Falcons Travel To Buffalo; Look For Third Straight Win

Nov. 13, 2007

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -

GAME #11
Bowling Green at Buffalo

Nov. 17, 2007  UB Stadium, 1 p.m.

RECORDS: BGSU 6-4, 4-2 MAC // Buffalo 4-6, 4-2 MAC
RADIO: BGSU Radio Network - Todd Walker and Cal Bowers
WBGU (88.1): Andrew Goetz and Tim Baughman
TV: None
For Tickets Call 1-877-BGSU-TICKET

BGSU Football Game Notes vs. Buffalo (37 pages)

The Bowling Green State University football team hits the road for the seventh time this season as they travel to Buffalo, New York, in a crucial MAC East Contest. The Falcons (6-4, 4-2), winners of their last two contests, will take on the Buffalo Bulls (4-6, 4-2), in what could be the most important game of the season for both squads.
Falcons Squeak by Eastern Michigan, 39-32
Bowling Green (6-4, 4-2) won their second straight contest after downing the Eastern Michigan Eagles 39-32 last Friday night on Ypsilanti, Michigan. Eastern Michigan held a 20-14 advantage at halftime, with the help of two Falcon turnovers. In the first half alone BGSU got inside the EMU five-yard line twice and came away with zero points (1 fumble and 1 turnover on downs). In the second half the BGSU defense stoned the Eagles on their first two possessions, while the BGSU offense marched down the field twice to take a 28-20 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Eagles responded with back-to-back touchdowns of their own, but failed to convert on either two-point conversion attempts to take a 32-21 lead. BGSU took less than three minutes to score their fifth touchdown of the night, as Tyler Sheehan converted a 1-yard plunge for the winning score.
Glen Stanley Named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week
Making his first career start, true freshman Glen Stanley recorded a career-high 18 tackles in a 39-32 win over Eastern Michigan. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss.
Filling in for an injured John Haneline at the linebacker position, the Ocala, Fla. native did not disappoint. He entered the contest with the Eagles having played in only three games, recording just seven tackles in limited action. In fact, 24 of his 25 tackles have come in the last two contests, following the Haneline injury. Stanley's 18 tackles matches a Falcon-best this season (with Haneline), which also ranks fourth-best in the MAC.
Notes Following 39-32 Win At EMU
 Freddie Barnes recorded his team-leading seventh TD of the season.
 On third-and-14 Tyler Sheehan threw an incomplete pass to Dan Macon. While the teams were running off the field an EMU defender was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving BGSU a first down. On the next play Barnes caught a one handed pass at the EMU four-yard line. Anthony Turner scored a rushing touchdown on the next play.
 Following the Turner touchdown the Eagles blocked the BGSU extra point, but were flagged for being offside. Sinisa Vrvilo banged in the extra point on his second attempt.
 On the Falcons' opening drive of the second half Sheehan completed three consecutive passes to Turner to start the drive. Turner caught passes of 23, 5 and 8 yards. Later in the drive Macon ran up the middle but fumbled the ball on the EMU 6-yard line. After several Eagle defenders jumped on the ball (in the middle of the endzone), the pigskin squirted free to the Falcons' Shane Steffy, who grabbed the ball for his first career touchdown.
 Trailing 20-14 to start the third quarter the Bowling Green defense forced the Eagles to punt on their first two possessions of the second half, while the Falcons scored touchdowns on each of their first two possessions to take a 28-20 lead into the fourth quarter.
 Two of the Falcons top three rushers in the game were Sheehan (10-65, 1 TD) and Turner (14-49, 2 TD), the Falcons top two quarterbacks to start the season.
 BGSU ran for 193 yards in the contest. The Falcons are now 5-1 on the year when they run for 100-plus yards in a game.
Clearing Up the MAC East Race
With two games remaining in the MAC schedule, there is still a lot at stake in the MAC East standings. For the Falcons to capture the MAC East crown they must beat Buffalo this Saturday, while the Miami RedHawks must drop their final two contests versus Akron and Ohio. For Buffalo to win the MAC East they must beat BGSU and Kent State and have Miami lose one of their final two contests. The easiest way for Miami to win the East would be to win out. They can also capture the East with a BGSU win over Buffalo and a RedHawk win over Akron this week.
Sheehan Impressive In His First Year
Making just 10 career starts, Tyler Sheehan is having an impressive start to his Falcon career. The sophomore quarterback is completing 63.2% (249-394) of his passes for 2,650 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also has three rushing touchdowns and even has one 24-yard catch for a touchdown as well. He opened the season (his first career start) with a fourth quarter comeback win over Minnesota, tossing two touchdowns and throwing for 388 yards. The following week he was 32-of-50 for 295 yards versus Michigan State, throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another. He had a career-high four touchdown passes in a win over Temple (also threw for 351 yards). He also had 270 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of action versus Western Kentucky.
Sheehan and the Record Books
With at least two more games remaining on the Falcons' schedule, sophomore QB Tyler Sheehan has already placed his name on several top-5 BGSU school records. Download the PDF at the top of the page for a breakdown of the records.
Sheehan and the Fourth Quarter Comebacks
While still very young in his Falcon career, QB Tyler Sheehan has already emerged as a clutch quarterback, leading the Falcons to two fourth quarter comebacks this season.
 Trailing 24-21 with 2:12 to go in the Falcons' season opener versus Minnesota Sheehan drove the Falcons down the field, completing five passes to get the Falcons a 35-yard field goal attempt, which Vrvilo made.
 This past weekend versus Eastern Michigan the Falcons trailed 32-31 with 6:15 to go in the fourth quarter. Sheehan and the Falcons drove 61 yards for a BGSU touchdown in 2:21, while never forcing themselves into a third down.
Where have you Gone Nick Iovinelli?
Junior Nick Iovinelli is averaging 39.1 yards a punt this season, while recording 10 of his 41 punts inside the opponents 20 yard line. Only problem (not really a problem) is that the Falcons have only punted the ball once in the last two contests, including none last weekend at EMU. In fact, the Falcons 41 punts is the 12th fewest in the country this season.
Fastest Show on Turf
With the installation of FieldTurf at Doyt Perry Stadium, the Falcons have played nine of their 10 games on artificial surfaces, after hosting Temple, Western Kentucky, Ohio, Akron and road contests with Minnesota, Boston College, Miami, Kent State and Eastern Michigan. In those nine games the Falcons have scored 300 points (33.3/game) and have posted 3,805 yards of offense (422.8/game), including 2,632 yards through the air (292.4/game). From here-on-out the Falcons will play on some sort of artificial surface the rest of the season.
When the Falcons...
 record at least 500 yards of total offense the Falcons are 2-0 this year.
 throw zero interceptions in a contest they are 4-0 this year.
 run for over 100 yards they are 5-1 on the year.
 win the turnover margin they are 5-0.

