Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Coyle Withrow Photography
Bowling Green Falls To Nebraska In First Road Trip Of 2026
September 12, 2026 | Football
Multiple Falcons Log Career-Highs In Tackles Led By Pascal’s 13
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Bowling Green State University football team competed against the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the first time in program history Saturday (Sept. 12) night. Playing on national television, Jay Kastantin and Leo Kemp tallied their first touchdowns as Falcons while multiple BGSU players logged career-highs in tackles in the game. For the final, Nebraska claimed the first meeting between the two with a final score of 56-7. Bowling Green will remain on the road for their next game, heading to Iowa State next Saturday (Sept. 19) for a 12 p.m. EST kick against the Cyclones.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME NOTES
STAT LEADERS
FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"This thing will get right. We will get it right. We just have to continue to go through the process of becoming and these days are going to get better. It's always darkest before dawn and that's kind of where we are right now. We're going to keep staying together, staying focused, staying positive and come to work ready to go." – Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach Eddie George
UP NEXT
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. Nebraska opted to return the opening kick with the Falcons defending the south end zone.Â
- On the second play from scrimmage, JoJo Johnson was able to rip the ball away from the Nebraska receiver for an interception, giving the Falcons possession at their own 46.Â
- The first score of the game came from the Cornhuskers with 7:34 remaining in the first quarter on a 35-yard pass for a 7-0 lead. Just before the end of the first quarter, Nebraska added a second score for a 14-0 lead at the quarter break.
- In the second quarter, Nebraska added to their lead, stretching it to 35-0 before the halftime break.
- In the third quarter, Myles Bradley made his way into the Nebraska backfield on third down for a sack. The sack resulted in too long of a field goal attempt for the Huskers, falling short of the uprights to turn the ball over.Â
- The Falcons started off the fourth quarter with a touchdown on the first play. Jay Kastantin found Leo Kemp for a 19-yard touchdown connection with Kemp toe-tapping down the sideline for the score, cutting the Nebraska advantage to 35-7.
- Nebraska answered to push the score to the eventual 56-7.Â
GAME NOTES
- Connecting on a touchdown to begin the fourth quarter, Jay Kastantin and Leo Kemp both tallied their first touchdowns of their Bowling Green careers. The connection came as a 19-yard pass. For Kemp, it also marked the longest reception of his career.Â
- Nakai Amachree posted career-highs across the stat sheet for the Falcons. Amachree ended the game with 13 rushing attempts for 53 yards, including a long run of 15 yards, all career-highs.Â
- JoJo Johnson snagged his first interception of the season and the second of his BGSU career with a pick in the first quarter.Â
- Kal-El Pascal led the Falcons in tackles with a career-high 13. The mark surpasses his previous career-high of 12 from Nov. 8, 2025 against Eastern Michigan.Â
- Preston EstoEsta ended the game with 10 tackles for the Orange and Brown, marking a new career-high for tackles in a game.Â
- Nick Sawyer joined the group of Falcons with career-highs in tackles, registering seven to better his previous mark of three, which he accomplished six times.Â
- Myles Bradley registered his first sack of the season. The sack came in the third quarter on third down and resulted in a missed field goal for Nebraska on the next play.Â
STAT LEADERS
- Kal-El Pascal: 13 Tackles, 7 Solo
- Preston EstoEsta: 10 Tackles, 4 Solo
- JoJo Johnson: 5 Tackles, 1 Interception
- Nakai Amachree: 13 carries, 53 rushing yards
- Jay Kastantin: 10-for-16 passing, 84 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 4 carries, 12 rushing yards
- Leo Kemp: 1 reception, 19 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"This thing will get right. We will get it right. We just have to continue to go through the process of becoming and these days are going to get better. It's always darkest before dawn and that's kind of where we are right now. We're going to keep staying together, staying focused, staying positive and come to work ready to go." – Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach Eddie George
UP NEXT
- Bowling Green will stay on the road for the next game, returning to the midwestern plains to face Iowa State next Saturday (Sept. 19) for a 12 p.m. EST kick against the Cyclones
- The next home game for the Orange and Brown will be homecoming on Sept. 25, hosting South Florida for a 5 p.m. kick at the Doyt.
Players Mentioned
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