Falcons Shut Down RedHawks, 35-14

Thursday, November 12

Oxford, Ohio

6:00 PM ET

Bowling Green State University

5-5 , 4-2

Miami (OH)

1-10 , 1-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Bowling Green

Miami (OH)

November 12, 2009 | Football

Box Score

BGSU defense comes up with six sacks, five takeaways

By: OXFORD, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

The Bowling Green State University football team held host Miami University scoreless in the second half en route to a 35-14 win over the RedHawks Thursday night (Nov. 12). The Mid-American Conference game was held at Yager Stadium.

BGSU 35, MIAMI 14 - Final Stats
BGSU Press Conference (Audio)

With the win, the Falcons improve to 5-5 overall and 4-2 in MAC action, while the RedHawks drop to 1-10 and 1-6, respectively.

Freddie Barnes scored three touchdowns, catching two scoring passes from Tyler Sheehan and scoring on the ground as well. Barnes, the nation's top receiver, had 10 catches for 109 yards on the evening.

Sheehan threw for 199 yards and three scores without an interception. He found Willie Geter on a 20-yard scoring play, in addition to scoring tosses of 59 and two yards to Barnes. Chris Bullock scored the Falcons' final TD on a 13-yard run in the final quarter.

The Falcon defense kept the RedHawks off the scoreboard in the second half, enabling the BG offense to break a 14-all halftime tie. BG had six sacks of MU quarterback Zac Dysert, and the Falcons had five takeaways. Jerett Sanderson set the tone on the opening kickoff, forcing a fumble by MU returner Jamal Rogers. BGSU scored two plays later, on a 19-yard reverse by Barnes. Sheehan threw a key block on that scoring play, giving the Falcons the lead with only 42 seconds gone.

Miami, however, remained in the game, tying the contest at both 7-all and 14-14, and getting a stop in the red zone in the final minute of the first half.

But, early in the third quarter, a P.J. Mahone interception inside the Miami 20 led to the first Sheehan-to-Barnes connection of the night, giving the Falcons the lead for good.

The Falcons then forced Miami into three consecutive three-and-outs over the remainder of the third quarter, and BG took a two-score lead on Sheehan's 20-yard pass to Geter late in the period.

The 'Hawks picked up a pair of first downs on their initial drive of the fourth quarter, but James Schneider sacked Dysert, forcing the Miami QB to fumble, and the Brown and Orange recovered. BG could not capitalize on the turnover, but the Falcon defense forced MU to turn the ball over on downs on the next drive.

BGSU then proceeded to go on a six-play, 50-yard drive. Bullock got the call on all six plays, beginning the drive with a 24-yard run and ending it with a 13-yard rush to the end zone.

The Falcons return home for the final two games of the regular season, beginning with a contest vs. the University of Akron next Friday (Nov. 20).

FALCON NOTES

* Biletnikoff Award semifinalist Freddie Barnes finished the game with 10 catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He added three carries for 25 yards and another score and even completed a pass for four yards. Barnes added 13 yards on four punt returns.

* Barnes now has 259 career receptions (school record) for 2,805 yards. The yardage total is second-best in school history. His two touchdown receptions give him 23 for his career, fifth-most in school history.

* The 100-yard game was the seventh this season and gives him five straight 100-yard games. His two touchdowns were the fourth time this season the fifth-year senior has had multiple-TD games and gives him a touchdown catch in five straight games.

* The Falcons forced a season-high five turnovers and held the Redhawks to a season-low 295 yards. Jerret Sanderson, Cody Basler and P.J. Mahone all came away with interceptions. The Sanderson interception came at the BG 5-yard line, the Falcons' first red-zone stop since Boise State (13 for the last 13).

* BGSU forced a season-high six sacks, led by Kevin Alvarado's 2.5 and Cody Basler's 1.5 bring downs.

* Tyler Sheehan finished with 199 yards throwing and three touchdowns. He extended his streak to 19 straight games with a touchdown pass.

* BGSU finished with a season-best 146 yards on the ground, 117 of those coming in the fourth quarter. Senior Chris Bullock had a team-high 82 yards on 11 carries.