Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, October 23
Bowling Green, OH
12 PM
Bowling Green State University
vs
Eastern Michigan
Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics
Bowling Green Welcomes Eastern Michigan to Doyt Perry Stadium on Saturday
October 18, 2021 | Football
Falcons Return Home for Senior Day
• Bowling Green State University returns home on Saturday to host Eastern Michigan. Before the game 11 seniors will be honored. CB Diata Burns, LS James Carolan, WR Cavon Croom, S Sy Dabney, DL Walter Haire, QB Matt McDonald, OT Jordan Murphy, P Matt Naranjo, PK Nate Needham, OL Sam Neverov and CB Devin Taylor will be honored.
• It is the 40th meeting between the Falcons and the Eagles and the first clash at Doyt Perry Stadium since 2016.
• Coming to town for Family Weekend? Alums can get a $10 day pass at the student recreation center. More INFO by clicking here.
• Tickets are on sale from $15-$18 - you can purchase your single-game tickets by clicking here.
• Make sure to download your tickets and parking before Saturday. Learn how by clicking here.
Bowling Green vs. Eastern Michigan
• Bowling Green continues Mid-American Conference action on Saturday against Eastern Michigan.
• BGSU leads the all-time series with EMU, 25-13-1, who has been in the MAC since 1972.
• Since 2000, Bowling Green is 3-0 against EMU when the Falcons hold the Eagles below 300 yards of total offense.
• Since 2000, Bowling Green is 6-4 against EMU when the Falcons accumulate 350+ yards of total offense.
• Since 2000, Bowling Green is 5-1 against EMU when the Falcons win the turnover battle. They are 2-1 when they don't.
Five Top Storylines
• PK Nate Needham is 13-of-13 on field goal attempts this season. He is one of 13 FBS players who is perfect on the year, but his 13 made field goals ranks No. 1 in the nation among those who are perfect. A perfect 9-of-9, he leads the nation with nine field goals from 40+ yards.
• LB Darren Anders is one of two players in the nation this season with 60+ tackles (66), 6.0+ tackles for loss (6.5), 1+ fumble recoveries (1) and 1+ interceptions (1). Devin Lloyd (Utah) is the other. Anders currently ranks No. 17 in the nation and No. 2 in the MAC with 9.4 tackles per game.
• S Davon Ferguson is the only player in the nation with 55+ tackles, 2.0+ sacks and 4.0+ passes defended. In BGSU records dating back to 2000, he is the only Falcon to reach these numbers through the first seven games of the season. He is No. 1 in the MAC and No. 9 in the nation with 5.9 solo tackles per game.
• LB Brock Horne and LB Anders are one of two duos in the nation from the same team with each player recording 40+ tackles, 1+ sacks and 1+ interceptions, joining Ball State's Clayton Coll and Bryce Cosby.
• SS Sy Dabney has blocked two punts this season (Murray State and Akron). He ranks No. 1 in the nation with two blocked kicks. He is one of seven in the nation that shares the top spot and the only player in the MAC.
Last Meeting at Doyt Perry
• The last time these teams met at Doyt Perry Stadium was 2016. Eastern Michigan scored a pair of third quarter touchdowns after the game was tied 7-7 to beat the Falcons 28-25 in Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
• The game, which served as Homecoming for BGSU, was the conference opener for both squads. Lightning delayed the start of the contest.
• Bowling Green went 82 yards on 14 plays to score a touchdown with 5:22 remaining to cut the deficit to three points at 28-25. But EMU ran out the clock with a 10-play drive.
• Scotty Miller had 11 catches for 148 yards and Teo Redding added 72 yards receiving on four catches in the losing effort.
Special Teams Have Been Special in 2021
• Bowling Green has had some great play on special teams in 2021.
• P Matt Naranjo has 14 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, which is tops in the MAC and tied for No. 12 in the nation. He had a game-high five against South Alabama.
• BGSU is No. 24 in the nation and No. 3 in the MAC on punt return defense, limiting opponents to 3.40 yards per return.
• BGSU is No. 1 in the nation with two in the nation with four blocked kicks. The Falcons have blocked three punts, two of which by Sy Dabney. Patrick Day had the other. BGSU also blocked one field goal by Devin Taylor.
• PK Nate Needham booted a 52-yard field goal at Kent State on Sept. 2. The career-long field goal by Needham is the longest in the MAC this season, tied for 12th longest in the nation and his second field goal of 50+ yards this year. He is one of four FBS players that is perfect on multiple field goals of 50+ yards, joining Cade York (LSU), Marshall Meeder (CMU) and Harrison Mevis (Missouri).
• Needham is 13-of-13 on field goal attempts this season. He is 9-of-9 on field goal attempts of 40+ yards. He is the only kicker in the nation to be perfect with at least nine makes from 40+ yards. His nine makes are the most in the nation among all kickers from 40+ yards. The next closest kicker in makes from 40+ yards is Missouri's Mevis, who is 7-fo-7 from 40+ this season.
More on the BGSU Air Defense
• This year's BGSU team has allowed the second-fewest passing yards (1,033) through the first seven games of a season in records dating back to 2000.
• BGSU is forcing opponents to 57.0 percent completion rate through the first seven games of the season. In records dating back to 2000 that is the eighth-lowest rate through the first seven games of the season.
Defense Keeping Opponent Total Yards Down
• Bowling Green has held six opponents under 400 yards of total offense. Three other schools lead the nation with seven games. BGSU is tied for No. 4 with 18 other schools.
