Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, October 10
Bowling Green, Ohio
2:00 p.m. ET
Bowling Green State University
62
vs
38
UMass
BGSU Explodes For 725 Yards In 62-38 Win Over UMass
October 10, 2015 | Football
Postgame Stats: HTML | PDF
Postgame Audio: Babers | Johnson | Hardy
Photo Gallery (Marketing & Communications)
The Bowling Green State University football team set a school record for total offense and scored 60 points for the first time in ten years en route to an emphatic 62-38 victory over the University of Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 10th). The game was held at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The Falcons wasted no time in starting their offensive juggernaut. They won the coin toss and selected to receive the opening kickoff. Eleven plays later, Matt Johnson had the team in the end zone when he rolled right and hit a wide open Derek Lee for a two-yard touchdown pass.
The Minutemen responded with a long drive but stalled inside the BGSU 10. After settling for a field goal, they forced a BGSU punt and marched downfield again. This time, they found the end zone when Blake Frohnapfel found Shakur Nesmith for a 15-yard touchdown and a 10-7 lead. It would be Massachusetts' only lead of the game.
Bowling Green was penalized on the ensuing kickoff and started on their own 9 yard line. Four plays netted 20 yards, but as the first quarter clock expired, Johnson made magic again. This time, he connected with Ronnie Moore on a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown, and BGSU claimed a 14-10 lead they'd never relinquish.
BGSU added two touchdowns in the second quarter and expanded their lead to 18 points. Both scores were on runs, as Travis Greene busted through the middle for a 32 yard score followed by a Donovan Wilson one-yard plunge. The defense helped keep the Minutemen at bay, first with an Alfonso Mack interception and then with a three-and-out stand.
Massachusetts scored late in the second quarter to cut the Falcons' lead to 28-17 at halftime, but the Falcons' defense sealed the game early in the third quarter.
First, the Minutemen attempted to convert a pass on 4th-and-1 from their own 45 on the opening drive of the second half. BGSU forced an incomplete pass, and eight plays later, Fred Coppet scored from 10 yards out for a 35-17 lead.
On the next play from scrimmage, the Falcons' defense struck again. Nate Locke hit Marquis Young and forced a fumble, which Nilijah Ballew recovered at the Massachusetts' 30.
Johnson was sacked on first down, but two plays later, he threw a rainbow that Ryan Burbrink caught at the back of the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown and a 42-17 lead.
The two teams traded touchdowns on the next three possessions, including Greene's second score of the game, this time from 12 yards out. Tyler Tate followed with a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the third quarter, and the Falcons held a 52-31 edge.
BGSU's final points came on a 68-yard touchdown from Johnson to Roger Lewis and a 27-yard field goal by Tate. Massachusetts added a touchdown with 2:15 left for the final 62-38 margin.
The Falcons accumulated a school-record 725 yards of total offense, eclipsing the previous school record of 706 set versus Grand Valley in 1978. The team also set a team record with 519 passing yards. BGSU's 62 points are the most by the team since 70 versus Temple on Oct. 1, 2005.
As a team, the Falcons also had 206 yards rushing, 37 first downs and 37:17 of possession time. They were 9-for-13 on third downs and six-for-six in the red zone.
Individually, Johnson completed 33 of 39 passes for 450 yards and five touchdowns. James Knapke connected on four of six passes for 69 yards during the fourth quarter. Lewis caught eight balls for 142 yards and a touchdown. Gehrig Dieter also caught eight passes for 85 yards, and Moore, Burbrink and Lee all caught touchdown passes.
On the ground, Travis Greene for 122 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and he also had a touchdown among three catches for 35 yards. Coppet carried 17 times for 68 yards and a score, and Wilson added a touchdown run of his own.
The BGSU defense held Massachusetts to just 30 yards rushing, forced two turnovers and sacked the quarterback five times.
The Falcons are now 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play, with both wins coming against Eastern Division foes. They will return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 17th at 3:30 p.m. when they host the Akron Zips for homecoming.
Postgame Notes
• Bowling Green set a school record with 725 yards of total offense on Saturday against UMass. BGSU ran 91 plays in the contest (46 rush, 45 pass). BGSU's previous record was 706 set in 1978 vs. Grand Valley.
• The Falcons' 515 passing yards in the game set a new school record for most passing yards in a game. BGSU's previous record was 505 set by Tyler Sheehan in 2009.
• Matt Johnson went 33-for-39 (84.6%) for 450 yards and five TDs. It was his fifth 400-yard passing game in the first six games of the season.
• Johnson connected with five different receivers for his five touchdowns on the day. On the day, the Falcons had four touchdowns of more than 30 yards.
• Roger Lewis, the country's leading receiver entering today, had eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. Through 20 career games, Lewis has 1,995 career receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
• For the second straight week Travis Greene went over 100 yards rushing. He rushed 15 times for 122 yards and a touchdown. He now has 3,026 yards rushing in his career, just the fourth player in school history with more than 3,000 career rushing yards.
• Greene now has 16 career 100-yard rushing games. The school record is 20 held by Dave Preston.
• Tyler Tate kicked off 11 times, averaging 63.1 yards per kick. He had four touchbacks. He was also perfect on two field goals and was 8-for-8 on PAT tries.
• Alfonso Mack recorded his first career interception in the win over UMass.
• James Sanford tied his career high with 2.0 sacks in the game.
• Nilijah Ballew set a career-high with eight tackles, 1.0 sack and a fumble recovery in the win.
