Bowling Green State University Athletics
Fifth Straight Victory for Falcon Warriors
The accurate passing of quarterback Bob Colburn and the elusive running of halfbacks Bernie Casey and Russ Hepner proved to be the decisive weapons in the Falcon’s attack as they defeated Kent State 25-8, before a record-breaking 11,000 Homecoming fans in Kent’s soggy-turfed Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Bowling Green’s victory, coupled with Ohio University’s loss to Miami, places Coach Doyt Perry’s team in an excellent position to cap the title in the Mid-American Conference. Regardless of the outcome of next week’s game with rival Miami, the Falcons need only to beat Ohio University at Athens on Nov 21, to win their first conference Championship since 1930.
Two blocked punts and two fumbles were Kent’s downfall as Bowling Green took advantage and scored twice on the Golden Flashes miscues.
The first break for Bowling Green came early in the first quarter when Kent’s halfback attempted a punt that was blocked by Falcon guard, Dave Radlinski. The ball bounced out of bounds on the seven yard-line. However, the Falcons failed to capitalize on the situation and the ball went over to the Flashes on downs.
Bowling Green’s first score of the game came with 7:28 remaining in the initial period. The Falcons had moved the ball in Kent’s 20, but found themselves in a situation which called for a field goal. The ball was spotted on the 30-yard line, where Chuck Ramsey booted a 40-yard field goal, which just cleared the uprights.
The Golden Flashes had just gained possession of the pigskin when their halfback fumbled at their 19 and Ramsey fell on the ball for the Falcons. The Falcons moved the ball down to the one-foot line, but again failed to score as Hepner’s roll-out pass to Casey fell short.
Late in the first quarter, Kent was forced to punt from their own seven. The snap from center was bad and a Falcon fell on the loose ball on the one-yard line, shortly before the first quarter expired. But on the first play of the second quarter, Casey bucked the line for the touchdown. Colburn passed to Casey for two extra points and the Falcons were off to what looked like an easy victory.
However the Flashes were not to be denied as they came right back with a 64-yard touchdown march.
One third of the way through the third quarter Bowling Green got the break that was to be the turning point in the game. Senior end Jerry Roberts come crushing through Kent’s line to black a punt and recovered it on the Kent 44-yard line.
Casey went in for Bowling Green’s second touchdown on a 10-yard end run sweep, as fullback Jerry Dianiska sided Casey with a great block. Halfback Chuck Comer, leader ground gainer for the Falcons to date, was tackled short of the goal in the attempt for extra points.
With 2:03 remaining to be played in the third quarter, the Falcons pushed across their third touchdown when Colburn carried on a quarterback sneak. Hepner completed the scoring for the afternoon when he drove over for two extra points to give Bowling Green its final margin of victory. Bowling Green intercepted three Kent State passes in the fourth quarter.
The accurate passing of quarterback Bob Colburn and the elusive running of halfbacks Bernie Casey and Russ Hepner proved to be the decisive weapons in the Falcon’s attack as they defeated Kent State 25-8, before a record-breaking 11,000 Homecoming fans in Kent’s soggy-turfed Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. Bowling Green’s victory, coupled with Ohio University’s loss to Miami, places Coach Doyt Perry’s team in an excellent position to cap the title in the Mid-American Conference. Regardless of the outcome of next week’s game with rival Miami, the Falcons need only to beat Ohio University at Athens on Nov 21, to win their first conference Championship since 1930.
Two blocked punts and two fumbles were Kent’s downfall as Bowling Green took advantage and scored twice on the Golden Flashes miscues.
The first break for Bowling Green came early in the first quarter when Kent’s halfback attempted a punt that was blocked by Falcon guard, Dave Radlinski. The ball bounced out of bounds on the seven yard-line. However, the Falcons failed to capitalize on the situation and the ball went over to the Flashes on downs. Bowling Green’s first score of the game came with 7:28 remaining in the initial period. The Falcons had moved the ball in Kent’s 20, but found themselves in a situation which called for a field goal. The ball was spotted on the 30-yard line, where Chuck Ramsey booted a 40-yard field goal, which just cleared the uprights.
The Golden Flashes had just gained possession of the pigskin when their halfback fumbled at their 19 and Ramsey fell on the ball for the Falcons. The Falcons moved the ball down to the one-foot line, but again failed to score as Hepner’s roll-out pass to Casey fell short.
Late in the first quarter, Kent was forced to punt from their own seven. The snap from center was bad and a Falcon fell on the loose ball on the one-yard line, shortly before the first quarter expired. But on the first play of the second quarter, Casey bucked the line for the touchdown. Colburn passed to Casey for two extra points and the Falcons were off to what looked like an easy victory.
However the Flashes were not to be denied as they came right back with a 64-yard touchdown march. One third of the way through the third quarter Bowling Green got the break that was to be the turning point in the game. Senior end Jerry Roberts come crushing through Kent’s line to black a punt and recovered it on the Kent 44-yard line.
Casey went in for Bowling Green’s second touchdown on a 10-yard end run sweep, as fullback Jerry Dianiska sided Casey with a great block. Halfback Chuck Comer, leader ground gainer for the Falcons to date, was tackled short of the goal in the attempt for extra points.
With 2:03 remaining to be played in the third quarter, the Falcons pushed across their third touchdown when Colburn carried on a quarterback sneak. Hepner completed the scoring for the afternoon when he drove over for two extra points to give Bowling Green its final margin of victory. Bowling Green intercepted three Kent State passes in the fourth quarter.