Falcons Win Third Straight, Defeat Ohio 31-13

Saturday, October 11

Athens, OH

2 PM

Bowling Green State University

5-2 , 3-0

Ohio

3-4 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Bowling Green

Ohio

October 11, 2014 | Football

Box Score

By: by James Nahikian, BGSU Athletic Communications

Final Statistics: HTML | PDF
Postgame Audio: Babers, Dino | Knapke, James | Adjei-Barimah, Jude

ATHENS, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University football team raced out to an early two-touchdown lead just 2:42 into the game before defeating Ohio University, 31-13, at Peden Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 11) afternoon.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 5-2 (3-0 MAC), while the Bobcats fall to 3-4 (1-2 MAC).

"This is just a big win for our football program," head coach Dino Babers said. "Not many people thought we'd be 3-0 in conference play after we started the season the way we did. To come into a tough environment, and grind out a win – this is huge for us."

Redshirt-sophomore quarterback James Knapke completed 20-of-39 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt-junior Travis Greene led all Falcon running backs with 50 yards on 10 rushes, and scored both a rushing and a receiving touchdown in the game. Fellow running back Andre Givens also rushed for a score on five carries. The receiving core was led by freshman Roger Lewis, who caught six passes for a game-high 100 yards, while redshirt-junior Ryan Burbrink also contributed nicely with 77 yards and one touchdown over five receptions.

Four members of the Bowling Green defense – linebackers Gabe Martin and James Sanford, and defensive backs Nick Johnson and Brian Sutton – led BGSU with 11 tackles each. Defensive back Jude Adjei-Barimah, linebacker Paul Senn, defensive lineman Shannon Smith and defensive end Bryan Thomas all registered one sack apiece, while the tandem of Sanford and Martin combined for a key sack on a fourth-down play to give the ball back to the BGSU offense at midfield in the third quarter.

The defense also forced 29 incomplete passes from quarterback JD Sprague, who was 27-of-56 overall on the afternoon.

"The defense did a great job," Babers said. "I mean, are you kidding me? Option football, guys getting cut and they are going out there playing the hot-option for over 100 snaps. I was just so proud of them and their performance."

Bowling Green took the ball on the opening drive of the contest and drove 75 yards on six plays to take a quick 7-0 lead. Capped by a Greene 27-yard reception on a screen pass, the BGSU drive took just 1:23 off the game clock.

On Ohio's ensuing drive, Sutton forced a fumble on the very first play from scrimmage at the Bobcat 37-yard line that was recovered by defensive lineman Charlie Walker. Sutton popped the ball out after Sprague rushed for nine yards.

Five plays and 1:05 later, the Falcons took a 14-0 advantage after a Givens two-yard rushing touchdown.

"That's what we've been striving for all year, to come out fast with a quick start," Knapke said. "To do that was a huge step, but now we have to continue that throughout the game. We are definitely getting better each week, and that's important."

The Bobcats connected on field goals of 25 and 37 yards to pull within eight points at 14-6, but Bowling Green's offense found its rhythm again midway through the second quarter.

The Orange and Brown needed just three plays to take a 21-6 lead with 8:09 remaining in the half. Lewis hauled in a 61-yard reception after getting behind an Ohio defensive back down the Bowling Green sideline, setting up a Burbrink eight-yard touchdown reception.

The Falcon defense bent, but did not break in the first half as BGSU took the 21-6 lead into the break. A missed Ohio field goal from 38 yards out help set up Bowling Green's final touchdown drive of the half.

The Bowling Green defense made many key stops in the third quarter en route to pitching a shutout in the frame. Martin and Sanford combined for a sack on fourth-and-10 with 9:57 remaining in the period. Following a Greene 30-yard rushing touchdown which extended BGSU's lead to 28-6, the Falcon defense made another stop on fourth-and-two from its own 43-yard line.

"We had to come out here and send a statement," Adjei-Barimah said. "We had to show people that we can still play and hold our own. That's a good football team that we just played – they were picked to finish third in the MAC East. I'm really proud."

The Falcons held Ohio to seven fourth-quarter points, while a Tyler Tate 27-yard field goal wrapped up the game's scoring with 3:40 to play in the game.

On Ohio's next offensive series, Smith recovered a fumble at the Falcon six-yard line to secure Bowling Green's second forced turnover of the evening, and the offense was able to run the clock out from there.

Punter Joe Davidson and the Falcons' special teams units also played a role in the victory. Bowling Green sniffed out an Ohio fake punt attempt in the second quarter, while Davidson had three punts that were downed inside of the Bobcat 10-yard line.

"Joe is a heck of an athlete – we were training him as a wide receiver when the season started," Babers said. "The way he's punting the ball – he's so valuable for us. For us to have him for three more years, how special is that?"

#FalconFast was on full display yet again, as all four of the Falcons' touchdown drives took under two minutes. Burbrink's touchdown reception in the second quarter finished off a 33-second drive that covered 79 yards.

Bowling Green will welcome Western Michigan to Doyt. L Perry Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 18. The 2 p.m. kickoff is a part of BGSU's Legacy Weekend.

Notes
* Bowling Green won their third consecutive game on Saturday, defeating Ohio, 31-13.
* The win was BGSU's third consecutive win on a Homecoming game. The Falcons have been a part of three straight Homecoming games.
* All four of the Falcons' touchdown drives were under two minutes.
* Ryan Burbrink's five catches for 77 yards puts him at 100 career receptions.
* Travis Greene finished with 50 yards on the ground. He now has 2,194 career rushing yards, good for eighth-most in school history.
* Ronnie Moore finished with four catches for 30 yards. His first catch of the game, a 12-yard reception, put him over 1,000 career receiving yards. He is the 33rd player in school history to reach that milestone.
* Four players tied for the team lead with 11 tackles.
* The Falcons tied their season high with five sacks in the game.
* Roger Lewis reached the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in seven games this season. Lewis had six catches for 100 yards on Saturday.