Western Michigan vs Bowling Green Recap 11/2/2022

Bowling Green Wins Defensive Battle, One Win Away From Bowling!

    Bowling Green continues to win, as the Falcons now are on a 3 game win streak! The Falcons were able to hold on to beat WMU and improve to 4-1 in MAC play. BG went up 13-0 and were not able to get clicking on offense, with defense and special teams straight up winning this game. Jordan Anderson, Karl Brooks, Chris Bacon, Darren Anders, and DJ Taylor led the way to a complete team effort on defense. Ta'ron Keith and Sami Sir had massive days on special teams, and Matt McDonald and the offense did just enough to get the Orange and Brown to 5-4. The Falcons now need just one more win against either Kent State, Toledo, or Ohio to end the longest bowl drought in the MAC. BGSU is also tied for 1st in the MAC East. 

photo: BGSU Athletics

1st Quarter 

    The first quarter saw the defense set a tone that would hold all game. The BG defense forced a punt after giving up just one 1st down. After moving the chains with a Ta'ron Keith run and Tyrone Broden reception, the Falcons punted at midfield. After trading punts again, Sami Sir pinned WMU at their own 3. I liked the call of punting in WMU territory, especially since they got pinned down. The defense forced another punt which Jake Rogers returned to the Bronco 38 yard line. BG then ran for a first down before Jaison Patterson fumbled, giving the ball to WMU at the 25. WMU responded by throwing a pick, great coverage by Darren Anders and Chris Bacon. Bacon ball hawked and then returned the football right back to the WMU 25. 

    The 1st quarter ended 0-0 and felt like BG lost the quarter. The defense bailed out the fumble with the Chris Bacon pick and return, the game tied despite the Falcon defense dominating the Broncos. 

2nd Quarter

    The 2nd started with Matt McDonald efficiently moving the chains through the air. Eventually 1st and goal at the 10 resulted in the drive stalling out, a Mason Lawler field goal giving BGSU the lead 3-0. A good WMU kick return saw Mason Lawler hit stick the returner near midfield, which made it on ESPN. WMU then was forced on downs when the Falcons stuffed the Broncos on 4th and 1. After a big 3rd down conversion from Matty to Harold Fannin, the Falcons turned it over on a Matt fumbled while throwing. Once again, the Falcon defense forced a 3 and out at midfield to give BG the ball at the 20 on a touchback. The offense then had their best drive of the game, getting the drive started with a first down on a WMU facemask. Matty had a big 3rd down draw to move the chains, followed by a 32 yard Ta'ron Keith run in which Jalen Grant and Jakari Robinson pulled and were a convey escorting Keith downfield. The drive then stalled out, resulting in another Lawler FG to go up 6-0. WMU tried to get something going before half but the defense stayed strong, 6-0 at half. 

    The 2nd quarter was better, with BG having a 6-0 entering halftime. The offense had another fumble, but were able to get two field goals and the defense just continued to dominate WMU. Every aspect of the defense looked near flawless in the 1st half. 

3rd Quarter

    The Falcons could not have started the 2nd much better, opposite of last week. Ta'ron Keith had a 83 yard kick return to set up the Falcons in the red area. Patterson had a couple nice runs before Fannin got another rushing touchdown, hitting the pile, breaking a tackle, then bowling into the endzone. PAT good, 13-0 Falcons. That would be the end of the scoring for the Orange and Brown. The Broncos looked to respond, driving 50 yards into BG territory before Darren Anders forced a massive fumble, which he himself then recovered! It felt like a massive break to keep WMU scoreless. The offense could not respond, punting after 3 plays which WMU then took and drove 65 yards to score. The Broncos converted a big 4th down before connecting on a big 40 yard TD pass. The PAT was missed as a bad snap lead to the holder trying to run, 13-6 Falcons. This would come back to be MASSIVE in the game. The BG offense then drove 73 yards, Patterson coming up with big runs and CJ Lewis' only catch coming for a big first down. Christian Sims and Matty Ice connected on a giant 4th down conversion for 25 yards. However on 3rd and goal, Coach Loeffler dialed up a perfect TE sweep before Sims fumbled at the 1 yard line into the end zone. Felt like the game would have been won there, really tough way to start the 4th quarter. Inexcusable fumbling at that point on the field and killed all the momentum. 

    The 3rd quarter saw the offense score a TD thanks to a monster special teams return to start the half, and fumble into the endzone to nearly ice the game. The defense finally showed a crack but overall still had a very solid quarter coming up with a nice turnover. 

