Saturday, October 12
Starkville, MS
7:30 PM
Bowling Green State University
5-2
20
at
21
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Mississippi State
3-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Bowling Green
3
10
7
0
20
Mississippi State
14
7
0
0
21
Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com
Falcons' Upset Bid Comes Up One Point Short At MSU
October 12, 2013 | Football
Final Boxscore
Dave Clawson Postgame Audio
Matt Johnson Postgame Audio
The Bowling Green State University football team fell to 5-2 on the season following a hard-fought 21-20 loss at the hands of the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium Saturday night.
Mississippi State opened the scoring on with an opening-drive touchdown. The Bulldogs traveled 75 yards over 5:02 of play, eventually getting on the board with a one-yard rush from LaDarius Perkins on second-and-goal.
Bowling Green stalled on its opening drive, but BooBoo Gates intercepted a Dak Prescott pass on the Bulldogs' ensuing drive. Aaron Foster tipped the ball before Gates picked it off at the Mississippi State 47-yard line and returned it 34 yards down to the Bulldogs' 13-yard line. The Falcons would settle for a 35-yard Tyler Tate field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.
Mississippi State extended its lead quickly, however, as Prescott scored on the Bulldogs' next possession. The quarterback used a play fake in the backfield to trick the Falcons' defense before rushing it in from 75 yards out on the first play of the drive.
After a punt apiece from each team, Bowling Green orchestrated a 96-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a seven-yard rush from Andre Givens. The Falcons took advantage of a pass interference call that negated a Bulldog interception, and used a 29-yard rush from Travis Greene and a 28-yard reception from quarterback Matt Johnson to tight end Tyler Beck on consecutive plays prior to Givens' carry.
Mississippi State once again countered with a score, as the Bulldogs drove 75 yards for the second time on the night. Dak Prescott topped off the scoring drive with a 10-yard quarterback keeper, pushing Mississippi State's advantage to 21-10.
The Falcons, with only 1:04 remaining in the half, then traveled 48 yards before Tyler Tate hit a 45-yard field goal as time expired. The field goal, which tied a career long for Tate, made the score 21-13.
Both squads would once again trade a pair of punts to open the half, ultimately setting up a two-yard rushing touchdown from Matt Johnson that cut the Bulldogs deficit to a single point. On a drive that covered 76 yards over 3:15 of play, the Falcons were boosted by a pair of Ryan Burbrink completions. The first of which went for 17 yards and the latter went for 24. Travis Greene then rushed for 12 yards two plays prior to the Johnson score.
The score would remain at 21-20 deep into the fourth quarter.
Mississippi State kicker, Devon Bell, missed a 44-yard field goal attempt at the start of the frame. And with 4:21 remaining in the contest, Jairus Campbell made a key stop on fourth-and-two from the Falcon eight-yard line, keeping the Orange and Brown within a point.
Bowling Green would go on to drive the ball to their own 45-yard line, but failed to convert on fourth down. The Falcons had one more shot at winning the game, as they took over on their own 29-yard line with three seconds remaining, but a series of laterals ended in a lost fumble.
Alongside his rushing touchdown, Matt Johnson connected on 20 of his 34 passes for 224 yards. Travis Greene led the rushing attack for the Falcons, as the redshirt sophomore gained 99 yards on 15 carries. Through the air, Jared Cohen hauled in five receptions for 51 yards, while Ryan Burbrink gained 66 yards on four catches.
The Falcons will have an off week before returning to action against rival Toledo Oct. 26 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. Following the Battle of I-75, Bowling Green will wrap up the regular season with four more Mid-American Conference matchups.
Mississippi State opened the scoring on with an opening-drive touchdown. The Bulldogs traveled 75 yards over 5:02 of play, eventually getting on the board with a one-yard rush from LaDarius Perkins on second-and-goal.
