Samuel Leads Falcons to 48-8 Rout of Rhode Island

Saturday, September 29

Bowling Green, OH

3:30 PM

Bowling Green State University

2-3 , 0-1

Rhode Island

0-4 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

URI

BGSU

September 29, 2012 | Football

Box Score

By: by BGSU Athletic Communications

Box Score (HTML | PDF) Photo Gallery (BGSU Marketing and Communications)
Dave Clawson Audio Gabe Martin Audio Anthon Samuel Audio Matt Schilz Audio

The Bowling Green State University football team improved to 2-3 for the 2012 season on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 29) as it posted a 48-8 Homecoming victory over the Rhode Island Rams.

Anthon Samuel had one of the finest days of his career, as he provided the Falcons with 127 yards rushing on just 17 carries. Three of those carries resulted in a touchdown, including a 31-yard effort that followed Rhode Island's only score of the game.

BGSU's offense moved at will throughout the game. The team scored touchdowns on six of the 11 possessions in which they ran an offensive play. They also had seven drives of at least 50 yards. The team also recorded 30 first downs.

The Falcons finished with 538 yards on 73 plays and averaged 7.4 yards per play. Falcon quarterbacks threw for 332 and averaged just shy of 10 yards per attempts, while the team rushed for another 206 yards.

Matt Schilz was 20-of-27 for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Gallon caught both scoring passes as part of his four reception, 43 yard day. Alex Bayer led Falcon receilvers with five catches for 47 yards, as nine different players caught passes.

Bowling Green's defense was just as good. The Rams were held to just 171 yards on 54 plays (3.2 yards/play). Despite having 32 rushes, Rhode Island managed only 96 yards, and URI earned only 75 yards passing.

Rhode Island's longest possession was their lone scoring drive, and that lasted only 33 yards. In fact, the Rams' only scoring opportunties came after a muffed URI punt and two short BGSU punts.

Chris Jones earned a sack for the Falcon defense, while Josh Pettus recovered a Rhode Island fumble.

The Orange and Brown began the day's scoring when #Jerry "BooBoo" Gates# returned a punt for 80 yards and a touchdown with 11:42 left in the first quarter. After another URI punt, Samuel began his scoring barrage with a seven-yard touchdown run to give BGSU a 13-0 first quarter lead.

Gallon caught each of his two touchdown passes in the second quarter. The second came on a fast-paced seven play, 78-yard drive that lasted just 42 seconds. The score gave the Falcons a 34-8 lead at halftime.

Bowling Green added a touchdown each in the third and fourth quarter to earn the final margin of 48-8.

BGSU's next game is one week from today against Akron. Game time is 2:00 p.m. in Akron. The Zips will enter the game at 1-4 following a loss today against Miami. Both Bowling Green and Akron arrive with matching 0-1 records in the Mid-American Conference.

Notes vs. Rhode Island
* Falcons posted season-highs for points (48), first downs (30), rushing yards (206) and passing yards (332).

* The Falcons had 306 yards of total offense in the first half, surpassing the 266 yards they had in the entire game last week versus Virginia Tech.

* Booboo Gates' 80-yard punt return touchdown was the first of his career and the fourth-longest in school history. It was also BGSU's first punt return for a score since Eugene Cooper's 71-yard touchdown versus Toledo in 2010.

* Jermal Hosley saw his first action of the season, recording three catches for 53 yards.

* Matt Schilz moved into sixth all-time in BGSU history in passing yards (6,318), fifth in career pass attempts (961) and is tied for sixth in touchdown passes (39).

Anthon Samuel moved into a tie for 25th in career rushing yards at BGSU with 1,221. He added his eighth 100-yard game in just 14 contests.

* Chris Gallon recorded his first career touchdown and added a second touchdown late in the third quarter.

* Alex Bayer matched his career-high with five receptions.

* Matt Johnson had his first career touchdown pass, a 19-yard score to Herve Coby, his first career catch and first career touchdown.