Saturday, September 18
Bowling Green, OH
5:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
1-2 , 0-0
27
vs
10
Murray State
1-2 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Murray St.
0
10
0
0
10
Bowling Green
7
3
10
7
27
Photo by: BGSU Strategic Communications
Falcons Celebrate Homecoming with 27-10 Win
September 18, 2021 | Football
Box ScoreBox ScoreBox Score (PDF)Bowling Green Postgame NotesBowling Green Postgame QuotesMurray State Postgame QuotesPhoto Gallery
McDonald is 22-for-28 through the air; defense holds MSU scoreless in second half
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green (1-2) football team defeated Murray State (1-2) on Saturday (Sept. 18), winning the 2021 Homecoming game by a score of 27-10. This marks the first win of the season for the Falcons.
The Falcons were impressive defensively throughout the game, limiting the Murray State offense to 201 total yards and intercepting two passes. They kept the Racers scoreless in the second half, clinching the victory by getting a red-zone stop on fourth down. The BGSU offense gained 339 total yards, including a season-best 118 rushing yards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
STAT LEADERS
NOTABLES
• OT Alex Wollschlaeger made his first collegiate start. He started at right tackle.
• LB Brock Horne notched his first career interception on BGSU's first defensive stand. He returned it 12 yards.
• RB Jaison Patterson scored his first career touchdown on BGSU's first drive of the game. It was a two-yard rush.
• RB Taron Keith had a career-long 16-yard rush in the first quarter.
• QB Matt McDonald threw for 221 yards, passing the 200-yard passing mark for the second time this season and the third time in his career.
• WR Austin Osborne had a career-high 69 receiving yards.
FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"I think our defense played exceptionally. They got off the field, they held them to zero points in the second half. And I think that in the third quarter and fourth quarter we played some complementary football, which is great.
Our kids are different than what we've been in the past. They like each other, they care about each other, they care about our program. Most importantly they care about BG. We just got to keep teaching these young guys. Every single thing is hard right now, but they're giving great effort and we've got to keep developing, keep coaching, keep showing them the positives, showing how you win, showing how you lose, and just keep building the team." – Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler
UP NEXT
The Falcons will be on the road for their final non-conference game, taking on Minnesota next Saturday (Sept. 25) at 12:00 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
The Falcons were impressive defensively throughout the game, limiting the Murray State offense to 201 total yards and intercepting two passes. They kept the Racers scoreless in the second half, clinching the victory by getting a red-zone stop on fourth down. The BGSU offense gained 339 total yards, including a season-best 118 rushing yards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- On the third play of the game, cornerback Devin Taylor jarred the ball loose from a Murray State receiver as he attempted to complete a catch. The ball landed in the arms of linebacker Brock Horne, giving the sophomore the first interception of his career.
- The Falcons scored on the ensuing possession, with running back Jaison Patterson punching it in from two yards out. The five-play, 29-yard drive gave the Orange and Brown an early 7-0 lead.
- The next three possessions ended with punts, with Bowling Green getting the ball back at the 3:24 mark of the first quarter. In a drive that spanned the rest of the opening quarter and part of the second, BGSU extended their lead to 10-0 after a 43-yard field goal by Nate Needham.
- Murray State responded on the next possession, driving 75 yards in just over five minutes. Running back Damonta Witherspoon scored on a six-yard rush, capping an 11-play drive to make the game 10-7 in favor of the Falcons.
- The Racers intercepted Matt McDonald on the next possession, starting the drive on their own 45-yard line. After picking up a first down on a Preston Rice scramble, Aaron Baum tied the game at 10-10 with a 47-yard field goal.
- On the opening drive of the second half, Bowling Green drove 71 yards in 11 plays. McDonald completed third-down passes to Christian Sims and Cavan Croom to keep the drive alive, then McDonald scrambled and ran in from one yard out to give the Falcons a 17-10 lead.
