Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host Kent State on Saturday Afternoon
October 28, 2008 | Football
Oct. 28, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
Game #9
Bowling Green (3-5, 1-3 MAC) vs. Kent State (2-6, 1-3, MAC)
Nov. 1, 2008 • Bowling Green, Ohio (Doyt Perry Stadium) • 2:05 p.m.
TV:BCSN • Greg Franke (Play-by-Play) and Tom Cole (Analyst)
Radio: BGSU Radio Network (1230AM) • Todd Walker (Play-by-Play) and Cal Bowers (Analyst)
BGSU Football Game Notes Versus Kent State (36 Pages) 
The Bowling Green State University football team (3-5, 1-3 MAC) will be in search of their first home win of the 2008 season this Saturday as they play host to the Kent State Golden Flashes (2-6, 1-3 MAC) this Saturday. Opening kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m.
Scouting the Falcons
The Falcons are looking to get back into the win column after back-to-back losses to Miami (27-20) and Northern Illinois (16-13) the past two weekends. BGSU, the preseason pick to win the MAC East Division, will be in search of their first home win this season after losing the first three contests inside Doyt Perry Stadium this year.
BGSU is coming off their lowest offensive performance of the season, recording just 168 yards of offense on 43 plays. The Falcons previous low was 254 yards in a win at Pittsburgh. The Falcons are led by junior quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who has accounted for 44 touchdowns (35 pass, 7 rush, 2 receiving) since being named starter prior to the 2007 campaign (20 games). This season the Cincinnati, Ohio native is completing 65% of his passes (185-of-283) for 1,763 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also leads the team with four rushing scores, while throwing just five interceptions.
Sheehan has completed passes to 12 different receivers this season including Corey Partridge (43 rec., 406 yds, 4 TD), Freddie Barnes (27 rec., 218 yds.), Tyrone Pronty (25 rec. 162 yds.), Anthony Turner (21 rec., 177 yds.) and Jimmy Scheidler (12 rec. 90 yds, 6 TD).
The Falcons' ground game, which averages 102.6 yards per game, is led by a trio of tailbacks in Anthony Turner (45.4/game), Chris Bullock (37.2/game) and Willie Geter (26.2/game).
Defensively the Falcons boast one of the best pass defenses in the league, allowing just 174.9 yards/game. This past weekend at Northern Illinois the Falcons allowed just 45 yards through the air, while picking off two NIU passes (the Huskies completed just five passes all day). One of those interceptions came from senior Kenny Lewis, who leads the team with three picks. The Falcons have five defenders with at least 50 tackles this season, but are being led by safety P.J. Mahone (62 tackles) and linebacker John Haneline (61 tackles). Diyral Briggs leads the team, and is second in the MAC with six sacks through eight games.
On special teams Lewis is fifth in the league with a 25.9 yard kick return average, while Partridge is fourth in the MAC with a 10.8 punt return average. senior placekicker Sinisa Vrvilo has connected on seven of 13 field goals this season, while punter Nick Iovinelli is averaging 41.1 yards a punt.
Bowling Green vs. Kent State Preview
A pair of East Division foes will square off this weekend for the 76th time since 1920. Saturday afternoon's matchup will be very unique in terms of one team's strength is another team's weakness. The Falcons will bring their high octane pass offense to face-off with the league's 10th best pass defense in KSU (212.8).
The Golden Flashes bring the top rushing attack in the league to Doyt Perry Stadium, averaging 217.5 yards per game, while the Falcon rush defense is ranked 11th in the MAC, allowing 181.1 yards/game.
The contest will also feature a pair of quarterbacks that can be found through the MAC leaders. KSU's Julian Edelman is fourth in the MAC in total offense (238.8), while BGSU's Tyler Sheehan is seventh (219.8).
