Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Head West Again for Tilt With Wyoming
September 23, 2008 | Football
Sept. 23, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
Game #4
Bowling Green (1-2, 0-0 MAC) vs. Wyoming (2-2, 0-0 MWC)
Laramie, Wyo. (War Memorial Stadium) • 4:00 p.m. EST
TV: Mountain West Sports Network • Rich Cellini (Play-by-Play), John Berger (Analyst), Anne Marie Anderson (sideline)
Radio: BGSU Radio Network • Todd Walker (Play-by-Play), Cal Bowers (Analyst)
Football Game Notes Versus Wyoming (29 pages) 
For the second consecutive contest the Bowling Green State University football team will travel west for a non-conference game, this time squaring off with the Cowboys of Wyoming. The Saturday, Sept. 27 contest will kickoff at 4 p.m. Eastern time. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Scouting the Falcons
After opening the season with a 27-17 win at #25 Pittsburgh, Bowling Green has dropped back-to-back games to Minnesota (42-17) and Boise State (20-7). The Falcons will enter Saturday's contest averaging 17.0 points per game, while allowing 26.3.
Offensively the Falcons are led by junior quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who has thrown for 624 yards and two scores, while facing arguably the top non-conference schedule among the 13 members of the Mid-American Conference. Sheehan has a wide range of offensive players to get the ball to. At running back the Orange and Brown feature Willie Geter (49 yards on 13 carries) and Chris Bullock (133 yards on 24 carries). Eleven different players have caught passes from Sheehan, including Corey Partridge (14 rec., 122 yds.), Tyrone Pronty (11 rec., 103 yards), Freddie Barnes (11 rec., 79 yds.) and Jermiah Kelley (9 rec., 111 yds.). On the defensive side of the ball the Falcons are led by senior Diyral Briggs and his five sacks (best in the MAC).
The Falcons can also boast that they have one of the top rushing defenses in the conference, allowing just 151.0 yards on the ground, despite facing running backs such as LeSean McCoy (Pittsburgh) and Ian Johnson (Boise State).
Last Contest: Boise State Downs Falcons on Blue Turf
Boise State scored touchdowns on each of their first three drives (76, 98 and 80 yard drives) to open with a 20-0 lead with three minutes to go in the second quarter over BGSU. The Falcons answered back with a touchdown drive of their own early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 20-7, but two fourth quarter turnovers doomed the Orange and Brown.
In the loss the Falcons held the Broncos to 91 total yards in the game's final 33 minutes of action, including a second half shutout for the second time this season (also shutout Pitt). The Falcons turned the ball over three times in Boise State territory (2 fumbles, 1 interception) and entered Bronco territory on seven different occasions, but came away with just seven points.
Brandon Versus the Mountain West
This will be the first ever meeting between Bowling Green and Wyoming, but it is also BGSU head coach Gregg Brandon's first ever meeting versus a team from the Mountain West Conference. In fact, the last time Bowling Green faced a team from the MWC in on Sept. 17, 1988 when BGSU fell 49-12 at Texas Christian.
Gregg Brandon Versus Non-MAC Opponents
BGSU head coach Gregg Brandon is currently 12-12 in 24 contests versus non-MAC opponents since becoming the Falcon head coach in 2003. In fact, he is the lone coach in the Mid-American Conference since 2003 to own a .500 or better record out of conference. Some of Brandon's biggest non-conference wins include a 32-31 win at Minnesota (2007), a 52-35 win over Memphis in the GMAC Bowl (2004), a 27-26 win at Purdue (2003), a 28-24 win versus Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl (2003) and a 27-17 this season versus Pittsburgh.
What The Falcons Have Done Since 2003 (Brandon Era) • 39-25 overall record, best in the MAC • 12-12 versus non MAC opponents, best in the MAC • 27 conference wins, 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
A Few Notes From the Loss at Boise State
• Tyrone Pronty had his first kick return since 2006, when he recorded a 36-yarder to open the contest, a new career-best. Pronty finished the game with four returns for 83 yards.
• For the third consecutive week, punter Nick Iovinelli placed a punt inside the opponent's five-yard line. At Pittsburgh and versus Minnesota he downed a punt at the opponents' two-yard line, while he also downed a punt versus Boise State at their four-yard line.
• Junior College transfer Andrew Beam saw his first action of the season, playing on a punt coverage team. He later saw action at quarterback, finishing the game with three carries for 19 yards. He did not attempt a pass.
• Beam, Anthony Turner, Tyler Sheehan and Freddie Barnes all saw action at quarterback for BGSU.
• The Falcons entered Boise State territory seven times, but came away with just seven points. • Senior Kenny Lewis had the Falcons' lone fumble recovery on the night, his second of the season, and fifth of his career.
• Tyrone Pronty set a career high for catches (6) and receiving yards (74).
• Jimmy Scheidler caught his third TD pass of the season, tops on the team. He now has five catches on the season.
• The Broncos scored touchdowns on each of their first three drives, but were held scoreless on their last seven drives.
• Boise State also posted 254 yards of offense of their first three drives, but had just 91 yards combined on their final seven drives.
• Andrew Johnson recorded his first career sack. • For the second time this season the Falcons shut out an opponent in the second half. They also held Pittsburgh scoreless in BG's 27-17 win.
These Boots are Made for Walking
For the second consecutive contest (BG did not play the week fn the 20th) the Falcons will make a trip out west, this time traveling to Laramie, Wyoming. Combined with the trip to Boise, Idaho (Sept. 13) the Falcons have traveled a combined 6,314 miles round trip in their past two games (3,844 to Boise, ID and back; 2,470 to Laramie, WY and back) Information supplied by mapquest.com.
Now That's a Tough Schedule
Through three game the Falcons have squared off with Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Boise State, all non-conference games. Combined, those three teams have a record of 9-1, with their only loss coming via the Falcons 27-17 win at Pittsburgh. Overall Minnesota is 4-0, followed by Boise State, 3-0, and Pittsburgh, 2-1.
Moving On Up
Fifth-year senior Corey Partridge will enter Saturday's contest with 137 career receptions, one shy of breaking into the top-10 all-time in school history. The Loveland, Ohio, native is currently on pace for 56 receptions this year which would give him 180 for his career, placing him fifth all-time in the BGSU record books.
1. Charles Sharon (2002-05) 232 2. Cole Magner (2001-04) 215 3. Robert Redd (1998-02) 211 4. Mark Szlachcic (1989-92) 182 5. Stan Hunter (1982-85) 176 6. Reggie Thornton (1986-89) 158 7. Steve Sanders (2002-05) 156 8. Kurt Gerling (1998-01) 152 9. Ronald Heard (1986-89) 139 10. Mark Dowdell (1981-84) 138 11. Corey Partridge (2005-PR) 137
So Much For a Question Mark
BGSU entered 2008 with a trio of new starting offensive linemen after losing Kory Lichtensteiger (four-time All-MAC), Drew Nystrom (two-time All-MAC) and Kevin Huelsman. Combined, the three started 107 career games. In come Ben Bojicic, Jeff Fink and Brady Minturn (seven combined starts) and the Falcon offensive line seems to have not missed a beat. Through three games the Falcons have allowed just five sacks (1.66/game) after allowing 32 sacks (2.46/game) in 13 games in 2007.