- Both defenses were strong for the next three possessions, forcing a three-and-out each time. BGSU started a drive on their own 22-yard line and traveled 60 yards, with another Needham field goal stretching the BGSU lead to 20-10. McDonald was a perfect 4-for-4 on that drive, including a 33-yard completion to Austin Osborne.
- After forcing a punt on the next Racers' possession, the Falcons completed another lengthy drive. A 27-yard run by Nick Mosley put the Falcons at the 22-yard line, and McDonald's five-yard touchdown pass to Taron Keith capped the 11-play, 70-yard drive.
- The Racers converted on third down early on their ensuing possession, but Sy Dabney intercepted a pass on the sideline with 5:58 remaining. The Falcons took some time off the clock before punting on their next possession, then Murray State drove to the BGSU 16-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
STAT LEADERS
- QB Matt McDonald – 22-of-28 passing, 221 passing yards, 1 touchdown
- RB Jaison Patterson – 14 carries, 35 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
- WR Austin Osborne – 6 receptions, 69 receiving yards
- LB Darren Anders – 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
- LB Diego Neri – 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss
- CB Davon Ferguson – 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 pass break-ups
What a great day to SING …
— BG Football (@BG_Football) September 19, 2021
AY ZIGGY ZOOMBA‼️
🟠🟤 pic.twitter.com/INg0JxG196
NOTABLES
• OT Alex Wollschlaeger made his first collegiate start. He started at right tackle.
• LB Brock Horne notched his first career interception on BGSU's first defensive stand. He returned it 12 yards.
• RB Jaison Patterson scored his first career touchdown on BGSU's first drive of the game. It was a two-yard rush.
• RB Taron Keith had a career-long 16-yard rush in the first quarter.
• QB Matt McDonald threw for 221 yards, passing the 200-yard passing mark for the second time this season and the third time in his career.
• WR Austin Osborne had a career-high 69 receiving yards.
FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"I think our defense played exceptionally. They got off the field, they held them to zero points in the second half. And I think that in the third quarter and fourth quarter we played some complementary football, which is great.
Our kids are different than what we've been in the past. They like each other, they care about each other, they care about our program. Most importantly they care about BG. We just got to keep teaching these young guys. Every single thing is hard right now, but they're giving great effort and we've got to keep developing, keep coaching, keep showing them the positives, showing how you win, showing how you lose, and just keep building the team." – Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler
UP NEXT
The Falcons will be on the road for their final non-conference game, taking on Minnesota next Saturday (Sept. 25) at 12:00 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
Team Stats
MSU
BGS
Total Yards
201
339
Pass Yards
132
221
Rushing Yards
69
118
Penalty Yards
50
135
1st Downs
19
23
3rd Downs
8
7
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
24:31
34:17
1st Quarter
MSU 0, BGS 7
BGS - Patterson,Jaison 2 yd run (Needham,Nate kick), 5 plays, 29 yards, TOP 01:52
2nd Quarter
MSU 0, BGS 10
BGS - Needham,Nate 43 yd field goal 14 plays, 70 yards, TOP 06:21
MSU 7, BGS 10
MSU - Witherspoon,Damonta 6 yd run (Baum,Aaron kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:08
MSU 10, BGS 10
MSU - Baum,Aaron 47 yd field goal 7 plays, 26 yards, TOP 03:45
3rd Quarter
MSU 10, BGS 17
BGS - McDonald,Matt 1 yd run (Needham,Nate kick), 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 05:35
MSU 10, BGS 20
BGS - Needham,Nate 36 yd field goal 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 04:27
4th Quarter
MSU 10, BGS 27
BGS - Keith,Taron 5 yd pass from McDonald,Matt (Needham,Nate kick) 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 05:34
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
22
TD
1
YDS
221
INT
1
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
CB
/ Football
OT
/ Football
BG Football Press Conference | 9.8
Monday, September 08
BG Football : Jyrin Johnson and Justin Eklund 9.6
Saturday, September 06
BG Football : Coach George Postgame 9.6
Saturday, September 06
BGSU Football Commercial 2025
Thursday, September 04