Falcons Host Toledo With Possible Bowl Berth on the Line

Bowling Green (6-5, 5-2 MAC) vs Toledo (5-6, 3-4 MAC)
Bowling Green, Ohio • Doyt L. Perry Stadium (24,000)
Nov. 27, 2009 • 2:00 p.m.

TV
BCSN: Greg Franke (Play-by-Play) and Tom Cole (Analyst)

Radio
Falcon Radio Network (99.1 FM) • Todd Walker (Play-by-Play) and John Gibson (Analyst)
WBGU (88.1 FM) • Pat Dougherty and Jim Gramm
Listen on Online

Series
Series: BGSU Leads 38-31-4
Last Meeting: Bowling Green 38, Toledo 10 (Nov. 28, 2008)
Last Meeting in Bowling Green: Bowling Green 37, Toledo 10 (Nov. 23, 2007)
Notes: Bowling Green has won the last two meetings by a combined score of 75-20 • BGSU is 21-11-1 all-time at home versus UT.

BGSU Football Game Notes vs. Toledo (41 Pages)

Falcons Host Toledo With Possible Bowl Berth on the Line
The Bowling Green State University football team will play host to the arch-rival Toledo Rockets on Friday, Nov. 27 inside Doyt Perry Stadium. Opening kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

Scouting the Falcons
The Falcons are led by first year head coach Dave Clawson, who comes to BGSU after a successful career at Fordham and Richmond. Clawson is 6-5 in his first year as the Falcons' head coach.

The Falcon offense is led by third-year signal caller, Tyler Sheehan, who will be making his 37th consecutive start on Friday. Through his first 36 games as a Falcon he has thrown for 9,593 yards (second-best in school history) and 64 touchdowns. This year alone the senior has thrown for 3,527 yards (320.6/game) and 21 touchdowns, while adding a team-high four more on the ground. Sheehan and the Falcons are first in the MAC and fourth nationally, averaging 325.9 yards per game through the air and have thrown for over 300 yards in six of their last seven contests.

Sheehan's main offensive weapon is fellow classmate Freddie Barnes, who after 11 games this season, has already amassed 129 receptions (11.7 per game), 1,482 yards (134.7 per game) and 14 touchdowns, all tops in the nation. Barnes has eight games of at least 10-plus receptions and eight 100-yard receiving games this season. Barnes' top performance of the year was versus Kent State back on Oct. 10. The Chicago Heights, Ill., native recorded 22 grabs for 278 yards and three touchdowns. His 22 receptions were one shy of the NCAA record. Barnes is the BGSU and MAC record holder for catches in a season and is 13 shy of the all-time NCAA mark of 142, set by Manny Hazzard in 1989. For his efforts he was just named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's outstanding college wide receiver.

Defensively the Falcons are led by linebacker Jerett Sanderson, who leads the team in tackles (72) and tackles for loss (7.5). He has chipped in with a sack, interception, two quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

Falcons Use Second Half Explosion In Win Over Akron, 36-20
Trailing by a point at the half, the Bowling Green State University football team exploded for 27 second-half points en route to a 36-20 win over the University of Akron Friday night (Nov. 20). The Mid-American Conference game was held at BGSU's Perry Stadium.

Tyler Sheehan threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns, finding Freddie Barnes for both scores. Barnes had game-high totals of 12 receptions and 197 yards, scoring twice in the third quarter to help the Brown and Orange erase a 10-9 halftime deficit.

The Falcons had a 474-430 advantage in total offense, as both teams had 21 first downs. UA racked up 151 rushing yards in the first half, but the Brown and Orange held the Zips to just 20 second-half yards on the ground.

They Did it Again
In the win over Akron Tyler Sheehan threw for 338 yards and Freddie Barnes finished with 12 receptions for 197 yards and two scores. It was Sheehan's eighth 300-yard game of the season and Barnes' eighth game of surpassing the 100-yard plateau. In fact when Sheehan surpasses 300 yards and Barnes goes over 100 yards the Falcons are 6-2 in those eight games, including the 36-20 win versus Akron last Friday.

Barnes and Morgan Earn National Honor
The College Football Performance Award (CFPA) has named Freddie Barnes its National Wide Receiver of the Week and Keith Morgan its National Kick Returner of the Week following their performances in the 36-20 win over Akron.

