Falcons Capture 300th All-Time MAC Win with 27-20 Victory at Akron

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AKRON, Ohio – Harold Fannin Jr. streaked 31 yards on 4th-and-2 with 2:39 left for his first rushing touchdown of the season, elevating the Bowling Green State University Falcons (2-3, 1-0 MAC) to a 27-20 triumph over the Akron Zips (1-5, 0-2 MAC) on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 5), inside InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. It was the program's 300th all-time win in MAC play, which ranks No. 3 all-time in league history.

Fannin finished with 172 all-purpose yards and extended his Bowling Green tight end record for consecutive games with 100+ receiving yards to four games. The junior from Canton, Ohio caught nine passes for 135 and 78 yards after catch. His 63-yard reception on Bowling Green's first drive set up Jaison Patterson's first rushing touchdown of the game.

Patterson punched in his second rushing touchdown with 22 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 17-10 lead heading into the intermission.

The Zips made a push after Fannin's touchdown. The Falcon defense held strong after Akron made it down to the BGSU 18-yard line with a minute to play. A rush for no gain and three incomplete passes gave the ball back to the Falcons with 54 seconds left.

Connor Bazelak was exquisite from the pocket, going 24-of-30 for 268 yards. It is the fourth-straight game Bazelak has thrown for over 200 yards. Bowling Green won its conference opener for the first time since 2022 when the Falcons also won at Akron to open league play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

BGSU won the toss and deferred to the second half.
Akron had to call a time out after their first play with 14:24 left in the first quarter while BG forced a punt on the drive.
On the ensuing possession, the Falcons marched down the field on a six-play, 96-yard drive capped off by a Jaison Patterson 2-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0. On the first play of the drive, Bazelak completed a 63-yard pass to Fannin down the right sideline to set BGSU up in Zips territory.
Akron tacked on a 47-yard field goal on their next drive and scored a touchdown on a muffed punt in the end zone with no time remaining in the first quarter to take a 10-7 advantage.
After both teams exchanged punts, BG went 64 yards in 16 plays spanning 8:12 to tie the game on a career-long 45-yard field goal from Jackson Kleather to knot the game at 10 a piece.
A 10-yard punt from Akron set up Bowling Green on the Zips 41-yard line. Five plays later, Patterson broke five tackles on a nine-yard scoring run as BG retook the lead, 17-10, with 22 seconds left in the half.
Both teams punted on their opening drives of the second half.
Kleather tacked on a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter as BG's drive consumed 7:39 of the clock in 14 plays for 85 yards to make it 20-10.
Then, the Zips marched right down the field in three plays to score on a five-yard rushing touchdown to pull back within one score.
Following a BG punt, Akron booted a 38-yard field goal on a nine-play, 59-yard drive to tie it up at 20-20.
Bowling Green took the ball 70 yards in 11 plays on the ensuing possession, capped off by a Fannin 31-yard scoring run on a jet sweep on fourth down and two to make it 27-20.
The Falcons sealed the deal on defense by forcing a turnover on downs in the red zone with 54 seconds remaining in the game.

FANNIN!!!!!

On 4th and 2 Harold Fannin Jr. rushes 31 yards for the Touchdown!!!!

Fannin's fifth career rushing touchdown puts BGSU up, 27-20, with 2:39 left.

📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/65MmQvwoCq
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) October 5, 2024

GAME NOTES

The win for Bowling Green was the 300th MAC win in program history. BGSU is No. 3 all-time in league history in wins.
TE Harold Fannin Jr. finished with 135 receiving yards, which continued his program record with his fourth consecutive game with 100+ receiving yards. It was the fifth of his career.
Fannin tallied 109 of his receiving yards in the first half.
With nine receptions, Fannin extended his streak to 23 consecutive games with a reception.
Fannin has 676 receiving yards on the season which is No. 2 all-time by a BGSU tight end in a single season. The record is Mark Dowdell with 679.
Fannin now has 1,517 career receiving yards which moves him to No. 2 all-time at Bowling Green. His position coach Alex Bayer is the program leader with 1,543.
Fannin tallied his fifth career rushing touchdown with 2:39 left to play.
QB Connor Bazelak threw for 268 yards. It is the 32nd time in his career he has thrown for 200+ yards and the fourth time this season. He has thrown for 200+ yards in four-straight games.
PK Jackson Kleather connected on a career-long 45-yard field goal in the second quarter to tie the game, 10-10.
TB Jaison Patterson had a career-high two rushing touchdowns.
OLB Charles Rosser had a career-high 2.0 sacks.

STAT LEADERS

Harold Fannin Jr., 9 receptions, 135 yards, 37 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Connor Bazelak, 24-of-30 passing, 268 passing yards
Finn Hogan, 6 receptions, 67 yards
Jackson Kleather, 2-of-2 field goals (45, 31)
Darius Lorfils, seven tackles
Charles Rosser, 2.0 sacks

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"Anytime you open league play, especially on the road, you find a way to win. I didn't like how we finished last week. The positive today was we had a chance to finish on offense and had a chance make a stop at the end. That was a positive that came about from last week. These games are going to be heavy weight fistfights. There are good coaches and teams in this league. Spotting them seven points is hard when on the road, but we found a way to win the football game." – Scot Loeffler, Bowling Green head football coach

UP NEXT

The Falcons return home for Kids Day at Doyt Perry Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12 against NIU. Kick is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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