense In The MAC
The Falcons' 339.8 yards/game through the air is 52.6 yards more per game than second-place Ball State (287.2). While every other MAC squad has participated in five contests, the Falcons' 1,359 passing yards is second-best in the MAC, and just 77 yards shy of the top spot, Ball State (1,436), despite playing one less game than the rest of the MAC. BGSU's 65.7% completion percentage is second-best in the MAC. In fact, the Falcons pass offense ranks 8th in the nation as well.
Passing, Rushing and Receiving Record
After much research, and several discussions with all Division I schools, the Falcons are the lone school to have two players on their team that have recorded a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in their career. Both Freddie Barnes (1 pass, 5 receiving and 9 rushing) and Tyler Sheehan (10 pass, 2 rush, 1 receiving) have accomplished this feat, making them the lone duo in the nation with this record. Falcons Go the Distance Of the Falcons 21 scoring drives this season, 13 of them have gone for 50-plus yards, while 11 of the 15 touchdown drives have also gone for 50-plus yards.
Defense Forces 14 Turnovers in First Four Games
Fourteen turnovers in 16 quarters of action says a lot about the defensive attack the Falcons are implementing under new defensive coordinator Mike Ward. The Falcons forced just 19 turnovers all of last season. This past weekend the defense had five takeaways (4 INTs, 1 fumble) versus Western Kentucky. They have also had three takeaways versus Minnesota, Michigan State and Temple. On the year the Falcons are a +2.00/game in the turnover margin, fifth-best in the nation.
Kickoff Coverage Tops in the MAC
Through 22 kickoffs, the BGSU kickoff coverage is tops in the MAC, allowing just a 19.2 yard return through four games.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Falcons have scored 138 points and have allowed 115 through the first four games in 2007, but comparing the two halves the Falcons have a 73-35 advantage in the opening half, but are 65-80 disadvantage in the second half and overtime. As a side not the Falcons have allowed 14 points late in the fourth quarter in each of the last two games versus Temple and Western Kentucky. BGSU led Temple 48-21 (48-35 final) late in the fourth and 41-7 (41-21 final) late versus WKU.
Briggs Top 15 in Active Career Sack Leaders
Junior Diyral Briggs' 3.5 sacks is tied for third in the MAC for 2007, while his 15 career sacks ranks 14th in the country among active sack leaders. The Mt. Healthy, Ohio, native recorded 4.5 sacks his freshman campaign and 7.0 last season.
Mahone Making Moves
While serving as more of a nickel back for much of the 2007 season, sophomore defensive back P.J. Mahone has taken advantage of his limited opportunities, intercepting three passes in three games this season. He had one interception versus Minnesota and a pair of picks this past weekend versus Western Kentucky. His 1.00 interception per game ratio ranks second in the country. Not only does he have three takeaways, in those three picks he has returned those interceptions 44, 43 and 35 yards for a 40.7 yard average.
Red "Hot" Zone
BGSU is 15-of-16 (93.8%) in redzone opportunities this season, scoring 10 touchdowns. Their lone non score came versus Temple when they were leading 48-21 late in the fourth quarter and decided to run the ball on fourth down, rather than kick roughly a 30-yard field goal.