• Nolan Dieter took the first snap of his career, handing the ball off on the final play of the game.
Postgame Audio: Babers | Johnson | Hardy
Photo Gallery (Marketing & Communications)
The Bowling Green State University football team set a school record for total offense and scored 60 points for the first time in ten years en route to an emphatic 62-38 victory over the University of Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 10th). The game was held at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The Falcons wasted no time in starting their offensive juggernaut. They won the coin toss and selected to receive the opening kickoff. Eleven plays later, Matt Johnson had the team in the end zone when he rolled right and hit a wide open Derek Lee for a two-yard touchdown pass.
The Minutemen responded with a long drive but stalled inside the BGSU 10. After settling for a field goal, they forced a BGSU punt and marched downfield again. This time, they found the end zone when Blake Frohnapfel found Shakur Nesmith for a 15-yard touchdown and a 10-7 lead. It would be Massachusetts' only lead of the game.
Bowling Green was penalized on the ensuing kickoff and started on their own 9 yard line. Four plays netted 20 yards, but as the first quarter clock expired, Johnson made magic again. This time, he connected with Ronnie Moore on a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown, and BGSU claimed a 14-10 lead they'd never relinquish.
BGSU added two touchdowns in the second quarter and expanded their lead to 18 points. Both scores were on runs, as Travis Greene busted through the middle for a 32 yard score followed by a Donovan Wilson one-yard plunge. The defense helped keep the Minutemen at bay, first with an Alfonso Mack interception and then with a three-and-out stand.
Massachusetts scored late in the second quarter to cut the Falcons' lead to 28-17 at halftime, but the Falcons' defense sealed the game early in the third quarter.
First, the Minutemen attempted to convert a pass on 4th-and-1 from their own 45 on the opening drive of the second half. BGSU forced an incomplete pass, and eight plays later, Fred Coppet scored from 10 yards out for a 35-17 lead.
On the next play from scrimmage, the Falcons' defense struck again. Nate Locke hit Marquis Young and forced a fumble, which Nilijah Ballew recovered at the Massachusetts' 30.
Johnson was sacked on first down, but two plays later, he threw a rainbow that Ryan Burbrink caught at the back of the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown and a 42-17 lead.
The two teams traded touchdowns on the next three possessions, including Greene's second score of the game, this time from 12 yards out. Tyler Tate followed with a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the third quarter, and the Falcons held a 52-31 edge.
BGSU's final points came on a 68-yard touchdown from Johnson to Roger Lewis and a 27-yard field goal by Tate. Massachusetts added a touchdown with 2:15 left for the final 62-38 margin.
The Falcons accumulated a school-record 725 yards of total offense, eclipsing the previous school record of 706 set versus Grand Valley in 1978. The team also set a team record with 519 passing yards. BGSU's 62 points are the most by the team since 70 versus Temple on Oct. 1, 2005.
As a team, the Falcons also had 206 yards rushing, 37 first downs and 37:17 of possession time. They were 9-for-13 on third downs and six-for-six in the red zone.
Individually, Johnson completed 33 of 39 passes for 450 yards and five touchdowns. James Knapke connected on four of six passes for 69 yards during the fourth quarter. Lewis caught eight balls for 142 yards and a touchdown. Gehrig Dieter also caught eight passes for 85 yards, and Moore, Burbrink and Lee all caught touchdown passes.
On the ground, Travis Greene for 122 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and he also had a touchdown among three catches for 35 yards. Coppet carried 17 times for 68 yards and a score, and Wilson added a touchdown run of his own.
The BGSU defense held Massachusetts to just 30 yards rushing, forced two turnovers and sacked the quarterback five times.
The Falcons are now 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play, with both wins coming against Eastern Division foes. They will return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 17th at 3:30 p.m. when they host the Akron Zips for homecoming.
Postgame Notes
• Bowling Green set a school record with 725 yards of total offense on Saturday against UMass. BGSU ran 91 plays in the contest (46 rush, 45 pass). BGSU's previous record was 706 set in 1978 vs. Grand Valley.
• The Falcons' 515 passing yards in the game set a new school record for most passing yards in a game. BGSU's previous record was 505 set by Tyler Sheehan in 2009.
• Matt Johnson went 33-for-39 (84.6%) for 450 yards and five TDs. It was his fifth 400-yard passing game in the first six games of the season.
• Johnson connected with five different receivers for his five touchdowns on the day. On the day, the Falcons had four touchdowns of more than 30 yards.
• Roger Lewis, the country's leading receiver entering today, had eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. Through 20 career games, Lewis has 1,995 career receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
• For the second straight week Travis Greene went over 100 yards rushing. He rushed 15 times for 122 yards and a touchdown. He now has 3,026 yards rushing in his career, just the fourth player in school history with more than 3,000 career rushing yards.
• Greene now has 16 career 100-yard rushing games. The school record is 20 held by Dave Preston.
• Tyler Tate kicked off 11 times, averaging 63.1 yards per kick. He had four touchbacks. He was also perfect on two field goals and was 8-for-8 on PAT tries.
• Alfonso Mack recorded his first career interception in the win over UMass.
• James Sanford tied his career high with 2.0 sacks in the game.
• Nilijah Ballew set a career-high with eight tackles, 1.0 sack and a fumble recovery in the win.
• Nolan Dieter took the first snap of his career, handing the ball off on the final play of the game.
Players Mentioned
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