Falcons Fall In Battle Of I-75

Tuesday, November 17

Bowling Green, Ohio

6:00 p.m. ET

Bowling Green State University

8-3 , 6-1

Toledo

9-1 , 6-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Toledo

Bowling Green

November 17, 2015 | Football

Box Score

By: by Matt Daley

Final Statistics: HTML | PDF
Photo Gallery
Audio: Babers, Dino | Royster, Taylor | Johnson, Matt

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Bowling Green State University football team dropped a 44-28 decision to the University of Toledo on Tuesday night (Nov. 17) in front of a crowd of 23,492 at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Gehrig Dieter caught set a new career-high in receptions and touchdowns, while Travis Greene became BGSU's all-time leading rusher. Matt Johnson also set a school record for most passing yards in a single season.

Dieter caught 13 balls for 103 yards and three touchdowns, including two highlight-reel sideline catches in the end zone. His 13 receptions surpass the ten he made in September against Purdue, while the three touchdowns eclipse the two scores he had two weeks ago against Ohio.

Greene needed five yards tonight to become the Falcons' career rushing leader, and he earned the record on his second carry of the night. He finished the game with 17 carries for 73 yards and has a new career total of 3,492.

Johnson completed 29 of 47 passes for 274 yards and threw for three touchdowns. His season totals are now 4,229 yards, 39 touchdowns and only six interceptions. The previous record of 4,051 yards was owned by Tyler Sheehan in 2009. Johnson also surpassed the 8,000 yard mark for his career tonight.

Toledo scored on its first six possessions, as the Rockets built a 30-7 lead in the first half. Dieter caught the first of his touchdown receptions on a five-yard fade pass from Johnson with 1:34 left in the first half, and BGSU cut the deficit to 30-14 at halftime.

At the beginning of the second half, Rockets' quarterback Phillip Ely was intercepted by Austin Valdez. Four plays later, the Falcons completed a 32-yard drive with a three-yard scoring pass from Johnson to Dieter, and BGSU was within 30-21.

Ely missed on three straight passes on Toledo's next drive, and BGSU quickly took over at their own 38 with a chance to cut the lead further. However, Johnson was sacked and fumbled on the next play. The Rockets scored two plays later to re-establish a 16-point lead.

BGSU immediately responded with another scoring drive and another touchdown reception by Dieter to get back within nine points. Once again, the Falcons' defense held Toledo to three-and-out, and BGSU took over at the Rockets' 48. A sack and penalty doomed the Bowling Green drive, and they did not score again.

The Falcons accumulated 368 yards of total offense as opposed to 406 for Toledo and had 28 first downs compared to the Rockets' 20. However, Bowling Green committed five turnovers and eight penalties. The team's 28 points are tied for the fewest in a game this season, and it breaks a five-game streak of games with at least 40 points.

Bowling Green drops to 8-3 overall and 6-1 against the MAC, while Toledo improves to 9-1 overall (6-1 MAC). The Falcons will conclude the regular season with a trip to Muncie, Ind. on Tuesday, Nov. 24 to play the Ball State Cardinals. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN3. They will follow that by playing in Detroit, Mich. on Friday, Dec. 4 at the MAC Championship Game.

Postgame Notes (BGSU vs. Toledo 11/17)

With his 73 yards on Tuesday night, Travis Greene became Bowling Green's new record holder for career rushing yards. He now has 3,492 yards in his career.
With his 274 passing yards on Tuesday night, Matt Johnson set BGSU's single-season record for passing yards. He now has 4,239 yards passing on the season. Johnson now ranks third in MAC history for passing yards in a season.
With their 28 points on Tuesday, BGSU has now scored 482 points in 2015. That is the fourth-highest total in school history.
With his 41 yards receiving in the game, Ronnie Moore now has 2,000 career receiving yards.
Gehrig Dieter caught a career-high 13 passes for 103 yards and three touchdowns. The three scores were a career-high.
Three Falcons were in double figures for tackles. Austin Valdez led the Falcons with 13 total tackles and 2.5 TFLs. He also added his second career interception.