Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, October 24
Kent, Ohio
1:00 p.m. ET
Bowling Green State University
at
Kent State
Falcons Back On The Road To Face Golden Flashes
October 20, 2015 | Football
Bowling Green Falcons (5-2, 3-0 MAC)
at
Kent State Golden Flashes (3-4, 2-1 MAC)
Â
at
Kent State Golden Flashes (3-4, 2-1 MAC)
Â
| GAME INFORMATION | Saturday, Oct. 24, 1:00 pm |
| LOCATION | Kent, Ohio (Dix Stadium) |
| TELEVISION | ESPN3 (Michael Reghi, Jerod Cherry) |
| RADIO | Falcon Radio Network (Todd Walker, John Gibson) |
| LIVE STATS | BGSUFalcons.com |
| WATCH ONLINE | ESPN3.com/WatchESPN |
| LISTEN ONLINE | BGSUFalcons.com |
| GAME NOTES | BGSU | Kent State | MAC |
Falcons Back On The Road To Face Golden Flashes
The Bowling Green State University football team travels to Kent State this Saturday to square off with the Golden Flashes at Dix Stadium. Kickoff between BGSU (5-2, 3-0 MAC) and KSU (3-4, 2-1 MAC) is set for 1:00 pm on ESPN. The Falcons are coming off a 59-10 win over Akron, while Kent State defeated UMass 15-10 on the road last weekend.
A Win Against Kent State Would...
• Make the Falcons 6-2 overall for the first time since the 2004 season which saw the Falcons begin the year 8-2
• Give the Falcons a 4-0 start in MAC play for the first time since the 2003 campaign
• Be BGSU's 16th straight win over a MAC East foe, making them 19-1 against teams from the East Division since the start of the 2012 season
• Mark the Falcons' third consecutive win in the series against the Golden Flashes, dating back to their last loss in 2012
• Make the Falcons bowl eligible for the fourth straight season
Falcon Facts From The Win Over Akron
• With their 59-10 win over Akron on Saturday, BGSU has now won 15 straight against teams in the MAC East and seven straight against the Zips.
• The 49 point victory over Akron was the Falcons' largest margin of victory all-time in the series with the Zips. Their previous largest margin of victory against Akron was 45 points.
• Ronnie Moore (23), Ryan Burbrink (22) and Roger Lewis (21) all extended their streaks for consecutive games with a catch.
• Tyler Tate's 11 points in the game puts him at 310 career points. He is just the second player in school history to surpass the 300-point plateau, joining Shaun Suisham (2001-04) of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Roger Lewis' 118 yards receiving in the game gave him 1,020 on the season. It marks just the eighth time in school history a player has surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in a season, which he has done in seven games thus far. Lewis also now has 2,113 career yards in just 21 career games, averaging 100.6 yards receiving per game in his career.
• Matt Johnson's 25-for-30 passing performance for 357 yards and five touchdowns moves him into ninth all-time for a single season with 2,891 yards passing. It was his second straight five-TD passing performance and his third-such game of the year. He had five touchdowns vs. UMass and Akron and six at Maryland.
• BGSU totaled 532 yards on 75 plays (7.1 yards per play) against the Zips. The Falcon defense held Akron to 271 yards on 72 plays (3.8 yards per play).
• Lewis' 118 yards marked his 11th career 100-yard performance and his third consecutive. He has five 100-yard games this season.
• Terrance Bush had a career-high eight tackles in the game with a sack and two quarterback hurries.
Head Coach Dino Babers
• Dino Babers is in his second season at the helm of the Orange and Brown, and his fourth season overall as a head coach. He has a career record of 32-15 and has won a championship in all three seasons thus far.
• Babers has impressed in his Bowling Green tenure to date, compiling a record of 13-8 in just his second season.
• In his first season, Babers led a team which lost its starting QB in week one, winning eight games. In those eight wins were a victory over a Big Ten foe (Indiana), a MAC East Division championship, and Bowling Green's first bowl win since the 2004 season.
• The Falcons went 2-2 through one of the nation's toughest nonconference schedules this season, defeating two Big Ten Conference opponents on the road. Babers has compiled an impressive 3-1 record against Big Ten opponents - defeating Indiana, Maryland and Purdue.
Lighting Up The Scoreboard
• Bowling Green has scored 121 points the last two games, putting up 62 against UMass before totaling 59 in a win over Akron.