This is the fifth time in 2009 in which Barnes was mentioned by the CFPA. He has been named its National Wide Receiver of the Week three time, while walking away with a pair of honorable mentions. The fifth-year senior posted 12 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns and added 15 yards on the ground in the win over Akron.

Barnes was previously named the country's top wide receiver after posting 22 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns versus Kent State and the following week added 10 receptions for 160 yards and three scores in the win at Ball State.

The Chicago Heights, Ill., native currently leads the country in receptions (129), receptions per game (11.7), yards (1,482), yards per game (134.7) and touchdowns (14).

Morgan had just one return on the night, but with Akron attempting an onside kick, the Bellefontaine, Ohio, native caught the ball on the fly and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown to put the Falcons up 36-20, midway through the fourth quarter.

Morgan is fourth on the team with 67 tackles, while adding a team-high five pass breakups, one sack and one fumble recovery.

Twenty Gun Salute
Bowling Green will have 20 seniors playing in their final game at Doyt Perry Stadium on Friday. Scott Albert, Freddie Barnes, Cody Basler, Jahmal Brown, Chris Bullock, Giovanni Fillari, Tony Hunter, Nick Iovinalli, Brandon Jackson, P.J. Mahone, Brady Minturn, Matt Norsic, Craig Rutherford, Jerett Sanderson, Jimmy Scheidler, James Schneider, Tyler Sheehan, Shane Steffy, Roger Williams and Chris Wright have combined for 9,840 yards passing, 2,614 yards rushing, 508 receptions, 5,571 receiving yards, 99 total touchdowns, 1,117 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2067 kick return yards and 118 punt return yards in their career.

Close Rivalry
The BGSU versus Toledo contest will feature the eighth closest contest among Division one football programs.
Rice University & University of Houston = 6.1 miles
Duke University & NC State = 8.3 miles
Washington State University & University of Idaho = 8.7 miles
University of North Carolina & Duke University = 10 miles
University of North Carolina & NC State = 10.1 miles
University of Akron & Kent State University = 11.6 miles
University of Southern California & UCLA = 14.1 miles
Bowling Green State University & University of Toledo = 27.5 miles

Comeback Kids
The Falcons have rallied back from a double-digit fourth quarter deficit twice in 2009 to pull out a victory. The Falcons scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for a 30-29 win at Buffalo on Nov. 3 and back on Oct. 10 the Falcons scored a pair of touchdowns in the game's final six minutes to win 36-35 at Kent State.

Nearly Had Three More
Even with two fourth quarter comebacks this season the Falcons have had the ball late in the fourth quarter down one score in four other games in 2009.
at Missouri - Down 27-20, 1:36 remaining - Drove to the BGSU40 before turning it over on downs.
at Marshall - Down 17-10, 2:13 remaining - Drove to the Marshall26 before turning it over on downs.
vs. Ohio - Down 44-37, 1:40 remaining - Drove to the Ohio14 before turning it over on downs.

Record Doesn't Tell The Entire Story
While the Falcons are 6-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play, you can't say the Falcons aren't challenging their team when it comes to the schedule. Overall, the Falcons have played seven of their 11 games against teams with .500 or better record, and in fact the combined winning percentage of those seven teams is not even close to .500. Boise State (11-0), Central Michigan (9-2), Troy (8-3), Marshall (6-5), Ohio (8-3) and Missouri (7-4) have a combined 49-17 record (.742).

MAC Road Warriors; Finish 2009 4-0 on road
The Falcons are 12-2 since 2007 in MAC road contests. They have wins over Kent State (31-20), Eastern Michigan (39-32) and Buffalo (31-17) in 2007, wins over Akron (37-33), Ohio (28-3) and Toledo (38-10) in 2008 and are 4-0 in MAC road games in 2009, downing Kent State (36-35), Ball State (31-17), Buffalo (30-29) and Miami (35-14). The Falcons lone road MAC road loses in that time are versus Miami in 2007 (47-14) and Northern Illinois in 2008 (16-13).

