Falcons Look For 3-1 Start, Host Western Kentucky on Saturday

Sept. 25, 2007

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -

GAME #4
Western Kentucky at Bowling Green

Sept. 29, 2007  Doyt L. Perry Stadium, 6:00 p.m.

RECORDS: BGSU 2-1, 1-0 MAC // Western Kentucky 3-1
RADIO: BGSU Radio Network - Todd Walker and Cal Bowers
WBGU (88.1): Andrew Goetz (Play-by-Play) and Anthony Bellino (Analyst)
TV: BCSN  Greg Franke (Play-by-Play), Tom Cole (Analyst) and Kevin Brechmacher (Sideline)

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

The Bowling Green State University football team will look for their first 3-1 start since 2003 as they play host to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (3-1) this Saturday at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. Opening kickoff will begin at 6:00 p.m.
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 352.7 passing yards/game this season (50.5 attempts/game), while running the ball just 74 times (24.5) in three games.
Why The New Offensive Attack?
Sophomore Quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who has made just three career collegiate starts, has been the main catalyst to the new Falcon offensive air attack. Through three contests he has completed 96-of-148 passes (65%) for 1,034 yards and seven touchdown passes (he also has one rushing and receiving touchdown). 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.
This past weekend versus Temple the Cincinnati, Ohio, native connected on 30-of-47 passes for 351 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes.
Fastest Show on Turf
With the installation of FieldTurf at Doyt Perry Stadium, the Falcons have played two games on artificial surfaces, after hosting Temple this past weekend, and on the road at Minnesota to open the season. In those two games the Falcons have scored 80 points (40.0/game) and have posted 959 yards of offense (479.5/game), including 763 yards through the air (381.5/game). From here-on-out the Falcons will play on some sort of artificial surface the rest of the season.
Sheehan Named MAC East Offensive POW
Bowling Green sophomore quarterback Tyler Sheehan was named Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week after completing 30-of-47 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-35 win over Temple. It is the second time in his brief Falcon career that he has been honored with this award. The Cincinnati, Ohio, completed passes to eight different receivers, while also leading the team with 38 yards rushing on seven carries. Sheehan threw three first half touchdowns, while completing 16-of-23 passes, including two to Freddie Barnes and one to Marques Parks. He completed a TD pass to Tyrone Pronty in the second half.
Game Time Change for Game With Boston College
The Bowling Green State University football contest with the Boston College Eagles (Oct. 6) has been moved to a Noon start time. The contest, which was originally scheduled to kickoff at 1:00 p.m. was changed so that ESPNU could carry the game live.
Receivers Helping Sheehan
Freddie Barnes, Derek Brighton, Zach Charles, Corey Partridge, and Marques Parks have made things much easier for quarterback Tyler Sheehan. In fact, four of those five receivers have either set new career-bests in receptions, or will in the new future. Barnes has 23 catches this season already (had 20 all of last year), Parks has nearly tripled his output from 2006 with 14 catches (5 last season), while Brighton, a redshirt freshman who had no catches in his collegiate debut, had seven receptions versus Michigan State. Also, Charles is halfway to his 14 receptions in 2006, after recording seven grabs versus Minnesota. Partridge, the Falcons top receiver from last season (55 catches) has 13 grabs in six quarters of action (missed the second half of the Minn. game and all of the MSU contest).
Falcons Have Top Passing Offense In The MAC
The Falcons' 352.7 yards/game through the air is 52 yards more per game than second-place Ball State (300.8). While every other MAC squad has participated in four contests, the Falcons' 1,058 passing yards is second-best in the MAC, and just 145 yards shy of the top spot, Ball State (1,203). BGSU's 64.2% completion percentage is second-best in the MAC. In fact, the Falcons pass offense ranks 8th in the nation as well.
Home Sweet Home
Bowling Green is 136-63-6 (.678) all-time at home and are 26-7 since 2001 inside Doyt Perry Stadium. BGSU is 16-6 under coach Brandon at home.
Passing Records In Danger?
Through three games of the 2007 season Tyler Sheehan is averaging 32 completions, 49.3 attempts and 344.7 yards per game. If those averages continue for the season (12 games) he will have thrown 592 passes, completing 384 of them for 4,136 yards. The current records for those categories are:
Attempts: 494, Josh Harris, 2003
Completions: 325, Josh Harris, 2003
Yards: 4,002, Omar Jacobs, 2004

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, 4 receiving and 9 rushing) and Tyler Sheehan (7 pass, 1 rush, 1 receiving) have accomplished this feat, making them the lone duo in the nation with this record.
Falcons Go the Distance
Of the 10 touchdown drives the Falcons have this season, seven of them have gone for at least 50-plus yards, with three of those drives going for over 80-plus yards for the touchdown.
Falcon Defense Puts The Clamps Down on Temple
Though giving up 35 points does not sound that impressive, the Falcon defense last Saturday versus Temple made several big plays, especially in the second half. To open the second half BGSU's Kenny Lewis stole the ball from Temple's running back, returning it for a 35 yard touchdown. Two Temple drives later Jacob Hardwick forced a fumble in the Owls' end zone as Orlando Barrow pounced on the fumble for a second BGSU defensive TD. Combined with the two BG defensive touchdowns and five other 3-and-outs, the Falcon defense forced seven straight 3-and-outs to start the second half.
Falcons Force Nine Turnovers in Three Games
With two interceptions versus both Minnesota and Michigan State and two forced fumbles versus the Gophers, as well as three fumble recoveries versus Temple the Falcons have forced nine turnovers in the first three games this season. Bowling Green forced just 19 turnovers all of last season, while are currently on pace for 36 takeaways in 2007.
What's even more impressive is that seven different players have either recorded an interception or picked up a fumble. Both Kenny Lewis (1 INT, 1 FR) and Erique Dozier (1 INT, 1 FR) lead the team. Another three players have chipped in with the forced fumble, giving the Falcons a total of 10 different Falcons credit on the nine takeaways.
Tackling The Opposition
In 12 games in 2006 BGSU recorded 78 tackles for loss for a total of 314 yards. Through just three games in 2007 the Falcons have already recorded 22 tackles for loss for 83 yards. Pro-rating that number for the entire 2007 campaign would give the Falcons 88 TFL for 332 yards. 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 35 tackles leads the Falcons. His 11.7 tackles per game are fourth in the MAC. He also has three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. Dozier is second on the team with 25 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, one INT and one fumble recovery. Hargrove is third of the team with 19 tackles.