Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, September 26
Bowling Green, Ohio
7:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
vs
Boise State
Falcons Host No. 8 Boise State on Saturday
September 22, 2009 | Football
Bowling Green (1-2, 0-0 MAC) vs. #8 Boise State (3-0, 1-0 WAC)
Bowling Green, Ohio • Doyt L. Perry Stadium (24,000)
Sept. 26, 2009 • 7 p.m.
TV
BCSN • Greg Franke (Play-by-Play) and Tom Cole (Analyst)
ESPN360.com
Radio
Falcon Radio Network (99.1 FM) • Todd Walker (Play-by-Play) and John Gibson (Analyst)
WBGU (88.1 FM) • Pat Dougherty (Play-by-Play) and Kevin Zilch (Analyst)
Listen on www.bgsufalcons.com
Series
Boise State Leads 2-0
Complete Release in PDF Format (30 pages)
The Bowling Green State University football program will host its first-ever top-10 team inside Doyt Perry Stadium on Saturday as the Falcons welcome No. 8 Boise State to town. Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Bowling Green State University football program will host its first-ever top-10 team inside Doyt Perry Stadium on Saturday as the Falcons welcome No. 8 Boise State to town. Opening kickoff is set for 7 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, who is 1-2 in his brief Falcon career, is 59-51 overall in 10 seasons as a head coach.
The Falcon offense is led by third-year signal caller, Tyler Sheehan, who will be making his 29th consecutive start on Saturday. Through his first 28 games as a Falcon he has thrown for 6,994 yards and 47 touchdowns. Through three games in 2009 the senior ranks second in the MAC and 11th nationally with 309.3 yards per game through the air.
Sheehan's main offensive weapon is fellow classmate Freddie Barnes, who after three games this season, has already amassed 42 receptions, including a school-record 15 versus Troy and a new school record 17 versus Marshall. Barnes currently leads the nation with 42 receptions and 14.0 catches per game.
In the backfield, Willie Geter has emerged as an every down back, having rushed for 178 yards on 38 carries (4.7 avg.) through the first three games of 2009.
Defensively the Falcons had to break in eight new starters, but that has not shown. Through three games the Falcons are allowing just 20.3 points and 334.3 yards per game, including just 178.3 yards per game through the air.
Middle linebacker Cody Basler leads the team with 27 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. He has also forced one fumble and has one quarterback hurry in his first-year as an every day starter.
Scouting Boise State
Boise State comes to Bowling Green sporting a 3-0 record and a No. 8 national ranking, the highest ranked team to ever visit Doyt Perry Stadium.
Head coach Chris Petersen is 38-4 since taking over the program in 2006.
The Broncos feature one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the country, averaging 427.3 yards and 39.3 points per game. WAC Freshman of the Year Kellen Moore quarterbacks the team that throws for 230.7 yards a game.
In the backfield the Broncos feature a two-back system that averages 196.7 yards per game on the ground. Jeremy Avery (93.0) leads the BSU backfield heading into Saturday night's action.
Defensively, the Broncos allow just 14.0 points and 284.3 yards per game.
Falcons Fall 17-10 at Marshall
Freddie Barnes broke his own school record with 17 receptions but the Bowling Green football team lost to Marshall 17-10 last Saturday evening at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Tyler Sheehan was 43-of-62 (both school records) for 383 yards and Barnes had 109 yards receiving but the Falcons were unable to put points on the board on a couple of long drives. Sheehan completed a 50-yard pass to Chris Wright in the second quarter that gave Bowling Green a 7-0 halftime lead.
Marshall tied the score on an 11-yard Antavio Wilson touchdown reception with 5:49 to play in the third and got an 80-yard Darius Marshall touchdown scamper with 10:29 to go in the fourth to take a 14-7 lead. Marshall's Craig Ratanamorn added a 31-yard field goal with 8:46 to play and Bowling Green's Jerry Phillips made a 30-yard kick with 3:19 left to make it 17-10.