Another November to Remember?
In 2007 the Falcons were 4-0 and in 2008 they were 3-1 in the month of November. After a 30-29 win versus UB on Nov. 3, a 35-14 win at Miami on Nov. 12 and a 36-20 win on Nov. 20 versus Akron, the Falcons are now 10-1 since 2007 in the month of November. In 2007 the Falcons sat at just 4-4 overall before winning their final four games to advance to the GMAC Bowl. In 2008 the Falcons held a 27-7 lead in the fourth quarter over Buffalo (11/21/08) before falling in double overtime to the Bulls or they would have once again advanced to a postseason contest. The Falcons, who are 6-5 overall right now, will once again will need to be perfect in the month of November if they want to advance to post season play.

Aerial Attack; Seven Week Bombardment
Since the beginning of MAC play the Falcons' passing attack has been one of the nation's best. In the last seven weeks Tyler Sheehan has thrown for 2,462 yards (351.7/game), including six games of over 300 yards. Overall, he has completed 201-of-316 passes (63.6 percent) and 16 touchdowns and just three interceptions in seven MAC games.

Ice That Arm
Bowling Green is first in the Mid-American Conference and fourth nationally, averaging 325.9 yards per game through the air. Helping that number is the fact that the Falcons have thrown it 517 times through 11 games, third-most in the country. In fact, the Orange and Brown are currently averaging 47.0 attempts and 29.8 completions which would average out to 564 attempts and 358 completions, both which would be new school records. The current record of 345 completions was set in 2003 and the 522 attempts was just set in 2007.

You Decide? - 2009
Much has been made about the Falcons passing offense, which is ranked second in the nation, averaging 325.9 yards per game, but who wins the debate on who is more valuable to the team? Is it quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who is second in the country in yards per game, or is it wide receiver, Freddie Barnes, who leads the country in receptions and yards. To help you decide, each candidate has five arguments on why you should vote for them.

Tyler Sheehan
• Is second in the country with 318.9 yards per game.
• This season alone is averaging a touchdown pass every 23.7 pass attempts and throws an interception every 82.8 pass attempts.
• Is having his best year statistically in almost every category: Yards (3,527), touchdowns (21) and pass efficiency (135.7).
• Has eight 300-yard passing games and owns the school record for yards in a single game, with 505 yards versus Kent State.
• Has a chance to become the all-time school recorder holder for yards passing in a season. Sheehan's 3,527 yards trails only Josh Harris (3,813 yards) and Omar Jacobs, who posted 4,002 yards in 2004.

Freddie Barnes
• Is a Biletnikoff finalist, given to the nation's top wide receiver.
• Is the nation's leader in receptions (129), yards (1,482) and touchdown receptions (14).
• Had 22 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns versus Kent State. His 22 catches were one shy of the NCAA record.
• Has eight games in 2009 with at least 10 catches.
• Has eight games of over 100 yards receiving and has gone over the 150-yard mark five times.

Barnes Named Finalist for Biletnikoff Award
Bowling Green State University senior Freddie Barnes has been named a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's outstanding college football wide receiver. The announcement was made this afternoon (Nov. 23) by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.

Joining Barnes as a finalist will be Notre Dame's Golden Tate and Texas' Jordan Shipley.

Barnes currently leads the country in receptions (129), receptions per game (11.7), yards (1,482), yards per game (134.7) and touchdowns (14). The senior has eight double-digit reception performances, has gone over the 100-yard mark eight times and has five games of at least two touchdowns

Barnes, one of five captains on the 2009 Falcons' squad, currently has six straight games of over 100 yards receiving and has caught at least one touchdown in each of those six contests.

Big plays have been a huge factor in Barnes' success as well, having caught five receptions over 50 yards, and has 22 catches of 20 yards or more in 2009.

The Chicago Heights, Ill., native's 129 catches are seventh all-time in the history of the NCAA, 13 receptions shy of the NCAA mark of 142, held by Manny Hazard (Houston), established in 1989. His 11.7 receptions per game is the fourth-highest average ever by a NCAA wide receiver and has 36 more catches than his nearest competitor.

NCAA Record Breaker?
Freddie Barnes, who is currently averaging 11.7 catches a game, is currently on pace to finish 2009 with 140 catches (in 12 games), which would be just shy of the current NCAA record, held since 1989 by Manny Hazard (Houston) with 142.