Falcons Drop a 16-13 Decision at NIU
The BGSU football team dropped a 16-13 decision last Saturday at Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Ill. With the contest tied at 13 apiece the BGSU offense had the ball with just over five minutes to go before the NIU defense forced a Falcon punt, that the Huskies would block and spot the ball at the BGSU37. NIU would drive 24 yards on eight plays to the Falcon 13 yard-line before making a 30 yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining in the contest.
Other Notes From 16-13 Loss at NIU
• Junior P.J. Mahone recorded his first interception of the year midway through the first quarter. The Elyria, Ohio native has eight career interceptions after recording seven his sophomore season.
• Kenny Lewis put the Falcons up 2-0 in the turnover margin early in the second quarter. The senior was all alone along the NIU sideline, but had to dive to make the interception, or it appeared he would have had clear sailing to the Huskie endzone.
• For the first time this season the Falcons held an opponent scoreless once they reached the BGSU redzone, as they held NIU to a 49 yard missed field goal to close out the first half. The BGSU defense finished the day with two redzone stops versus the Huskies.
• On the Falcons' opening drive of the second half Tyler Sheehan was 3-3 for 44 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to senior Marques Parks. Sheehan had just 31 yards on 9 of 14 passing in the first half.
• Jahmal Brown had a team-high 12 tackles, while Mahone was second with 10.
• Adrian Baker had three tackles for loss, a new career-best. The senior had four tackles on the day.
That Wacky East Division
For being 1-3 in the MAC East race, the Falcons still have reasonable shot at a MAC East Championship if they could win their final four MAC contests. The Falcons trail Akron (2-2), Temple (2-3) and Buffalo (1-2), followed by the Falcons (1-3), Miami (1-3), Ohio (1-3) and Kent State (1-3).
On the other hand, Central Michigan (5-0), Ball State (4-0), Western Michigan (4-1) and Northern Illinois (4-1) are battling it out in the MAC West race.
Falcons Need a Return of 2007
If the Falcons are going to get back atop the MAC East standings they will need to string together a few wins in a row, the same situation they faced in 2007. Entering MAC play with four games remaining last season the Falcons sat in third-place with a 2-2 (4-4 overall) record in the MAC East, trailing Buffalo (3-0) and Miami (2-1). The Falcons eventually went on to win their final four games over Akron (44-20), Eastern Michigan (39-32), Buffalo (31-17) and Toledo (37-10) and advance to their third bowl game in five years and tied for the MAC East crown.
Brandon Versus the MAC/KSU
Saturday will be coach Brandon's 45th contest versus the Mid-American Conference. He currently holds a 28-16 (63.6%) MAC record, third-best in the conference since 2003. The Falcons have squared off with Kent State four times under Brandon with the Orange and Brown walking away with victories three times. The Falcons are 1-1 at home versus the Flashes under Brandon with a win in 2003 (42-33) and a loss in 2006 (38-3).
What The Falcons Have Done Since 2003 (Brandon Era)
• 41-29 overall record, best in the MAC
• 13-12 versus non MAC opponents, best in the MAC
• 28 conference wins, second-best in the MAC
• Three bowl appearances, best in the MAC
• Two bowl wins, best in the MAC
• One MAC West crown (2003)
• Two MAC East crowns (2005, 2007)
• National rankings in 2003 and 2004
Fourth Quarter Struggles
Despite the 3-5 overall and 1-3 record in the MAC, in four of their five losses the Falcons were either ahead or within one score entering the fourth quarter.
• Vs. Minnesota the Falcons had the ball, trailing 21-17 with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Three fourth quarter turnovers secured a 42-17 win for the Golden Gophers.
• Vs. Eastern Michigan the Falcons had a 21-17 lead with 1:15 remaining before EMU marched 77 yards for the winning touchdown.
• Vs. Miami the Falcons lead 20-17 to start the fourth quarter. Miami scored the game's final 10 points to sneak away with a 27-20 win.
• Vs. Northern Illinois the Falcons led 13-10 to start the fourth quarter. Two NIU field goals, including the game-winner with 12 seconds remaining, gave the Huskies a 16-13 win.