• The six games for BGSU is the most in the MAC.
• Bowling Green State University returns home on Saturday to host Eastern Michigan. Before the game 11 seniors will be honored. CB Diata Burns, LS James Carolan, WR Cavon Croom, S Sy Dabney, DL Walter Haire, QB Matt McDonald, OT Jordan Murphy, P Matt Naranjo, PK Nate Needham, OL Sam Neverov and CB Devin Taylor will be honored.
• It is the 40th meeting between the Falcons and the Eagles and the first clash at Doyt Perry Stadium since 2016.
• Coming to town for Family Weekend? Alums can get a $10 day pass at the student recreation center. More INFO by clicking here.
• Tickets are on sale from $15-$18 - you can purchase your single-game tickets by clicking here.
• Make sure to download your tickets and parking before Saturday. Learn how by clicking here.
Bowling Green vs. Eastern Michigan
• Bowling Green continues Mid-American Conference action on Saturday against Eastern Michigan.
• BGSU leads the all-time series with EMU, 25-13-1, who has been in the MAC since 1972.
• Since 2000, Bowling Green is 3-0 against EMU when the Falcons hold the Eagles below 300 yards of total offense.
• Since 2000, Bowling Green is 6-4 against EMU when the Falcons accumulate 350+ yards of total offense.
• Since 2000, Bowling Green is 5-1 against EMU when the Falcons win the turnover battle. They are 2-1 when they don't.
Five Top Storylines
• PK Nate Needham is 13-of-13 on field goal attempts this season. He is one of 13 FBS players who is perfect on the year, but his 13 made field goals ranks No. 1 in the nation among those who are perfect. A perfect 9-of-9, he leads the nation with nine field goals from 40+ yards.
• LB Darren Anders is one of two players in the nation this season with 60+ tackles (66), 6.0+ tackles for loss (6.5), 1+ fumble recoveries (1) and 1+ interceptions (1). Devin Lloyd (Utah) is the other. Anders currently ranks No. 17 in the nation and No. 2 in the MAC with 9.4 tackles per game.
• S Davon Ferguson is the only player in the nation with 55+ tackles, 2.0+ sacks and 4.0+ passes defended. In BGSU records dating back to 2000, he is the only Falcon to reach these numbers through the first seven games of the season. He is No. 1 in the MAC and No. 9 in the nation with 5.9 solo tackles per game.
• LB Brock Horne and LB Anders are one of two duos in the nation from the same team with each player recording 40+ tackles, 1+ sacks and 1+ interceptions, joining Ball State's Clayton Coll and Bryce Cosby.
• SS Sy Dabney has blocked two punts this season (Murray State and Akron). He ranks No. 1 in the nation with two blocked kicks. He is one of seven in the nation that shares the top spot and the only player in the MAC.
Last Meeting at Doyt Perry
• The last time these teams met at Doyt Perry Stadium was 2016. Eastern Michigan scored a pair of third quarter touchdowns after the game was tied 7-7 to beat the Falcons 28-25 in Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
• The game, which served as Homecoming for BGSU, was the conference opener for both squads. Lightning delayed the start of the contest.
• Bowling Green went 82 yards on 14 plays to score a touchdown with 5:22 remaining to cut the deficit to three points at 28-25. But EMU ran out the clock with a 10-play drive.
• Scotty Miller had 11 catches for 148 yards and Teo Redding added 72 yards receiving on four catches in the losing effort.
Special Teams Have Been Special in 2021
• Bowling Green has had some great play on special teams in 2021.
• P Matt Naranjo has 14 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, which is tops in the MAC and tied for No. 12 in the nation. He had a game-high five against South Alabama.
• BGSU is No. 24 in the nation and No. 3 in the MAC on punt return defense, limiting opponents to 3.40 yards per return.
• BGSU is No. 1 in the nation with two in the nation with four blocked kicks. The Falcons have blocked three punts, two of which by Sy Dabney. Patrick Day had the other. BGSU also blocked one field goal by Devin Taylor.
• PK Nate Needham booted a 52-yard field goal at Kent State on Sept. 2. The career-long field goal by Needham is the longest in the MAC this season, tied for 12th longest in the nation and his second field goal of 50+ yards this year. He is one of four FBS players that is perfect on multiple field goals of 50+ yards, joining Cade York (LSU), Marshall Meeder (CMU) and Harrison Mevis (Missouri).
• Needham is 13-of-13 on field goal attempts this season. He is 9-of-9 on field goal attempts of 40+ yards. He is the only kicker in the nation to be perfect with at least nine makes from 40+ yards. His nine makes are the most in the nation among all kickers from 40+ yards. The next closest kicker in makes from 40+ yards is Missouri's Mevis, who is 7-fo-7 from 40+ this season.
More on the BGSU Air Defense
• This year's BGSU team has allowed the second-fewest passing yards (1,033) through the first seven games of a season in records dating back to 2000.
• BGSU is forcing opponents to 57.0 percent completion rate through the first seven games of the season. In records dating back to 2000 that is the eighth-lowest rate through the first seven games of the season.
Defense Keeping Opponent Total Yards Down
• Bowling Green has held six opponents under 400 yards of total offense. Three other schools lead the nation with seven games. BGSU is tied for No. 4 with 18 other schools.
• The six games for BGSU is the most in the MAC.
Players Mentioned
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OT
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CB
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