Bowling Green had one last chance, driving inside Marshall's 20-yard line with under a minute to play, but a failed hook-and-ladder play on fourth-and-21 gave Marshall the win.
Sheehan Named MAC East Offensive POW
For the sixth time in his career, Tyler Sheehan has been named Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week.
The senior is coming off a 43-of-62 performance, in which he threw for 383 yards and one touchdown in the Falcons' 17-10 loss at Marshall last Saturday. His 383 yards passing was the second highest of his career.
The Cincinnati, Ohio, native established a new school record for completions (43) and attempts (62) in a game versus Marshall. The previous record holder for completions was Josh Harris, who had 38 versus Northwestern in 2003 and Omar Jacobs had 60 attempts versus Toledo in 2004.
Sheehan also had nine rushes versus Marshall giving him a total of 71 plays, one shy of the 72 plays set by Jacobs in the 2004 Toledo contest.
Sheehan's Offensive MAC Player of the Week Awards
at Minnesota (2007) 34-51, 388 yards, 2 TDs (had one receiving TD as well)
vs. Temple (2007) 30-47, 351 yards, 4 TDs
at Buffalo (2007) 20-29, 248 yards, 2 TDs (had one receiving TD)
at Wyoming (2008) 22-35, 287 yards, 2 TDs (had one rushing TD as well)
vs. Akron (2008) 26-41, 239 yards, 3 TDs (had one rushing TD as well)
at Marshall (2009) 43-62, 383 yards, 1 TD
Facing Ranked Opponents
The Falcons have beaten a nationally-ranked team just four times in school history. BGSU has downed No. 25 Pittsburgh (2008), No. 12 Northern Illinois (2003), No. 16 Purdue (2003) and No. 18 Purdue (1972). Only the Northern Illinois win came inside Doyt Perry Stadium.
Holding Their Own Since 2003
Since 2003 the Falcons have squared-off with seven teams ranked in the top-25 and have come away with an impressive 3-4 record.
at #16 Purdue (2003) W, 27-26
at #4 Ohio State (2003) L, 24-17
vs. #12 Northern Illinois (2003) W, 34-18
vs. #14 Miami (OH) (2003) - MAC Champ. L, 49-27
at #2 Oklahoma (2004) L, 40-24
at #1 Ohio State (2006) L, 35-7
at #25 Pittsburgh (2008) W, 27-17
Take Me to Your Leader
The Falcon air attack has always had its pilot in Tyler Sheehan, but there is no question who the co-pilot is in 2009. Wide receiver Freddie Barnes, who has 42 catches through three games in 2009, currently has a stranglehold atop the nation's leaderboard in catches, and in fact it's not even close right now. As a side note, Barnes has more receptions than 28 teams do have total catches.
Player (School)........................Catches
Freddie Barnes (BGSU)...............42
Emmanuel Sanders (SMU)..........35
Jock Sanders (WVU)...................29
Eric Decker (Minn.)......................27
Kealoha Pilares (Hawai'i)............27
Helps When You Set New School Records, Twice
Obviously, when a player has 42 catches in three 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, had 10 receptions versus No. 25 Missouri the week after and then once again, broke the school record for catches in a game, posting 17 last weekend versus Marshall.
Moving On Up
When marching up a record book like Freddie Barnes is doing, 43 catches in three games will help out in a hurry. The senior, who began 2009 with 142 career receptions climbed from 11th all-time all the way to fourth with his 184 career catches.
1. Charles Sharon (2002-05)........232
2. Cole Magner (2001-04)............215
3. Robert Redd (1998-02)............211
4. Freddie Barnes (2005-PR).......184
5. Mark Szlachcic (1989-92)........182
6. Corey Partridge (2005-08).......182
7. Stan Hunter (1982-85).............176
8. Reggie Thornton (1986-89).....158
9. Steve Sanders (2002-05)........156
10. Kurt Gerling (1998-01)...........152
Pushing All The Right Buttons
As stated before the Falcon defense has played stellar in 2009, but until you compare what their competition has done in the past, you won't understand how well they have played. Troy averaged 32.8 points and 414.3 yards per game in 2008, but the Falcon defense held them to just 17 points and 304 yards. Two weeks ago versus Missouri, BGSU gave up 27 points and 353 yards, but when you compare that to what the Tigers did versus Illinois the week prior (37 points, 442 yards), that does not look too shabby. This past week the Falcons held Marshall to just 17 points (were averaging 20.5) and allowed just 100 yards through the air (Marshall was averaging 221.0 per game).
