Falcons Travel To Miami, Begin Seven Game MAC Stretch

Oct. 9, 2007

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -

GAME #6
Bowling Green at Miami

Oct. 13, 2007  Yager Stadium, 3:00 p.m.

RECORDS: BGSU 3-2, 1-0 MAC // Miami 3-3, 2-0 MAC
RADIO: BGSU Radio Network - Todd Walker and Cal Bowers
WBGU (88.1): Ryan Gasser (Play-by-Play) and Alex Mikos (Analyst)
TV: Fox Sports Net  Jeff Phelps (Play-by-Play) and Jim Hofher (Analyst)

Football Game Notes vs. Miami (31 pages)
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The Bowling Green State University football team, 1-0 in Mid-American Conference play, and 2-2 in their four non conference games, travels to Oxford, Ohio, this Saturday (Oct. 13) to begin a seven game MAC stretch to close out the regular season. The contest with the RedHawks begins at 3:00 p.m. and will be carried live on Fox Sports Net Ohio.
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 352.0 passing yards/game this season (51.8 attempts/game), while running the ball just 129 times (25.8) in five games for a 86.2 yard average.
New Quarterback at the Helm
Sophomore Quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who has made just five career collegiate starts, has been the main catalyst to the new Falcon offensive air attack. Through five contests he has completed 154-of-233 passes (66.1%) for 1,579 yards and 11 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.
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.
This past weekend the sophomore had his first setback of his college career, tossing for 275 yards, but throwing five interceptions.
On the year the sophomore quarterback is averaging 315.8 yards per game, throwing for 11 total touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Fastest Show on Turf
With the installation of FieldTurf at Doyt Perry Stadium, the Falcons have played four games on artificial surfaces, after hosting Temple and Western Kentucky, and road contests with Minnesota and Boston College. In those four games the Falcons have scored 145 points (36.3/game) and have posted 1,849 yards of offense (462.3/game), including 1,465 yards through the air (366.3/game). From here-on-out the Falcons will play on some sort of artificial surface the rest of the season.
Falcons' Dynamic Duo
Batman and Robin have nothing on the Falcons' dynamic duo of pass catchers in Corey Partridge and Freddie Barnes. Partridge, who miss the entire Michigan State contest, has 34 catches in four games this season, 8.50 a game, which ranks sixth in the country. He also has 303 yards receiving and one touchdown. Barnes is 14th in the country with 7.40 catches a game, while he leads the Falcons in catches (37), receiving yards (430) and touchdowns (5). Combined, the duo averages 15.9 catches a game, 161.8 yards a game and has six touchdowns in five games.
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 37 receptions, 430 yards and five touchdowns. He has scored a touchdown in three straight games, and has five in those last three contests. He also had his first career 100-yard receiving game last weekend with 112 yards versus Boston College.
 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 34 catches and 303 yards has been in just 13 quarters of action. He also caught his 100th career reception on his last catch of the game versus Western Kentucky and had his first 100 yard game of the season last weekend versus Boston College (12-100).
 Marques 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 20 catches, 262 yards and three touchdowns are all career-bests this season. He also leads the team with a 13.1 average per catch.
 Tyrone Pronty also had just five catches last season. This year his 10 catches, 94 yards and two touchdowns are all career-bests.
 Derek Brighton, filling in for an injured Partridge at the Michigan State game had seven catches and 67 yards. He has eight receptions for 84 yards on the season.
 Zach Charles had a career-long 49-yard reception this past weekend versus Boston College, nearly doubling his yardage output for the year. For the season the sophomore has 10 catches for 102 yards.
Falcons Have Top Passing Offense In The MAC & Ranks Sixth In The Nation
The Falcons' 352.0 yards/game through the air is 74.7 yards more per game than second-place Ball State (277.3). While every other MAC squad has participated in six contests (BGSU has played five), the Falcons' 1,760 passing yards is second-to-none, leading the nearest competitor by nearly 100 yards. BGSU's 65.3% completion percentage also leads the MAC.
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, 7 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 25 scoring drives this season, 16 of them have gone for 50-plus yards, while 13 of the 18 touchdown drives have also gone for 50-plus yards.
What A Difference A Year Makes
Last season when BGSU and Miami faced-off, Bowling Green was in the middle of a five game losing streak, while the RedHawks were just 1-9 on Nov. 15, 2006, prior to the 9-7 Miami victory. This year, both teams seem to be back on track, with the Falcons 3-2 on the young season, and Miami sitting at .500, with a 3-3 record.
Looking for 2-0 MAC Start
Bowling Green is looking for their first 2-0 MAC start since the 2005 season when they started out 3-0 in conference. Under Gregg Brandon the Falcons have started out 2-0 or better in conference, just twice (2003 & 2005).
Williams Takes Command of Return Game
The search for a Falcon kick returner looks to be over as sophomore Roger Williams has taken the reins of the Falcon kick return team. Williams leads the team with six plays over 20 yards this season, with all six of those big plays coming from the kick return game. This past weekend he had back-to-back returns versus BC that went for 36 and 37 yards, the latter being a career best. On the year Williams has 12 returns for 292 yards, a 24.3 yard average.
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. Versus Western Kentucky the Falcons forced five takeaways (4 INTs, 1 fumble). 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.
This past weekend versus BC, the Falcons forced just one turnover, while handing the ball to the Eagles on six different occasions. It was the first time this year the Falcons lost the turnover battle.
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 four games this season, to lead the MAC. He had one interception versus Minnesota and a pair of picks this past weekend versus Western Kentucky. His .75 interception per game ratio ranks ninth 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 17-of-20 (85%) in redzone opportunities this season, scoring 12 touchdowns, tied for first in the MAC with Toledo.
Linebackers Lead The Way In Tackles
Junior linebackers John Haneline and Erique Dozier, along with fifth-year senior Loren Hargrove, lead the Falcon linebacker core, holding down the top three spots in the Falcon tackling department. Haneline's 50 tackles leads the Falcons. His 10.0 tackles per game is sixth in the MAC. He also has four tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. Dozier is second on the team with 43 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, two INTs and one fumble recovery. Hargrove is third of the team with 34 tackles. He also has three TFLs.