Marshall vs Bowling Green 9/17/2022

Bowling Green shocks the world on the 100th homecoming game!

Wow oh wow, what a WIN!!! On BGSU's 100th homecoming, we hosted a Marshall team that just went to the #8 Notre Dame's home turf and beat them down. It looked like the same could be true at Doyt L Perry Stadium but this team made the biggest statement of heart, leadership, and culture I have ever seen. Coach Loeffler shows once again what makes him so special. Toledo in 2019, Minnesota in 2021, Marshall in 2022, Coach Loeffler pulls another rabbit out of the hat. It was heart, it was care, and for the first time in a long time at Bowling Green, the offensive line was given the game ball as Kam Stewart, Jeremiah Banks-Wall, Cedric Dunbar, Jalen Grant, Bronson Warner, Alex Wollschlaeger played an amazing game against a star studded front for Marshall.

photo: BGSU Athletics

1st Quarter 

This game started out exactly how everyone outside this team expected it to. The Marshall team that just beat the dog shit out of Notre Dame scored on their first drive. The BG defense made the tackle but did not finish, and the player rolled of our backs and ran for a 51 yard score. It felt like more of the same in terms of just bad breaks not going our way. Then after a quick 3 and out on offense, Marshall had a quick slant from starting QB Henry Columbi to Cage McMillan go for a 78 yard house call. Then after another 3 and out, I really thought this game could get ugly. Why shouldn't it? This team had a 7 OT heart breaking loss to FCS Eastern Kentucky last week. How much do they want this game. Turns out a whole heck of a lot. The defense stepped up, and forced two straight punts however the offense was still unable to get a single first down. At one point Marshall had 200 more yards gained in just the first quarter. Sami Sir was doing his best constantly punting from inside our own 20 but despite having good field position the defense was just bullying Marshall. 

The biggest play by the defense this quarter was when stud running back for Marshall Khalan Laborn had a huge run down to the 4 yard line. Then on the next play, JB Brown forced a fumble that was recovered by Karl Brooks. It was such a gutsy play as Laborn was in a huge pile and the boys didn't stop playing so Brown ran in and stripped the ball. Instead of 21-0. it was only 14-0 and that play sparked the offense later as after two more punts aided by a huge Brock Horne tackle, the Orange and Brown offense got their legs.  

2nd Quarter

The 2nd quarter started with Matt McDonald and this Falcon offense marching 81 yards to the endzone. The play calling by Coach Loeffler was fantastic and Matt McDonald showed his talents again. Matt and CJ Lewis connected for a big conversion on the 3rd and long to finally get the Falcons near midfield. Then Tyrone Broden made a FANTASTIC one handed grab to continue the march. On a very gutsy 4th down call, McDonald connected with Odieu Hilaire for a touchdown. The offense looked spread out and just tossin the ball around previewed what we would see the rest of the game. The offensive line also really showed they could hold their own. 

The Thundering Herd responded with a long touchdown drive of their own as Laborn ran in for a score as Marshall took 9 plays to make it a 21-7 ballgame. With hope seemingly gone once again, that Falcon offense stepped up and in just 6 plays went 75 yards to score on another unreal catch by OJ Hilaire. Despite a pass interference call, Hilarie just mossed his guy and McDonald gave him a chance with the ball. Hilaire had over 50 yards receiving on that drive alone. Marshall seemed to have another answer as they were driving past midfield until Trent Simms came up with a huge int to swing the momentum back to Bowling Green. With the ball back and Taron Keith starting to heat up, the Falcons drove down the field again and capped off the drive with a jumbo set on 4th and 2. McDonald did an amazing acting job and he faked the handoff and hit a wide open Cavon Croom in the endzone to tie the game 21-21. It was a risky call as it only had one read but worked flawlessly. 

