Bowling Green vs Akron Recap 10/1/2022

Bowling Green starts MAC play 1-0!

Well, this game leaves me feeling exactly how a 31-28 game should. With that score, and specifically the way things went down, feeling good about each phase of the game, and also seeing there are things to clean up from each phase. First things first, a great team win. All three phases of the game played well in spots and all three phases have to thank their teammates in other moments. Coach Loeffler said it all week, this game is huge for us. Akron beat down on the Falcons in 2020, and then last year after a hot 13-0 lead, Akron came back to win in dominate fashion. BGSU got off the Akron schneid by picking up the win, and starting MAC play 1-0 for the first time since 2015. Matt McDonald highlighted the offense with 3 TDs but it was the run game that shocked me as the Orange and Brown averaged 4.8 yards per carry. 

photo: BGSU Athletics

1st Quarter 

The 1st quarter is actually where I had some concern for how the game might unfold. After a great kick return, BG drove down to the goal line and got stuffed at the 1 on 4th and goal. The play calling was great but after a dropped touchdown by CJ Lewis on 3rd and goal the Falcons were left with 0 but Akron was backed up at the 1. Akron started driving but then Jordan Porter forced a fumble on Akron QB DJ Irons recovered by JB Brown. The offense then got a field goal off of the turnover to make the score 3-0. On the very next drive, DJ Irons threw a pick to Jalen Burton, who ran it back to the house to make it 10-0 Falcons. The very next play, Akron returned the kickoff to the 3 yard line and then punched the ball in with RB Clyde Price. The following drive, the Falcons drove all the way to the Akron 30 before after a sack needing to punt.

The score was 10-7 at the end of the first but after getting into the Akron 30 3 times, the offense had just 3 points to show for it which is not a recipe for winning but the defense looked very sharp as the 7 points came mostly from special teams. 

2nd Quarter

The 2nd quarter saw back to back scoring drives after an initial Akron punt. The Falcons went 80 yards on just 7 plays as Matt McDonald found Andrew Bench lined up at fullback for a touchdown pass down at the 3 yard lines. The drive was set up by a 44 yard catch by Tyrone Broden and a 21 yard reception for CJ Lewis. Akron however responded with their own 9 play 75 yard touchdown drive as DJ Irons found Clyde Price for a 13 yard score. Bowling Green's offense was then forced to punt after getting into Akron territory, as Sami Sir sent a a drifter to the Akron 3 yard line their punt returner tried to catch it back peddling and muffed the punt! Charles Rosser recovered the muff and then Matt McDonald found TE Christian Sims for a touchdown on the next play. Akron then turned the ball over on downs at the BGSU 43 to end the half. 

The 2nd quarter was a bit more dominating and BG held a solid 24-14 lead at the half. 

3rd Quarter

The 3rd quarter was the only quarter Akron won in the game, as the BG defense held Akron to 2 punts in the quarter but also a 6 play, 67 yard touchdown drive that saw DJ Irons throw a strike to Alex Adams for a 36 yard score. The offense had just 2 possessions, one ended in a pick which was not on Matty as it hit of CJ Lewis' hands and a turnover on downs in Akron territory. The throw was in tight coverage but still was a fine ball and the bounce just went Akron's way. 

The 3rd ended 24-21 in BG's favor but momentum was on Akron's side. The 4th was going to be where the Orange and Brown either showed growth as a team or fell back into old habits.  

4th Quarter

With BG with the ball as the 4th started, the Falcons droved down 88 yards in just 6 plays after a quick slant to OJ Hiliare went for 59 yards. It came right after a holding penalty that could have stuttered the offense if this was the BG team of the past few years. After a coupled of good runs by Jaison Patterson, Matt McDonald got his 3 TD of the game when he found OJ again for an 18 yard TD. The Falcons were up 31-21 but DJ Iron and the Zips responded with a 9 play 75 yard touchdown drive of their own when on 3rd and 16 DJ Irons found Alex Adams again for a 41 yard score. With BG punting the next possession, the defense had to stand tall up just 3. It felt shaky after a 24 yard scramble by DJ Irons on 3rd and 22 but on 4th and 6 still in Akron territory the defense got the stop and the offense after getting a big first down with Jamal Johnson ran out the clock. 

Offense

Passing

The pass game had another good day as Matt was 18/29 for 247 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 pick. The o line allowed just 1 sack on the day. Pass protection was not stout by any means but the boys played well. Jhaylin Embry made his first catch of the year, Hiliare, Broden, and Lewis continued to stretch the field and be explosive. TEs Christian Sims and Andrew Bench each caught a TD and the pass game just looked efficient and balanced. 

Rushing

The run game was maybe the best it has ever been under Coach Loeffler. Stewart, Grant, Robinson, Warner, and Wollschlaeger were pushing Akron around, especially Jakari Robinson was just bullying Akron's nose tackle. Jhaylin Embry had 28 yards on 2 jet sweeps, but the two main backs were Jamal Johnson and Jaison Patterson had 136 yards on just 24 carries between the 2 (an average of 5.6 yard per carry). Those are good numbers and hopefully can continue against the better MAC teams. With Terion Stewart out for the year, the Falcons need more from a committee of backs who can hopefully anchor some wins as the boys chew clock. 

Defense

The defense played pretty good all things considered. of the 28 points allowed, basically 7 goes to special teams and the defense scored a pick six so a lot of positives from that side of the ball. The negatives would be that our 3rd and long defense was pretty shaky as Coach Loeffler mentioned in the post game presser and DJ Irons was able to run for over 100 yards despite getting sacked 5 times. Karl Brooks moved into 5th all time in school history for career sacks with 3 today. DJ Taylor continues to be a monster with 11 tackles in the game as well as Darren Anders played big as well. The line backers in general played well including Bryce Brand and Brock Horne, the secondary of Deshawn Jones, Jordan Anderson, Chris Bacon and Jordan Oladokun were solid in coverage. Anderson continues to break up plays and show his leadership in a secondary where he and Bacon have a lot more experience than the corners. The defense seemed to be playing a zone, bend but don't break defense which was pretty successful and the big plays mostly came from leaving that for man coverage. 

Special teams

A big field goal early by Mason Lawler, an amazing punt and recover by the punt team was great. Sami Sir had a really good day punting. However the 97 yard Akron kick return and the Embry muff punt which he recovered need to get ironed out. Overall a good game for the special teams and more positive signs from the punt coverage team. 

Takeaways

A road win in MAC play is big, winning the MAC opener is big, and beating possibly the worst team in the East is big. This game, no matter the margin of victory was a must win for this team to keep all of their goals in front of them. Like I said before, in a 31-28 game it is a great win, and while all sides of the ball did things well, there is plenty to clean up. Matt McDonald continue to just flat out be a top guy in the MAC and the O line is coming together. With two straight home games against Buffalo and Miami OH, 1-1 may be the worst case scenario to stay bowl eligible. In terms of winning the MAC, it needs to be a 2-0 sweep at home against teams that have looked vulnerable. Either way, this was a good team win and this team needs all the credit in the world for staying tough and playing complimentary football. Go Falcs!