Dual-Threat Harnish Leads Huskies Past Falcons, 45-14

Tuesday, November 8

Bowling Green, Ohio

8 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

4-6 , 2-4

Northern Illinois

7-3 , 5-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Illinois

Bowling Green

November 08, 2011 | Football

Box Score

By: BGSU Athletic Communications

Photo Gallery
Box Score
Dave Clawson Audio
Matt Schilz and Ronnie Goble Audio

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Bowling Green State University football team fell on Tuesday evening (Nov. 8) to the Northern Illinois Huskies, 45-14, in a cross-divisional Mid-American Conference battle.

The game began well enough for the Falcons. On the opening play from scrimmage, Matt Schilz passed to Kamar Jorden, who ran untouched for an 83-yard score -- the fifth-longest touchdown pass in team history.

However, just two plays later, the Huskies tied the game at seven when Willie Clark caught a 56-yard pass from Chandler Harnish with 14:00 left in the opening frame.

The Falcons responded by quickly moving to the NIU 37-yard lilne. Facing a fourth-and-five, BGSU tried for the first down, but Schilz's pass fell incomplete.

On the ensuing drive, Northern Illinois drove 63 yards in 13 plays. It appeared at one point that Bowling Green had stopped the Huskies on downs at the BGSU 2, but a personal foul gave NIU a first down. Three plays later, Jasmin Hopkins scored from a yard out to give NIU a 14-7 lead they would never relinquish.

After falling behind 24-7 with 1:15 left in the second quarter, Schilz led the Falcons on a 64-yard drive that culminated in the second Schilz-to-Jorden touchdown pass of the game. The hook-up brought BG to within ten points as the half ended.

The Falcons forced Northern Illinois to punt on back-to-back possessions to start the second half but could do nothing themselves offensively. NIU effectively ended the game from there by scoring touchdowns on their next three possessions.

Bowling Green amassed 334 yards of offense while giving up 623. Northern Illinois rushed for 283 and passed for another 340. BGSU managed 255 yards passing but just 79 rushing.

Schilz was 22-for-38 for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Jorden led all Falcon receivers with eight catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Anthon Samuel caught seven balls for 50 yards while also gaining 73 yards on 12 rushes. Samuel also became the single-season rushing record holder for BGSU freshmen.

On special teams, #Jerry "Boo Boo" Gates# had 186 kickoff return yards, including a 58-yard return in the fourth quarter. Punter Brian Schmiedebusch had 326 yards on seven punts. That total included a booming 73-yarder from his own end zone.

For Northern Illinois, Chandler Harnish had 445 yards of total offense. He rushed 17 times for 151 yards and was 16-for-26 passing for 294 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and earned one more on the ground.

Willie Clark was Harnish's recipient on both touchdown passes, while Jasmin Hopkins rushed for a touchdown and 62 yards.

The loss drops BGSU to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the MAC. Northern Illinois improves to 7-3 (5-1).

The Falcons' next game will be at home on Wednesday (Nov. 16) against the Ohio Bobcats. The game will be the final one of the 2011 season at Doyt Perry Stadium. Game time is 8:00 p.m., and the contest will again be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.

Notes
* Kamar Jorden had an 83-yard touchdown catch on the game's first play of the night, the fifth-longest touchdown pass in school history.

* Jorden now has 163 career catches, eighth-most in school history.

* Jorden had his fifth 100-yard game of the season, and fourth in the last five games, after finishing with eight catches for 152 yards. He also has 100-yard games versus Wyoming (101), Western Michigan (103), Toledo (106) and Kent State (203). It was his tenth 100-yard game of his career.

* BooBoo Gates had eight returns for 186 yards, including a long of 58 yards. He now has 32 returns for 873 yards this season, the third-most in school history for each.

* Anthon Samuel has 777 rushing yards this season the most yards ever by a Falcon freshman. The previous record was 769 yards by Chris Bullock in 2006.

* Brian Schmiedebusch had a 73 yard punt, his second punt of over 70 yards this season. The sophomore had an 81-yard boot versus Idaho to open the season.