Bowling Green State University
1-2
Marshall
0-3
Falcons Get Defensive in 44-28 Win over Marshall
September 18, 2010 | Football
BGSU returns two of team's four INTs for touchdowns to capture victory in home opener
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Dave Clawson and Aaron Pankratz Audio | Dwayne Woods and Booboo Gates Audio |
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With the win, the Falcons improve to 1-2 on the season, while dropping the Thundering Herd to 0-3.
Dwayne Woods rumbled 78 yards to the end zone with a second-quarter interception, while Jerry "Booboo" Gates scored on a 29-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.
The Falcons had burst out to a 21-0 lead in the first half, but the Herd crept back. MU scored with less than one second remaining in the first half to cut BG's advantage to 28-14, and the visitors tied the game late in the third quarter.
Bryan Wright's 27-yard field goal gave the Falcons the lead for good with less than a minute gone in the fourth, and BGSU forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff return, taking over at the MU 33-yard line. On the third play of the drive, Falcon quarterback Aaron Pankratz hooked up with Tyrone Pronty on a 31-yard catch-and-run for a TD with 9:21 left.
Less than a minute later, Gates picked off MU QB Brian Anderson for the final TD of the game.
BG very nearly had a third interception return for a score, as Keith Morgan wound up in the end zone as well on the possession after Gates' TD. But, a penalty against the Falcons nullified the touchdown.
The Falcons had a team total of 158 yards in interception returns, not too far off the school record. The mark of 195 total yards in INT returns was set in the 1948 Toledo game.
BGSU QB Matt Schilz completed 19 of 25 passes for 181 yards and a TD, and also ran for a score. Pankratz, who entered the game late in the third quarter, was 5-of-8 for 111 yards.
Schiltz led the Falcons down the field on the opening drive of the game, culminating with a 5-yard TD toss to Kamar Jorden. Jorden, who entered the weekend as the nation's leading receiver, had 11 catches for 64 yards on the night. Schilz was 3-for-3 on that drive.
BGSU scored in the final play of the opening quarter, as Woods picked off Anderson and went the distance. The 78-yard play, followed by Wright's PAT, gave the Falcons a 14-0 advantage.
Woods' play was the fourth-longest interception return in school history.
On Marshall's next drive, Jovan Leacock picked off an Anderson pass and took it back 42 yards to the MU 16-yard line. Four plays later, Schilz went the final yard to the end zone, giving the Brown and Orange a 21-0 lead with 11:35 left before halftime.
The Herd got on the scoreboard on a 68-yard run by Andre Booker, cutting the BG lead to two touchdowns.
BGSU's lead swelled back to 21 points after Jordan Hopgood took a direct snap and went two yards for a score with 55 seconds left. The Herd responded, however, as Anderson directed the visitors down the field in the final minute. With just 0.9 seconds left in the half, Anderson completed a 6-yard pass to Antavious Wilson, and Marshall trailed by a 28-14 count as the teams headed to the lockerrooms.
BGSU's Cameron Truss blocked a Marshall field-goal try on the opening drive of the third quarter, but the Herd scored on their next drive. A.J. Graham took a direct snap and scored on a 1-yard run.
The teams exchanged punts, and BGSU took over at its own 10-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Marshall's Delvin Johnson sacked Schilz, who fumbled. The Herd recovered the ball at the Falcons' 1-yard line, and Martin Ward scored on the next play. Tyler Warner's PAT was good, and the game was tied with a minute left in the third quarter.
On the first play of the Falcons' next drive, Pankratz hit Willie Geter on a screen pass, and the play went for 47 yards to the Marshall 17-yard line. The drive stalled, but Wright's field goal early in the fourth quarter gave the Brown and Orange the lead for good.
Booker was hit by Leacock on the ensuing kickoff, coughing up the ball, and the Falcons' Tim Moore fell in it at the Herd's 31-yard line. The Falcons did not score, but BG then held the Herd to a three-and-out, taking over at the MU 33 after a punt. That drive resulted in the Pankratz-to-Pronty scoring play. A fumbled snap on the PAT left the Falcons' lead at nine points, 37-28.
On the second play of the Herd's next drive, Anderson's pass went through the hands of his intended receiver, and Gates grabbed it and took it all the way to the end zone.
The Falcons had a narrow advantage in total offense, 393-376, including 292 yards through the air. Anderson was 20-of-44 for 191 passing yards for the visitors, but was victimized by four interceptions.
Booker led all rushers with 121 yards on just seven carries, including the 68-yard score. Geter led the Falcons with an even 100 yards on the ground.
The Falcons return to the road next weekend, making the short trip north to Ann Arbor for a Saturday (Sept. 25) game vs. the University of Michigan. The game, which begins at noon, will be televised by ESPN or ESPN2.
Team Stats
MAR 0, BGSU 7
BGSU - JORDEN, Kamar 5 yd pass from SCHILZ, Matt (WRIGHT, Bryan kick) 7 plays, 64 yards, TOP 3:05
MAR 0, BGSU 14
BGSU - WOODS, Dwayne 78 yd interception (WRIGHT, Bryan kick)
MAR 0, BGSU 21
BGSU - SCHILZ, Matt 1 yd run (WRIGHT, Bryan kick), 4 plays, 16 yards, TOP 1:37
MAR 7, BGSU 21
MAR - BOOKER, Andre 68 yd run (WARNER, Tyler kick), 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:00
MAR 7, BGSU 28
BGSU - HOPGOOD, Jordan 2 yd run (WRIGHT, Bryan kick), 7 plays, 47 yards, TOP 3:07
MAR 14, BGSU 28
MAR - WILSON, Antavio 6 yd pass from ANDERSON, Brian (WARNER, Tyler kick) 10 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:54
MAR 21, BGSU 28
MAR - GRAHAM, A.J. 1 yd run (WARNER, Tyler kick), 10 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:00
MAR 28, BGSU 28
MAR - WARD, Martin 1 yd run (WARNER, Tyler kick), 1 plays, 1 yards, TOP 0:05
MAR 28, BGSU 31
BGSU - WRIGHT, Bryan 27 yd field goal 5 plays, 54 yards, TOP 1:50
MAR 28, BGSU 37
BGSU - PRONTY, Tyrone 31 yd pass from PANKRATZ, Aaron (TEAM rushfumbled) 3 plays, 33 yards, TOP 0:45
MAR 28, BGSU 44
BGSU - GATES, BooBoo 29 yd interception (WRIGHT, Bryan kick)
