EKU Outlasts Falcons, 59-57, in Seven Overtimes

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The Bowling Green State University football team played the longest game in program history on Saturday (Sept. 10), falling to Eastern Kentucky University, 59-57, in a seven-overtime marathon at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.

Matt McDonald threw for 283 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 64 yards and another score for the Falcons. BGSU scored 21 consecutive points in the second half to take a 38-31 lead with 3:39 to go in regulation. But, EKU put together a 14-play, 75-yard drive and tied the score on the final play of the fourth quarter.

Each team scored seven points in the first overtime, then scored a TD but saw a two-point conversion fail in the second. The Falcons and Colonels each converted in the third and fourth extra sessions, failed in the fifth, then scored two points apiece in the sixth.

In the seventh, however, a BG pass was tipped and fell short, before EKU quarterback Parker McKinney found Braedon Sloan for the decisive two points.

The teams combined for 116 points, 55 first downs and 873 yards of total offense.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Falcons opened up the home portion of the schedule with an onside kick of sorts. Lining up in the traditional kickoff formation, Mason Lawler put the opening kick off the shin of an EKU player with Charles Rosser recovering.
A pair of 13-yard passes by Matt McDonald, one to Ta'Ron Keith and another to Christian Sims, moved the Falcons into EKU territory. Keith added a 16-yard rush before Mason Lawler connected on a 45-yard field goal to put BGSU up 3-0 to start the day.
The Falcon defense burst into action next, forcing a 3-and-out from the Colonels offense on their first drive of the day.
With the clock nearing five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Jordan Anderson snagged his first interception of the season and the fifth of his career with the Falcons to give Bowling Green possession at their own 40, still leading 3-0.
The Falcons marched down the field, highlighted by a 20-yard reception by C.J. Lewis to move into the red zone. BGSU capped off the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass from McDonald to Lewis to extend the Bowling Green lead to 10-0.
In the second quarter, Matt McDonald scrambled for a 17-yard gain before finding Odieu Hiliare later in the drive with a 19-yard pass to move the Falcons to the EKU 12. A missed kick by Mason Lawler would keep the score at 10-0.
On the ensuing Eastern Kentucky drive, the Colonels found the end zone for their first score of the day with a toe-tapping one-handed grab, cutting the Falcons' lead to 10-7.
The Falcons quickly responded. Matt McDonald tallied 43 rushing yards on the next drive, including a 31-yard touchdown run to increase the BGSU lead to 17-7.
Eastern Kentucky got the ball back and added a field goal from 24-yards out to their tally to end the drive, bringing the score to 17-10 BGSU.
On the next drive a snap went over Matt McDonald's head and was recovered in the end zone by Eastern Kentucky to even the score at 17-17.
Before the end of the first half, EKU added a 15-yard rushing touchdown to the score to take a 24-17 lead into the break.
In the third quarter, the Colonels added a score on their first drive to increase their lead to 31-17.
The Falcons quickly answered once again, marching down the field for a score. The drive was capped with a 34-yard pass from McDonald to Lewis, their second connection of the day to bring the score to 31-24.
On the next EKU drive, the Falcons forced a punt after a third down sack by senior Walt Haire.
Later in the third quarter, Ta'Ron Keith came through with a huge catch. On fourth down, Keith caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage, made a few defenders miss and gained 29 yards to take the ball into the red zone for the Falcons.
A few plays later McDonald found Tyrone Broden in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown to knot it up at 31-31.
On the next Eastern Kentucky drive, Karl Brooks came up with a third down sack to force a punt. PaSean Wimberly blocked the EKU punt, his second of the season, to set the Falcons up with possession at the EKU 22.
Jaison Patterson found the end zone with a two-yard touchdown run to put the Falcons in front 38-31.
EKU scored on the last play of regulation to tie the game at 38-38 and force overtime.
Back-to-back gains of more than 10 yards for Keith followed by a 8-yard run by Patterson put the Falcons on the four-yard line during the first possession of overtime.
From the three-yard line, McDonald found Keith in the end zone for a touchdown to put the Falcons ahead 45-38.
EKU answered with a three-yard rushing touchdown to force a second overtime period.
In the second overtime, EKU started with the ball and found the end zone on a four-yard rushing score. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful.
On the next possession, McDonald found Hiliare in the corner of the end zone for an amazing catch to tie it up at 51-51. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, forcing a third overtime period.
In the third overtime, McDonald found Christian Sims for the two-point conversion. EKU converted to force another round of two-point tries.
EKU made a successful try to go up 55-53, but another stellar catch by Hiliare in the corner tied it up at 55-55.
The fifth overtime saw unsuccessful attempts for both teams, sending it to a sixth overtime.
EKU began the sixth overtime period with a successful run attempt to go up 57-55, but another stellar catch by Hiliare in the corner tied it up at 57-57.
The seventh and final OT saw a McDonald pass tipped, before McKinney found Sloan on a pass to the left corner of the end zone to give the Colonels the victory.

STAT LEADERS

Matt McDonald: 23-40, 283 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT; 5 carries, 64 yards
Ta'ron Keith: 13 carries, 61 yards; 5 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD
Odieu Hiliare: 7 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD
Chris Bacon: 10 tackles (7-3)
Darren Anders: 9 tackles (3-6)

TEAM NOTES

Bowling Green played its sixth all-time overtime game and first since losing to Buffalo in two overtimes in 2008 at Doyt Perry Stadium.
The seven overtimes are a MAC record and tied for the second-longest game in FBS history.
Bowling Green is now 68-31-5 all-time in home openers.
BG scored its first 10 points of the game off turnovers.
Third game in a row that Bowling Green forced at least two turnovers.

PLAYER NOTES

PK Mason Lawler connected on a career-long 45-yard field goal in the first quarter.
WR CJ Lewis tied his career high with two receiving touchdowns. He first accomplished the feat on Oct. 24, 2020 against Georgia Tech.
Lewis scored his first career touchdown for Bowling Green in the first quarter on a six-yard pass from Matt McDonald. It was the seventh career touchdown for Lewis who transferred from Boston College this summer. Lewis last found the end zone on Nov. 28, 2020 against Louisville.
With a 1.0 sack, DL Karl Brooks passes Mitch Crossley for No. 6 all-time in BGSU history with 18.5 sacks.
McDonald threw for a career-high five touchdowns and set a career high with six total touchdowns.

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"We're in week two. There's a lot of football left. The first four games of the year are generally, you know how those go, we've got to find a way to beat that FCS opponent. We didn't tonight, but there's a ton of football left." - Scot Loeffler

NEXT UP

The Falcons will remain at home for their next contest, hosting former MAC foe Marshall at Doyt Perry Stadium on Sept. 17. Currently set for a 5:00 p.m. kick, the game will mark the 100th Homecoming for Bowling Green and will air on NFL Network.

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Darren Anders

Jordan Anderson

Chris Bacon

Tyrone Broden

Karl Brooks

Odieu Hiliare

Ta'ron Keith

Mason Lawler

CJ Lewis

Matt McDonald

Jaison Patterson

Charles Rosser

Christian Sims

PaSean Wimberly

Players Mentioned

Darren Anders

Jordan Anderson

Chris Bacon

Tyrone Broden

Karl Brooks

Odieu Hiliare

Ta'ron Keith

Mason Lawler

CJ Lewis

Matt McDonald

Jaison Patterson

Charles Rosser

Christian Sims

PaSean Wimberly

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