Falcons Hang Tough As Toledo Wins Battle of I-75, 28-21

Saturday, October 15

Bowling Green, Ohio

Noon

Bowling Green State University

3-4 , 1-2

Toledo

4-3 , 3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Toledo

Bowling Green

October 15, 2011 | Football

Box Score

By: by BGSU Athletic Communications

Box Score
Dave Clawson Audio
Matt Schilz and BooBoo Gates Audio
Photo Gallery One (Photos by Marketing and Communications)
Photo Gallery Two (Photos by Marketing and Communications)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Bowling Green State University football team hung with Toledo throughout a closely-fought Battle of I-75 on Saturday (Oct. 15), but a fourth quarter interception led to a quick Rockets score and the deciding margin in a 28-21 Toledo victory.

The Falcons played stout defense when it mattered most in the first half and allowed the team to go into the locker room with a 7-0 halftime lead. In the second half, the offense responded twice to Toledo scores in a game where only a few plays made the difference.

Toledo began the game by driving 55 yards to the Falcons' 23. The secondary forced two Austin Dantin incompletions, and the Rockets' Ryan Casano missed a 40-yard field goal attempt.

From there, the teams traded punts over the next eight possessions. Time and again, the Rockets edged their way into BGSU territory only to fail. In all, Toledo ran plays on the Falcons' side of the field in five of six first half drives but scored zero points.

As the first half wound down, the Orange and Brown finally got their offense going. After gaining no first downs on their first four drives, the Falcons traveled 74 yards in 11 plays before Stephen Stein missed a 24 yard field goal attempt.

After another Rockets' punt, Bowling Green started at their own 20 again. After 12 plays, BGSU found themselves in a 4th-and-25 situation from the Toledo 27 with just seven seconds left. Quarterback Matt Schilz tossed up a jump ball into the end zone, and Kamar Jorden came down with it.

The touchdown, with one second left in the half, gave BGSU a 7-0 lead.

In the third quarter, while Bowling Green was going three-and-out and then losing the ball on downs, Toledo drove twice for touchdowns. The two drives combined for 19 plays, 158 yards and 8:01 of game clock. In those two drives, Toledo ran 17 times for 135 yards.

The touchdowns were scored by David Fluellen (three-yard run) and Morgan Williams (six-yard run).

The Falcons took over and wrapped a 13-play, 62-yard drive into the fourth quarter. On the drive, Schilz connected with Adrian Hodges twice for 27 yards and Alex Bayer once for 12. On third-and-goal, Jordan Hopgood took a direct snap and scored on a one-yard run. The Falcons tied the game at 14 with 12:59 to play.

Bowling Green quickly got the ball back as the defense forced a Toledo punt after just three plays. However, after Toledo knocked down two Schilz passes, Taikwon Paige stole a Schilz pass. The Rockets took over at BGSU's 33 after a horsecollar personal foul.

Williams ran the ball three times, the final one going for 13 times, as the Rockets quickly cashed in the game's only turnover into a touchdown and a 21-14 lead.

The Falcons immediately responded. On fourth-and-three from their own 33, head coach Dave Clawson rolled the dice and called a fake punt. Brian Schmiedebusch ran up the middle for 18 yards to give the Falcons life in UT territory.

From the UT 49, the Falcons seven more plays to get to the Rocket six yard line, where BGSU faced a third-and-one. Two rushes failed to pick up the first down, and Toledo took over with less than three minutes to play in the game.

The Falcon defense forced a quick third-and-nine, but Terrance Owens threw over the middle to Bernard Reedy for 59 yards to effectively seal the game. Williams scored on a 24-yard run three plays later to give UT a 28-14 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, #Jerry "Boo Boo" Gates# caught the ball and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown and the final margin of 28-21. Toledo ran out the clock after a failed onside kick.

Bowling Green's offense earned 343 yards on 75 plays, including 123 yards on 33 rushes and 220 yards on 42 pass attempts.

Schilz was 21-for-42 with a touchdown and an interception. Jorden and Eugene Cooper each caught seven passes. Jorden led the team with 106 yards receiving. Anthon Samuel was BGSU's leading rusher with 105 yards on 25 carries.

Toledo gained 456 yards of offense, including 268 on the ground. Williams carried 19 times for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Fluellen had 93 yards on 16 carries.

Bowling Green (3-4, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) play again next Saturday (Oct. 22) at Doyt L. Perry Stadium against the Temple Owls. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be televised by BCSN.