• The Falcons have totaled 16 touchdowns during the last two games.
• The 2015 season marks just the fourth time in school history that a BGSU team has had two performances scoring 59-or-more points in a game. The Falcons have never done so three times in the same season.
• The back-to-back games scoring 59 points-or-more marks the first time in school history that the Falcons have won consecutive games when reaching that point total.
• The last time a BGSU team won back-to-back games by scoring 50-plus points came in 2004 when the Falcons scored 52 and 56 in consecutive games.
The Ziggy Warriors Are Road Warriors
• With their 28-22 win on the road at Buffalo, the Falcons are now 3-0 this season in road games.
• Bowling Green is one of just 11 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision with at least three road wins to date. More impressively, the Falcons are one of just eight teams - joining Temple, Houston, Memphis, TCU, Oklahoma State, Michigan State and Iowa - to have an undefeated road record to date Â
BGSU Among Group Of Five's Most Impressive Teams
• The Falcons are one of just four teams among members from the Group of Five conferences (MAC, CUSA, AAC, Sun Belt, MWC) to have multiple wins this season over Power Five conference opponents.
• Bowling Green's two road wins over Big Ten Conference opponents lead the Group of Five teams with multiple wins against Power Five conference teams. Toledo, Memphis and Boise State have also defeated two Power Five opponents.
• However, the Falcons are the only team from the Group of Five to have both of their Power Five wins on the road.
School                (P5 wins in 2015   Opponents
Bowling Green   2                           at Maryland, at Purdue
Boise State       2                           Washington, at Virginia
Toledo               2                           vs. Arkansas, Iowa State
Memphis           2                           at Kansas, Ole Miss
Defense Stifles Akron In Dominating Performance
• Bowling Green's defense held Akron to 10 points and just 271 yards in Saturday's 59-10 victory. The defense also forced four turnovers and had two fourth-down stops.
• The 271 yards allowed were the fewest since allowing 236 against Buffalo in the 2013 regular season finale - 20 games ago.
• The 10 points were the fewest allowed since playing Akron in 2014 (Nov. 4).
Johnson A Star In Babers' Offense
• Quarterback Matt Johnson (Harrisburg, Pa.) has been a star under head coach Dino Babers. Despite missing 13 games a season ago due to injury, Johnson has passed for 3,204 yards in just eight starts under Babers.
• To start the 2015 season, Johnson passed for 400 yards in each of his first four starts. He is the first player in school history to ever pass for 400 yards in back-to-back games, three times in a season, and four times in a career.
• In all, Johnson has passed for 400 yards-or-more in five of his first seven games this season.
• Although Johnson's streak of consecutive 400-yard games ended at four, only three players have ever had a longer streak within the same season.
• In his eight starts under Babers, Johnson has completed 240-of-342 (70.2%) passes for 3,204 (400.5 ypg) yards and 25 touchdowns. More impressively, Johnson has just three interceptions in eight starts under Babers.
Babers' #FalconFast Offense Has Clicked
• Ever since he took over at Bowling Green, Dino Babers has made it clear that his offensive system usually clicks between games four and six of the second season.
• Against UMass (game six of the second season), Bowling Green set a new school record with 725 yards of total offense.
• Babers' Falcons have had at least 532 offensive yards in all seven games this season, and are fourth in the country averaging 594.3 yards per game.
• In his 21 games at BGSU, Babers' teams have had 500-or-more yards of offense 13 times, including eight consecutive games dating back to last year' Camellia Bowl.
• The Falcons offense leads the MAC in scoring offense (43.9) and is eighth in the nation in that category.
• For the seventh consecutive week to begin the season, a BGSU offensive player has earned MAC East Offensive Player of the Week.
• Matt Johnson was honored for the fifth time already this season following a 59-10 win over Akron in week seven.
• Roger Lewis has also earned the award twice this season, following a 261-yard, three TD performance against Memphis and a 201-yard performance at Buffalo.
Falcons Racking Up Player Of The Week Honors
• Through seven games, BGSU players have earned 9 MAC Player of the Week honors.
• Combined with Matt Johnson and Roger Lewis earning all seven Offensive Player of the Week honors to date, the Falcons have won two MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• Joseph Davidson won Special Teams Player of the Week following a strong perforamcne against Maryland, while Tyler Tate also was honored following a 14-point day in the win against UMass.
