Falcon Defense Rises Up, Keeps Akron Out Of End Zone In 21-6 Victory

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Akron, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University defense continued its dramatic turnaround, holding Akron to just a pair of field goals and 227 yards of offense as the Falcons beat the Zips 21-6 Saturday in Mid-American Conference football action. The Falcons led 7-6 at the half and scored in each of the final two quarters for the 21-6 win. Bowling Green has now won in back-to-back weeks on the road for the first time since 2015.

The Falcons are now 3-8 on the year and 2-5 in MAC play, while Akron falls to 4-6 and 2-5 in the MAC.

Box score
Pelini Postgame Audio
Doege Postgame Audio
Junior Postgame Audio

OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Bowling Green outgained Akron on the day by a margin of 399-227. BGSU's 399 yards of total offense is the program's third-best output this season behind efforts against Toledo (481) and Western Michigan (511).
• The Falcons rushed for a season-best 221 yards, while limiting the Zips to 79 total rushing yards.
• BGSU went 8-for-14 on third downs. Bowling Green's 57.1 percent conversion rate ranks second on the season. The Falcons went 11-for-19 (57.9 percent) on third down at Georgia Tech.
• Scott Miller caught six passes for 100 yards, marking the 11th time in his career that he's had a 100-yard receiving game. Miller is now tied with Charles Sharon (2003-05) for third all-time in 100-yard receiving games.
• Andrew Clair had 12 carries for 112 yards on the ground. It marks his seventh career 100-yard rushing game.
• Dorian Hendrix had a seven-yard touchdown reception. It is the third consecutive game in which the senior tight end has caught a touchdown.
• Leading 14-6 heading into the fourth quarter, the Falcons closed out the game with 11:29 time of possession in the final 15 minutes.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Kyle Junior had a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss. He finished with four tackles and a sack.
• BGSU had 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. The 7.0 tackles for loss is the second-high total of the year for the defense and the four sacks is tied for the season-high.
• In his second start of the season, Nico Lautanen tied for team-high honors with seven tackles. He had 1.5 sacks.
• True freshman Karl Brooks also had 1.5 sacks in the contest.
• Jonah Harper and Ty Redding both broke up two passes.
• After allowing at least 35 points and 400 yards of offense in each of the first eight games of the season, BGSU gave up only 227 yards of offense against Akron and is allowing 18.0 points and 256.7 yards over the last three contests.
• The Falcons held Akron quarterback Kato Nelson under 50 percent completion percentage (12-of-28) and starting running back Van Edwards to only 69 yards on the ground.
• The BG defense came up big when it mattered most, holding Akron to just 1-of-13 on third downs.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Akron returned three kickoffs for an average of just 11.0 yards per return and had one punt return for two yards.
• Punter Matt Naranjo had two of his five punts downed inside the 20, including one at the one-yard line. He had a long of 50 yards.
• Kicker Nate Needham made all three of his extra point attempts. He did not attempt a field goal.

UP NEXT
• Bowling Green will close the 2018 season by hosting Buffalo Friday at noon. With a win, Buffalo (9-2 overall) would clinch the MAC East Division and advance to Detroit for the MAC Championship game.

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