Percentage Leader
Senior quarterback Tyler Sheehan, the career leader in BGSU history in completion percentage at 65.1 percent, is currently edging out Omar Jacobs (64.4 percent). Sheehan leads by 0.7 percent. Sheehan completed 66.8 percent of his passes last season, which is second all-time for completion percentage for a season, trailing just Jacobs, who completed 66.9 percent of his passes in 2004. Through three games in 2009 Sheehan has completed 68.4 percent of his passes, which would smash the current school record.
141 and Counting
Tyler Sheehan, who leads the MAC and is second in the nation with 152 pass attempts, has not thrown an interception since the first quarter of the Troy contest. Overall he has not thrown an interception in his last 141 throws, including his last 33 attempts versus Troy, his 46 attempts at Missouri and 62 attempts at Marshall.
Sheehan Career Tidbits
• Has completed 65.1 percent of his passes in his career (697 of 1,071), while throwing for 6,994 yards and 47 touchdowns, while rushing for 10 more. His completion percentage is first all-time in school history.
• Has three career receiving touchdowns.
• Has been responsible for 60 touchdowns in his last 28 games (47 passing, 10 rushing, 3 receiving)
• Has been named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week six times.
• His 1,071 career passes are third all-time in BGSU history.
• His 697 career completions rank second all-time.
• Averages a touchdown pass every 22.8 passes and an interception every 42.8 passes.
Sheehan on Manning Watch List
The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced its 2009 preseason Watch List, with Bowling Green's Tyler Sheehan finding his way onto that list, which included 38 of the top quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2009 season. The winner will be announced after the bowls in January and will be honored at a February banquet in New Orleans.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidates' bowl performances.
Sheehan By The Down - Completion % - 2009
On First Down - 36-57 (63%)
On Second Down - 41-47 (87%)
On Third Down - 25-44 (56%)
On Fourth Down - 2-4 (50%)
Sheehan by the Quarter - 2009
In First Quarter - 23 of 40 (58%), 189 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
In Second Quarter - 25 of 32 (78%) 265 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
In Third Quarter - 24 of 33 (73%) 187 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
In Fourth Quarter - 33 of 51 (67%) 286 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
He May Catch More Than Just TDs in 2009
Senior tight end Jimmy Scheidler had just 17 receptions in 2008, but led the team with seven touchdown receptions, including two versus Pittsburgh to begin 2008. Despite not catching a pass versus Missouri, Scheidler looks to be a major force in 2009 on the playing field. In the win versus Troy, Scheidler had four receptions for 72 yards, matching his career-high in catches and blowing away his previous best for yards in the game.
Simply The Best
Roger Williams became the all-time leader for kick return yards in a career following the Troy contest. He is also just one return away from etching his name atop another school record (kick returns). Williams, who suffered a broken finger early in 2008 was limited as a return man, but made a name for himself in 2007 when he set school records in returns (39) and yards (954), while also returning a kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown in the GMAC Bowl, the first-ever in that bowl's history.
Career Kickoff Returns
1. Roger Williams (2006-pr).........68
2. Reggie Thornton (1986-89)......65
3. Joe Alls (1999-02).....................55
4. Darryl Story (1983-86)..............51
5. Terry Wilson (1988-92).............49
Career Kickoff Return Yards
1. Roger Williams (2006-pr).........1,487
2. Reggie Thornton (1986-89)......1,222
3. Joe Alls (1999-02).....................1,147
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