3rd Quarter

The 2nd half had much less scoring than the first but even more intense. After a BG punt, the Falcon defense came up big on two straight drives. First, the defense forced a turnover on downs on our own 36 yard line. Then after another punt, the Thundering Herd were gashing our defense on the ground until JB Brown forced another fumble by Laborn at the 1 yard line out the back of the endzone. One of many turning points in this crazy game but feeling like the biggest. Brown didn't give up on the ball and once again had a very clutch forced fumble. 

4th Quarter

With BG getting the ball after the touchback, the Falcons drove down 80 yards in part due to more big plays by Croom, CJ Lewis, and Christian Sims. Matty Ice also continued to show his mobility in the pocket and his ability to keep drives alive. The true freshman Harold Fannin scored his first college TD on a TE sweep, another very creative play call by Loeffler and the staff. The scoring drive by BG finished in the 4th quarter so after a scoreless 3rd, the Falcons were up 28-21. Marshall eventually tied the game up at 28 all and when BG was driving on offense a suspect holding call killed the drive. The defense came up big again and stopped Marshall very late at midfield but the Herd pinned the offense at the 1 yard line. Despite getting hurt, McDonald got a crucial first down to allow the Falcons to knee the ball and force OT. 

Overtime

Well, as wild as ever. BG won the toss and chose defense first. The Falcon D came up clutched and forced Marshall to just a FG. With the game on the line, Loeffler dialed up an amazing fly sweep that faked a WR reverse and went for a touchdown for Pasean Wimberly. Or so we thought. After a fight at midfield, fans storming the field, a review ruled Wimberly down at the 2 yard line. The very next play, McDonald hit Taron Keith on play action for the game winner. Falcons win 34-31. 

photo: BGSU Athletics

Offense

Passing

The pass game was amazing as is starting to become the new normal for the 2022 Falcons. Matt McDonald was fantastic, 27/45 for 282 and 4 touchdowns. CJ Lewis also completed a sweet WR pass for 15 yard and Cam Orth was 1/1 for 3 yards. Odieu Hiliare had a breakout game hauling in 4 catches for 79 yards and 2 awesome scores. Taron Keith also showed how important the RB flats are for this team, catching 8 balls for 62 yards and the OT winner. Cavon Croom got his first score along with 4 receptions and 50 yards. So happy for my guy Croom, a redshirt senior who blocks his tail off, plays special teams, and got his first TD is a wild win. Christian Sims, Tyrone Broden, and CJ Lewis also flashed this game as BG got pass happy and IT WORKED! Pass protection was solid all night and Matty Ice just stepped up and led this team. 

Rushing

The run game was basically non existent but it didn't need to be anything more. Going into overtime there was just 54 yards on 26 carries with a score coming from TE Harold Fannin. Marshall's D line is Power 5 talented and so Loeffler realized we had to get pass happy and only run when it was the right time to dial one up. 

Defense

The defense was a bunch of dawgs, as they held this Marshall team to just 14 points in regulation after the first 90 seconds. The D line, Brooks, Haire, Roberts, Brand and company dug in and played so well. Oladukon, the Samford transfer started for injured Davon Ferguson and looked good, as well as youngster Deshawn Jones. DJ Taylor had another phenomenal game, as did Jalen Burton and Georgia State transfer Chris Bacon (who led the team in tackles). So much credit to these guys for stepping up after some serious adversity. That's heart. 

Special teams

Not too much to say, Mason Lawler made his PATs and Sami Sir had 9 punts almost always from our own redzone. Big credit to Sir for just doing his best and preventing any big returns along with the punt coverage team. 

Takeaways

What else to say other than this was a huge freakin statement. This team had every reason to quite, play soft. Just lost to an FCS school, now this Marshall team is rolling after crushing Notre Dame. Also going down 14-0 in 90 seconds, I thought this game was going to be bad. We are back on track as 1-3 was likely expected from the non-con because of this insane upset as 21 point under dogs. This team showed heart, fight, amazing coaching and effort from the players. Amazing win. Let's try and take this momentum into MAC play as MS State might be a mighty task. 

photo: BGSU Athletics