Passing, Rushing and Receiving Record
After much research, and several discussions with all Division I schools, the Falcons are the lone school to have three players on their team that have recorded a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in their career. Freddie Barnes (1 pass, 7 receiving and 9 rushing), Tyler Sheehan (18 pass, 2 rush, 1 receiving) and Anthony Turner (14 pass, 15 rush and 1 receiving) have accomplished this feat, making them the lone trio in the nation with this record. In fact, prior to the contest with Kent State, Sheehan and Barnes were the lone duo in the country with this feat. Turner joined the duo after catching a throw-back pass from Sheehan for a 31-yard touchdown versus the Flashes.
Vrvilo's Streak Snapped, but Not His Confidence
Junior Sinisa Vrvilo had made 10 straight field goals until his 52-yard attempt versus Akron hit off the crossbar at the end of the first half. On the year the Zenica, Bosnia, native has made 14-of-17 kicks, with two of his three misses coming from 55 and 52 yards. The junior is a perfect 9-of-9 from kicks under 40 yards in his career.
Barnes Catching On
Sophomore Freddie Barnes opened the 2006 season as the Falcons starting quarterback versus Wisconsin. Just over a year later, the now converted wide receiver is one of the most feared pass catchers in the Mid-American Conference. Barnes ranks sixth in the MAC with 6.20 catches a game and eighth with 71.2 yards a game. The Chicago Heights, Ill., native has had at least six catches in seven of his 10 games and at least 70 yards receiving in six of his 10 contests.
Show Me The Money
The money catch is defined as catching a first down or touchdown, and Freddie Barnes is "showing the money." Of Barnes' 62 catches, 42 (35 first downs and seven touchdowns) of them have either resulted in a Falcon first down or touchdown.
Pass Defense Tops In The MAC
Bowling Green, who owns the top pass defense in the MAC at 202.1 yards game, has really played the pass well in the first half of their last four games. Versus Kent State they allowed no yards passing in the first half (0-of-1), gave up 73 versus Ohio (7-of-10), just 70 yards (5-of-11) versus the Zips and 115 (8-10) yards versus the Eagles this past weekend for a total of 258 yards, a 64.5 average versus the pass in the first half.
Turner Vision
While seeing most of his 2006 action as the Falcon starting quarterback, the emergence of Tyler Sheehan has forced Anthony Turner into a much different role this season. While still playing some quarterback, the junior has also lined up at running back and wide receiver on numerous plays. This past weekend he had 14 carries for 56 yards and two scores, while recording a career-best six receptions and 53 yards as well. Versus Akron, the week prior, he threw one pass, a 33-yard touchdown on the Falcons' opening drive, while also leading the team in rushing with 104 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. Turner also recorded three receptions for 16 yards and even grabbed an Akron on-side kick attempt late in the fourth quarter. On the year, the Dayton, Ohio, native is 2-of-3 passing for 29 yards and a touchdown, is second on the team with 308 yards rushing (leads the team with seven rushing TDs) and has 10 receptions for 100 yards and one TD.