All-Time NCAA Leaders for Catches in a Season
1.     Manny Hazard (Houston, 1989)            142
2.     Troy Edwards (La. Tech, 1998)             140
3.     Nate Burleson (Nevada, 2002)              138
4.     Howard Twilley (Tulsa, 1965)                134
5.     Trevor Insley (Nevada, 1999)                134
6.     Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech, 2007)    134
7.     Alex Van Dyke (Nevada, 1995)             129
8.     Freddie Barnes (BGSU, 2009)              129

NCAA Leaders For Catches Per Game
1.     Howard Twilley (Tulsa, 1965)           13.4
2.     Manny Hazard (Houston, 1989)       12.9
3.     Trevor Insley (Nevada, 1999)           12.2
4.     Alex Van Dyke (Nevada, 1995)         11.7
5.     Freddie Barnes (BGSU, 2009)        11.7

Helps When You Set A New School Record, Three Times
Obviously, when a player has 129 catches in 11 games he is posting some serious numbers. Well, when it comes to Freddie Barnes, he is doing just that. After posting just 40 receptions in 2008 due to injuries, most expected Barnes to return to his 82 reception performance from 2007, but no one could have predicted this.

In 2002 Robert Redd had 14 catches versus Northern Illinois, a mark that most felt would be tough to beat (Corey Partridge matched the 14 catches in 2006 versus Toledo). To open 2009 Barnes caught a school record 15 catches in a win over Troy, a record most believed would once again be tough to beat. That record stood for two weeks before Barnes posted 17 catches at Marshall, establishing a new BGSU record. Just when you thought that was a untouchable number, Barnes had an incredible performance, hauling in 22 catches at Kent State.

Cincinnati Kid
Tyler Sheehan, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, could be closing in on several single season records by the end of the year. Sheehan, who has thrown for 3,527 yards on 321 of 497 passes, is currently on pace to throw for 3,847 yards on 350-of-542 passing. He has already become the school record holder for completions and attempts in a season (Josh Harris was the previous record holder, completing 325 of 494 pass). Sheehan trails just Harris (3,813) and Omar Jacobs (4,002) for the most yards in a single season.

Sheehan Streaking
Tyler Sheehan has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 20 straight games, dating back to Sept. 13, 2008 when Boise State shut him out. His current 20 game streak is third-best in the country, behind just Colt McCoy (27 games) and Casey Keenum (26 games). In his 36 career starts he has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 33 of those games.

Current Touchdown Streaks
Colt McCoy, Texas-28
Case Keenum, Houston-27
Tyler Sheehan, BGSU-20
Tony Pike, Cincinnati-17
Ryan Lindley, San Diego State-17

If Sheehan Were A Bowler...
Tyler Sheehan came into 2009 with just two career 300-yard games, despite throwing for over 6,000 yards his first two years as a Falcon. Through 11 games this season he has eight 300-yard games, including six of his last seven contests. Sheehan opened the year with 339 yards versus Troy. He also had over 300 yards versus Marshall (383), Ohio (390), Kent State (505), Ball State (376), Central Michigan (341), Buffalo (313) and Akron (338).

Speaking of 300-Yard Games
Tyler Sheehan is one of just three quarterbacks in BGSU history to have at least 10, 300-yard games in their career. Omar Jacobs and Brian McClure are tops on that list with 12, followed by Sheehan. Josh Harris had six in his career and Rich Dackin had six 300 yard games in 1989. Jacobs had eight of his 12 games in 2004, meaning Sheehan has a chance to break another school record this week. Another 300-yard performance from Sheehan would give him nine 300-yard games this season, the most ever in a single season by a BGSU quarterback.

Staying Active
Tyler Sheehan, who will be making his 37th consecutive start, has put up some huge numbers in his career, and in fact, very few quarterbacks have done it better. Below are just a few of how Sheehan ranks among active NCAA leaders.
• Ranks fifth in pass attempts (1,416)
• Fifth in completions (914)
• Ninth in yards (9,593)
• 12th in passing touchdowns (64)
• 12th in completions percentage (64.5)
• 11th in touchdowns responsible for (81)
• 12th in total yards (9,888)

And Even More on Sheehan
• Is second in school history in pass attempts (1,416) and yards (9,592)
• First in school history in completions (914)
• Has 10 career 300-yard games, including six of his last seven contests
• Has been named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week seven times throughout his career.
• Has 81 career touchdowns (64 passing, 14 rushing, three receiving)
• Has completed 64.5 percent of his passes, best in school history
• Is first in the MAC in total offense (315.1) and yards passing (320.6)
• Has not thrown an interception in the fourth quarter in all of 2009

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