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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host Eastern Michigan This Saturday
September 30, 2008 | Football
Sept. 30, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
Game #5
Bowling Green (2-2, 0-0 MAC) vs. Eastern Michigan (1-4, 0-2 MAC)
Bowling Green, Ohio (Doyt L. Perry Stadium) • 4:00 p.m. EST
TV: BCSN • Greg Franke (Play-by-Play), Tom Cole (Analyst), Zach Silka (sideline)
Radio: BGSU Radio Network • Todd Walker (Play-by-Play), Cal Bowers (Analyst)
Football Games Notes vs. Eastern Michigan (31 Pages) 
The Bowling Green State University football team returns home after a 28 day stint between home games as they play host to Eastern Michigan this Saturday (Oct. 4) inside Doyt L. Perry Stadium. Saturday's contest will be the annual BGSU Homecoming weekend as the Falcons and Eagles will get underway, starting at 4 p.m.
Scouting the Falcons
The Falcons snapped a two game losing streak this past weekend as they downed the Wyoming Cowboys 45-16 to push their overall record to 2-2. The Falcons also have a win over then #25 Pittsburgh (27-17) and losses to Minnesota (42-17) and Boise State (20-7).
Offensively the Falcons average 24.0 points per game, as they are coming off their best offensive output this past weekend. Quarterback Tyler Sheehan runs an offense that ranks eighth in the MAC in scoring (24.0), eighth in pass offense (235.5) and 11th in total offense (334.5). Sheehan has completed 96 of 153 passes (63%) for 911 yards and four touchdowns. The second year starting quarterback has also rushed for two scores in 2008.
Defensively the Falcons have improved tremendously from last season. The Falcons rank fifth in the MAC in scoring defense (23.8), sixth in rush defense (161.2), eighth in pass defense (200.2) and sixth in total defense (361.5). The Falcons are led by senior Diyral Briggs, who currently leads the MAC in sacks with five. Classmate Erique Dozier leads the team with 32 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
BGSU/EMU Preview
This weekend's matchup will be the 35th contest between Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan with the Falcons currently holding a 23-10-1 all-time series advantage. Eastern Michigan enters "The Doyt" ranked second in the conference at 192.8 yards rushing per game, but the Eagles allow 198.0 rushing yards to the opposition. Bowling Green averages just 99.0 yards rushing per game.
The Falcons, who are known for their four-and-five wide receiver formations, will face the top ranked pass defense in the Mid-American Conference, as the Eagles allow just 142.0 yards per game through the air. BGSU is coming off their top passing attack of the year, throwing for 287 yards in the win at Wyoming.
BGSU is coming off their best offensive output in over a year. Their 45 points is the most they have scored since the Orange and Brown put up 48 points in a win over Temple (9/22/07). The Eagles rank 12th in the MAC in scoring defense (34.2).
Balanced Falcons Down Wyoming, 45-16
It was an all-around effort for the BGSU football team as they captured their second road win of the season, downing Wyoming 45-16 last Saturday. Tyler Sheehan was 22 of 35 for 287 yards and two scores, while Willie Geter and Chris Bullock each posted 61 yards on the ground, with Bullock scoring on a pair of six-yard runs.
Defensively the Falcons forced five turnovers, including four interceptions (Mike Ream, Jerett Sanderson, Cody Basler and Kenny Lewis). BGSU allowed a Wyoming touchdown with 50 seconds remaining in the game or they would have had their third second half shutout of the season (also shutout Pittsburgh and Boise State).
Brandon Versus the MAC/Eastern Michigan
Saturday will be coach Brandon's 41st contest versus the Mid-American Conference. He currently holds a 27-13 (67.5%) MAC record, second-best in the conference since 2003 (Miami is 27-12). The Falcons have never lost to EMU under Brandon, and have outscored the Eagles 139-93 (4 games) since 2003.
Gregg Brandon Versus Non-MAC Opponents
BGSU head coach Gregg Brandon is currently 13-12 in 25 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)A Few Notes From the 45-16 Win at Wyoming
• 40-26 overall record, best in the MAC • 13-12 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
• BGSU's total of 45 points was the Falcons' highest since a 48-35 win over Temple last season (Sept. 22, 2007).
• The 29-point margin of victory was the Falcons' largest since a 70-7 win over those same Owls three seasons ago (Oct. 1, 2005).
• The win was the 40th of Gregg Brandon's collegiate head-coaching career. Brandon, in his sixth season as the Falcons' head coach, now has a record of 40-26.