BGSU-Kent State Clash Of Styles
• While Bowling Green comes into this weekend's game at Kent State leading the MAC in offense, the Golden Flashes lead the MAC in defense.
• BGSU is averaging 594.3 yards per play this season, while KSU is giving up just 290.7 yards per game. Both teams lead the MAC in the respective categories.
• The Falcons also lead the MAC in passing offense (432.0 ypg) and scoring offense (43.3), while Kent State ranks third in passing defense (177.7) and fourth in scoring defense (24.7).
• Another interesting thing to keep an eye on Saturday will be KSU's MAC-leading 11 team interceptions, while BGSU's Matt Johnson has thrown just three interceptions in 305 attempts.
Matty J Leads The NCAA
• BGSU quarterback Matt Johnson leads the nation in passing with 2,891 yards through the first seven games this season.
• He has completed 215-of-305 passes (70.5%) with 24 touchdown passes compared to just three interceptions.
• Johnson leads the nation in total passing yards (2,891), pass yards per game (413.0), total offense (428.3) and is third in passing TDs (24) and points responsible for (156).
• Through the first seven games of a season, Johnson's 2,891 yards are the sixth-most in FBS football since 2000
Lewis Reaches 1,000-yard Plateau
• Wide receiver Roger Lewis caught six passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday against Akron, his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game.
• Lewis, who is currently second in the nation in receiving yards with 1,020, is the only player from BGSU to ever have three 200-yard games in a season and a career. He did so in a four-game stretch
• Lewis' 1,020 receiving yards to date mark just the eighth time in school history that a player has reached 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
• Lewis currently has 2,113 career receiving yards as just a true sophomore. He is 14th all-time in school history for receiving through just 21 career games, averaging 100.6 receiving yards per game in his career.
• Lewis, who earned first team All-MAC honors in 2014 as a true freshman after catching 73 passes for 1,093 yards and seven TDs, is well on his way to earning top honors again in 2015.
• Lewis has caught 54 passes for his 1,020 yards and nine touchdowns so far.
• After having six 100-yard receiving performances last season in 14 games, Lewis has five such performances in seven games this season.
Trio Of Falcon Receivers Are Streaking
• Three Bowling Green receivers are riding impressive streaks, as all three have caught a pass in at least 21 consecutive games. In two cases, those streaks stretch back to the 2013 season.
• Ronnie Moore leads the trio with a reception in 23 straight games dating back to the MAC Championship Game in 2013. He had four catches for 38 yards vs. Akron.
• Sure-handed Ryan Burbrink has caught a pass in 22 consecutive games dating back to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2013. Burbrink registered four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown on Saturday against the Zips.
• Roger Lewis also has an impressive streak going, having caught a pass in all 21 career games he has played in. He caught six passes for a team-high 118 yards and two touchdowns against Akron.
Greene Running Towards History In 2015
Redshirt senior Travis Greene is in his third season at running back for the Falcons in 2015, after coming to BGSU and playing wide receiver his first two years on campus. Greene has set the school record for most rushing yards in a season and nearly broke 1,000 yards a season ago despite missing two games because of injury. What will his third year bring? He is chasing several milestones in the Orange and Brown in 2015, including:
• Currently sits 4th all-time with 3,090 rushing yards...just 333 yards shy of the all-time career record currently held by Dave Preston (1973-76)
• Could become just the second Falcon player ever, behind Paul Miles, to lead Bowling Green in rushing in three consecutive seasons
• Enters this weekend with 16 career 100-yard rushing games...the school record is 20 held by Dave Preston.
Falcons Have Explosive Receivers
• Through the first seven games of the season, Bowling Green has six players who have had 15 receptions or more this season.
• The Falcons are one of just six teams in the nation to have at least six players at that milestone, joining Texas Tech, Washington State, Arizona State, Eastern Michigan and California.
• Among those five programs with explosive passing offenses, the Falcons are the only team to have:
   • A player with 50 catches (Roger Lewis - 54)
   • Two players over 40 catches (Lewis - 54 & Moore - 43)
   • Four players with 30+ catches (Lewis - 54, Moore - 43, Dieter - 37, Burbrink - 32)
Falcons Have Been Beasts Of The East
• Since the start of the 2012 season, Bowling Green has a combined record of 19-1 against foes from the MAC's East Division.