Bowling Green stalled on its opening drive, but BooBoo Gates intercepted a Dak Prescott pass on the Bulldogs' ensuing drive. Aaron Foster tipped the ball before Gates picked it off at the Mississippi State 47-yard line and returned it 34 yards down to the Bulldogs' 13-yard line. The Falcons would settle for a 35-yard Tyler Tate field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.
Mississippi State extended its lead quickly, however, as Prescott scored on the Bulldogs' next possession. The quarterback used a play fake in the backfield to trick the Falcons' defense before rushing it in from 75 yards out on the first play of the drive.
After a punt apiece from each team, Bowling Green orchestrated a 96-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a seven-yard rush from Andre Givens. The Falcons took advantage of a pass interference call that negated a Bulldog interception, and used a 29-yard rush from Travis Greene and a 28-yard reception from quarterback Matt Johnson to tight end Tyler Beck on consecutive plays prior to Givens' carry.
Mississippi State once again countered with a score, as the Bulldogs drove 75 yards for the second time on the night. Dak Prescott topped off the scoring drive with a 10-yard quarterback keeper, pushing Mississippi State's advantage to 21-10.
The Falcons, with only 1:04 remaining in the half, then traveled 48 yards before Tyler Tate hit a 45-yard field goal as time expired. The field goal, which tied a career long for Tate, made the score 21-13.
Both squads would once again trade a pair of punts to open the half, ultimately setting up a two-yard rushing touchdown from Matt Johnson that cut the Bulldogs deficit to a single point. On a drive that covered 76 yards over 3:15 of play, the Falcons were boosted by a pair of Ryan Burbrink completions. The first of which went for 17 yards and the latter went for 24. Travis Greene then rushed for 12 yards two plays prior to the Johnson score.
The score would remain at 21-20 deep into the fourth quarter.
Mississippi State kicker, Devon Bell, missed a 44-yard field goal attempt at the start of the frame. And with 4:21 remaining in the contest, Jairus Campbell made a key stop on fourth-and-two from the Falcon eight-yard line, keeping the Orange and Brown within a point.
Bowling Green would go on to drive the ball to their own 45-yard line, but failed to convert on fourth down. The Falcons had one more shot at winning the game, as they took over on their own 29-yard line with three seconds remaining, but a series of laterals ended in a lost fumble.
Alongside his rushing touchdown, Matt Johnson connected on 20 of his 34 passes for 224 yards. Travis Greene led the rushing attack for the Falcons, as the redshirt sophomore gained 99 yards on 15 carries. Through the air, Jared Cohen hauled in five receptions for 51 yards, while Ryan Burbrink gained 66 yards on four catches.
The Falcons will have an off week before returning to action against rival Toledo Oct. 26 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. Following the Battle of I-75, Bowling Green will wrap up the regular season with four more Mid-American Conference matchups.
Team Stats
BGSU
MS
Total Yards
384
422
Pass Yards
224
177
Rushing Yards
160
245
Penalty Yards
30
71
1st Downs
21
23
3rd Downs
4
4
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
27:46
32:14
1st Quarter
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BGSU 0, MS 7
MS - L.Perkins 1 yd run (Devon Bell kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:02
BGSU 3, MS 7
BGSU - TATE, Tyler 35 yd field goal 4 plays, -4 yards, TOP 1:50
BGSU 3, MS 14
MS - Dak Prescott 75 yd run (Devon Bell kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:12
2nd Quarter
BGSU 10, MS 14
BGSU - GIVENS, Andre 7 yd run (TATE, Tyler kick), 6 plays, 96 yards, TOP 2:31
BGSU 10, MS 21
MS - Dak Prescott 10 yd run (Devon Bell kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:11
BGSU 13, MS 21
BGSU - TATE, Tyler 45 yd field goal 6 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:04
3rd Quarter
BGSU 20, MS 21
BGSU - JOHNSON, Matt 2 yd run (TATE, Tyler kick), 7 plays, 76 yards, TOP 3:15
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
20
TD
0
YDS
224
INT
0
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