• BGSU has won five of the last six road games, dating to last season.
• Junior Tyler Sheehan threw for 287 yards in the win, his highest total of the season and the fourth-highest total of his career. Each of his three higher totals came within the first three games of last season. Sheehan threw for 388 yards in the 2007 season-opening win at Minnesota, then had 295 yards passing at Michigan State and 351 yards through the air at Temple in the next two games last September.
• Redshirt junior Cody Basler scored the first touchdown of his Falcon career on Wyoming's opening drive Saturday. A pass by UW starting quarterback Dax Crum was intercepted by redshirt junior DL Michael Ream at the Cowboys' 20-yard line. Ream was tackled just prior to reaching the end zone. He fumbled the ball into the end zone, where Basler fell on it for a Falcon touchdown.
• The interception was the first of Ream's career, and the fumble recovery was Basler's second as a Falcon.
Sheehan and Basler Named MAC East POW
Cody Basler and Tyler Sheehan, members of the Bowling Green State University football team, have been named Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week, announced by the league office. Basler earned the league's defensive award, while Sheehan was named the MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week.
Basler, a native of Auburn, Mich., made his first start of the season last Saturday in the Falcons' 45-16 win at Wyoming. The junior recorded a career-high six tackles, while chipping in with one interception and a quarterback hurry. He also recovered a fumble in the Cowboy end zone for his first career score.
Sheehan had his best performance of 2008, completing 22 of 35 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 28-yard touchdown run, a career-best. It was the fourth time in his career he has won the award, after being named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week three times last season.
Now That's a Tough Schedule
Following contests with Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Boise State and Wyoming the Falcons have had their share of tough contests in 2008. Combined, the four opponents have a record of 12-5, with two of those losses coming from BGSU wins. Overall Pittsburgh is 3-1 (only loss came versus BGSU), Minnesota (4-1), Boise State (3-0) and Wyoming (2-3). CBS.Sportsline.com ranks the Falcons' schedule the 15th toughest in the country as of Sept. 29.
Home Cooking
The Falcons are 20-9 inside Doyt Perry Stadium since Gregg Brandon became head coach in 2003. At home BGSU went 7-1 in 2003, 5-0 in 2004, 2-3 in 2005 and 2006 and 4-1 in 2007. The Falcons are 0-1 at home this season after falling to Minnesota 42-17.
Sheehan Gets Back on Track
Tyler Sheehan, who is in his second year as the starting quarterback at Bowling Green, completed 22 of 35 (63%) passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Wyoming. His completion percentage was his second-best this season, while his yardage and touchdown passes were both season-highs. In fact, his 287 yards passing were his highest totals since throwing for 351 yards versus Temple back on Sept. 22, 2007.
Quick Strike
The Falcons don't mess around when it comes to scoring touchdowns in 2008. On the Falcons 12 touchdown drives this season they are averaging just 2:55 on the scoring drives.
Offensive Explosion Versus Wyoming
The Falcons set several season-bests in the 45-16 win at Wyoming. Here are a few of them:
• The 45 points scored were a season-high, and in fact, were just six points shy of their previous three games combined (51).
• The 287 passing yards were a season-best.
• BGSU had 22 first downs in the win, matching their season-best.
• The 76 offensive plays were a season-high, while the Falcons' 388 yards of offense were one shy of the 389 set versus Minnesota.
• The Falcons had 13 plays of over 20 yards versus Wyoming after recording just 12 plays of 20 or more yards in the first three games combined.
Defense Sacks Competition; Leads MAC
The Falcons have recorded eight sacks through the first four games of the season (2.0/game) after recording just 24 sacks in 13 games last season (1.85/game). The 2.0 sacks/game are tied with Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Ball State for the MAC's top honor. Leading the defense is senior Diyral Briggs who has five sacks on the year. Erique Dozier, Antonio Smith and Andrew Johnson have each recorded one sack as well.
Briggs Is Ranked Among Nation's Best
Diyral Briggs' five sacks this season currently is tied for fourth in the nation. His 1.25 sacks a game are second in the country. He recorded two sacks in the win over Pittsburgh and had three sacks in the loss to Minnesota. His three sacks versus Minnesota also place him in elite company, as he is one of just two players in 2008 to record three sacks in a game.
Nation's Top Sack Performers
1. Jake Paulson (Air Force), 7.0 2. Aaron Maybin (Penn State), 6.0 3. Brian Orakpo (Texas), 5.5 4. Diyral Briggs (BGSU), 5.0 5. Brandon Graham (Michigan), 5.0