• More impressively, the Falcons have won 15 straight games against MAC East opponents, dating back to a 2012 win over Buffalo in the regular season finale.
• With that success has come results, as the Falcons have won back-to-back MAC East Division titles.
• Bowling Green is undefeated against teams from the MAC East in each of the past two seasons (2013, 2014), directly leading to two MAC Championship Game appearances as the East Division representative.
• BGSU currently sits at 3-0 against teams in the East Division so far in 2015, with games against Kent State and Ohio left on the schedule.
Former Falcons In The NFL
• Eight former Falcons were on preseason NFL rosters this season, including four who have played a significant role with NFL teams over the past several years.
• Kory Lichtensteiger is the starting center for the Washington Redskins. He has started every game since the 2010 season.
• Both Chris Jones (PUP list) and Shaun Suisham (IR) have had significant impacts in past seasons for the Patriots and Steelers, respectively. Jones won a Super Bowl last season with the Patriots, while Suisham is signed through 2018 and was a Special Teams captain last season for the Steelers.
• Jude Adjei-Barimah made his debut with the Tampa Bay Bucs two weeks ago against the Carolina Panthers, playing on special teams and defense. The Bucs were victorious 38-31 last game against Jacksonville.
• Two other Falcons - Alex Bayer (San Diego Chargers) and Gabe Martin (Arizona Cardinals) - are on NFL practice squads.
It's Miller Time
• True freshman Scott Miller had a huge impact on special teams Saturday in the win over Akron, deflecting an Akron punt and returning a kickoff for 77 yards.
• Miller, who was playing in just his third game this season, got his hand on the Zips initial punt, leading to a BGSU touchdown and 7-0 lead.
Falcons On National TV This Season
• The Orange and Brown are currently scheduled to appear on National TV seven times this season, with every game expected to be broadcast to a national audience.
• The first two games of the season were on national TV, while the game at Purdue was on Big Ten Network.
• This week's game against Kent State is scheduled to air on ESPN3.
• In addition, the season's final four regular season games are all expected to air nationally: Ohio (ESPN2), at Western Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU), Toledo (ESPN2/ESPNU) and Ball State (ESPNU/ESPN3).
Wilson Becoming a Goal Line Threat
• After rushing eight times during the first two games of the season, Donovan Wilson has quickly become Bowling Green's biggest goal line threat on offense.
• During the last five weeks, Wilson has seven touchdowns on 22 carries.
• Wilson currently ranks fifth in the MAC in points scored per game (6.0) and is third in the conference with seven rushing touchdowns scored.
• In total this season, Wilson has 30 rushes for 62 yards and seven touchdowns, being used primarily in short-yardage and goal line situations.
2015 #GutGang Feasting At The All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Buffet
• Bowling Green features one of the most experienced offensive line units in the entire country, and it has showed thus far.
• The Falcons' have 160 offensive line career starts on the roster, second-most in FBS football. Alex Huettel (48), Jacob Bennett (35), Logan Dietz (34), Tim McAuliffe (21), Ben Steward (14), Ryan Hunter (6), and Austin Labus (1) make up the 160.
• Bowling Green was one of just nine schools in the entire country to start the same five players on the offensive line every game last season. The Falcons were joined by Fresno State, UL-Lafayette, Northern Illinois, Ohio State, Rutgers, Tulane, Wisconsin and Rice. BGSU is the only one of those nine that returns all five starters in 2015.
• Huettel's 48 consecutive starts on the offensive line is second-most in the entire country behind Northern Illinois' Aidan Conlan and Andrew Ness.
Falcons' Offense Has Record-Setting Day
• Bowling Green set new school records for total yardage (725) and passing yardage (519) in Saturday's 62-38 win over UMass.
• The previous record of 706 yards was set vs. Grand Valley in 1978.
• BGSU football played 431 games in between 700-yard offensive performances. The last time BGSU went over 700 yards (1978), head coach Dino Babers was in high school.
  Â
Â
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
P
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ FootballBG Football Press Conference 9.22
Monday, September 22
BG Football Postgame 9.20
Saturday, September 20
Week 3 Cinematic Football Highlight vs. Liberty (2025)
Tuesday, September 16
BG Football Press Conference 9.15
Monday, September 15