Bowling Green Runs Out of Time at Eastern Michigan

Saturday, November 8

Ypsilanti, Mich.

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

3-7 , 1-5

Eastern Michigan

3-7 , 2-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Bowling Green

Eastern Michigan

November 08, 2025 | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Bowling Green Postgame Notes - EMU Game Photo Gallery

Austyn Dendy leads BGSU with career highs in rushing yards (113) and touchdowns (2)

By: by Vincent Briedis, BGSU Strategic Communications

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University football team (3-7, 1-5 MAC) ran out of time on the road Saturday (Nov. 8), falling to the Eastern Michigan Eagles (3-7, 2-4 MAC) at Rynearson Stadium, 27-21.
Austyn Dendy led the way for BGSU with a career-high 113 rushing yards and two scores to pace the Falcons. Due to injuries at the quarterback position, Hunter Najm became the fourth Falcon to start at quarterback this season. It marked Najm's first career start.

BGSU led at the half, 14-10, but EMU scored 14 unanswered points to take a 10-point lead, 24-14, with 10:18 left to play. Jyrin Johnson hauled in a two-yard strike from Najm with 4:36 remaining to make it a three-point game, 24-21. It was Najm's first career passing touchdown. EMU added a field goal with 57 seconds left to make it a six-point game, 27-21.

BGSU had 3rd-and-1 from the EMU 36 with six seconds left, but Najm was sacked to end the game and the Falcons' hopes for bowl eligibility for the fourth straight season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Bowling Green won the toss and elected to receive. EMU kicked off to start the game and defended the north end zone.
• EMU took an early 7-0 lead after driving 59 yards for a touchdown on its first offensive possession.
• BGSU scored its first touchdown of the game on a 19-yard sprint by Austyn Dendy during the Falcons' second drive. The possession was set up by a 65-yard kickoff return from Kaderris Roberts.
• EMU responded with a 27-yard field goal with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
• EMU attempted a 42-yard field goal at the 6:43 mark of the second quarter, but the kick sailed wide left.
• BGSU took its first lead of the game on a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Dendy—his second of the game. Dendy rushed for 60 yards during the 76-yard scoring drive, including carries of 19 and 16 yards.
• On its second drive of the third quarter, EMU capitalized on two BGSU pass interference penalties and found the end zone on a 12-yard touchdown pass, regaining the lead, 17-14, with 5:57 left in the quarter.
• EMU extended its advantage to 24-14 early in the fourth quarter with an 8-yard rushing touchdown, capping a 6-play, 69-yard drive over 3:13.
• Johnson's two-yard jump-ball touchdown reception from Najm cut the deficit to 24-21 with 4:36 remaining.
• EMU milked 3:39 off the clock and added a field goal with 57 seconds left to make it 27-21.

BOOM 💪

Austyn Dendy powers through on a 16-yard touchdown run to put BGSU up, 14-10. Dendy accounted for 60 rushing yards on the 76-yard scoring drive.

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— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) November 8, 2025

GAME NOTES
• With four receptions, TE Jyrin Johnson extends his active streak with at least one reception to 43 games. He entered the week with the nation's longest streak.
• Dendy rushed 21 times for 113 yards. He is the first 100-yard rusher for the Falcons since Terion Stewart rushed for 150 yards against Western Michigan on Nov. 12, 2024.
• Dendy's rushing attempts (21), rushing yards (113) and touchdowns (2) are all career highs.
• Dendy notched his first career reception in the first quarter. It went for 10 yards. He finished with two catches for 26 yards.
• CB JoJo Johnson had a career-high five pass breakups. It's the most PBUs by a Falcon since Darrell Hunter II had four at Ohio on Oct. 11, 2014.

STAT LEADERS
• Austyn Dendy: 21 carries, 113 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
• Hunter Najm: 11-of-15 passing, 129 passing yards, 1 touchdown
• Jyrin Johnson: 4 receptions, 36 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
• Gideon Lampron: 12 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss
• Kal-El Pascal: 12 tackles
• JoJo Johnson: 5 PBUs, 5 tackles

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"Clearly, I'm really disappointed with the results of today's game. But I'm very proud of the way we have responded given the changes we experienced. We worked hard and gave ourselves a chance to win. Hunter played a phenomenal game, we asked him to go and manage the game the best he could. It was his first career start, and he had a chance to win it at the end. We were able to line up with 8 seconds to go with the ball on the 40 yard line with the possibility to win it. That's all you can ask for, to be in that position.
"I think the difference in the game, clearly, their quarterback was a really good player. He made the plays he had to make and had the answers for what we did defensively. When we went man, he threw it outside and it was either a complete ball or pass interference. When we tried to go zone, he picked us apart. He just made the plays and that really was the biggest difference.
"We're going to get there. Given where we are, I'd love to win. But what's happening here is we're continuing to get up off the mat and respond. That's all I can ask of the guys. That's how we're trying to finish, to finish strong regardless of circumstances and build towards something. That's it. That's all we can do." - Eddie George, BGSU Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach

UP NEXT
• Bowling Green returns home on Tuesday, Nov. 18, when Akron comes to Doyt Perry Stadium for mid-week MACtion. Kick is set for 7 p.m. ESPN and the MAC will release the TV designation at a later date.