4th Quarter

    The 4th quarter saw the defense force ANOTHER 3 and out. The BG offense punted after just 1 first down, the Broncos then driving to the BG 8 yard line after a soft roughing the passer call on a 3rd down stand. A fumbled snap by the QB and a couple incomplete passes led to the Broncos deciding to kick a field goal on 4th and goal at the 14 yard line. The offense could not get any first downs, but Sami Sir boomed a 52 yard punt to pin WMU at their own 10, only about 4 minutes left. The Broncos picked up a big 3rd down, then took the top off for 50 yards to Corey Crooms, who ended the day with 8 catches for 151 yards and a score. With WMU at the BG 27, under 2 minutes left, it was do or die. The amazing defense asked once again to make a stop. 2 incomplete passes and a QB scramble led to 4th and 2 at the BG 19. The defense brought the heat, great coverage by Jordan Oladukon led a gang tackle for a loss of a couple yards. Amazing stand by the defense which was gashed on that drive but dug in and won this game. The offense then needed just one first down which was gotten on the ground by Patterson before Matty kneeled out the game. 

    More great plays by the defense, great punting, really struggling offense. It was a win, a massive win, so happy for the boys. At the end of the day it was must win and come hell or high water, the team won.  

Offense

Passing

    The pass game was fine. Efficient. Good enough to win, but left a lot to be desired. Matty was 23/31 for 161 yards, no touchdowns no picks. Christian Sims and OJ Hilaire were the only receivers over 20 yards with 41 and 51 on 4 and 9 catches respectively. There were a couple drops, some big catches. Matt was only off on a couple throws, but unable to take the top off with only 2 plays over 20 yards. I would have liked to see more short throws as the WMU D line looked really good and the O line could not buy McDonald enough time to develop some routes. CJ Lewis and Tyrone Broden only had 3 touches so hopefully we can get the ball to them more but the Broncos pass rush was just really good all game. Only 4 sacks is not bad but they were at really tough times and ultimately the pass game was solid but never really got clicking. 

Rushing

    The run game was pretty solid. Taking out Matt's stats, the Falcons rushed for 137 yards on just 27 carries. Ta'Ron Keith's big 32 yard carry set up a crucial BG field goal while Jaison Patterson got over 50 yards on just 10 touches. Once again the O line was opening holes especially on the perimeter against a really strong WMU defense. It was Stewart/Fatukasi again at LT, Grant, Robinson, Warner, and Wollschlaeger. Good to see this O line really gaining chemistry by having the same lineup each week. Jamaal Johnson averaged 6 yards a carry on just 3 touches, the offense never had rhythm but it felt like the run game was good and maybe should have seen more carries. Harold Fannin once again got a rushing touchdown, the lone BG score as he hit the pile, broke a tackle, and ran in like a monster. BG had the fumble into the endzone by Sims on a perfect TE sweep which almost lost the Falcons the game, got to clean up the 3 fumbles by Sims, Patterson, and McDonald going forward. Mainly, I'd like to see Jaison Patterson get more than 10 touches but still a great run day. 

Defense

    The defense was dominant again, AGAIN. 3rd straight game this defense ate and imposed their will against the opposition. The Falcon defense saw all the starters play well and rotational guys play great too. Only 9 points allowed, tough to beat that. BG forced two turnovers as well. The D line continued to rush well, linebackers covered and contained, while the secondary did a great job eliminating explosive plays. The tackling was fantastic, the WMU running backs could not break anything. Hard to single out individual performances in a flat out amazing team effort. Chris Bacon, DJ Taylor, Karl Brooks stick out in my mind but really it was a team effort and the defense won us the game. I though the Brock Horne and Jordan Oladukon had great covering, Oladukon and Deshawn Jones specifically having a great day tackling. Honestly, the whole defense had their best tackling day, cannot say enough about every person who saw the field on defense today. Bacon once again had a great day tackling and had the interception that really kept BG in the lead early. Anders also may have had his best day, forcing and recovering the same fumble. 

Special teams

    The punting by Sami Sir was amazing this week, booming a 51 yarder in the biggest moment. Mason Lawler hit sticked a guy on the kickoff, and converted both field goals. Ta'ron Keith really capped off the special teams effort with a 83 yard kick return to set BG up on a short field to score. Special teams and defense really shined today and special teams really matters in these close games. Lawler and Sir have really started cooking in the past few games and it will need to go into the hardest part of the schedule. 

Takeaways

    I knew this team would win. WMU is well run, well coached, but the boys are hot and BG gets the win streak to 3. It was ugly, it was a defensive battle, it was frustrating at times, but a win is a win in the MAC. The defense has now had 3 straight dominating performances to really anchor this win streak. While the offense was pretty frustrating, they did move the ball okay but could not sustain drives or take off the top passing. Special teams was amazing with the return game, punt game, and kicking game all excelling. The biggest thing to clean up going forward is fumbling 3 times. Not often, if ever, do MAC teams win while getting outgained, having more penalties, and losing the turnover battle. Massive statement, massive win, a big part of that is the energy this team has on the sidelines, Cannot rely on the fans, or anyone outside of the locker room to be hyped and get you team's back in the trenches of football games. 

    BG now sits at 5-4 overall, 4-1 in MAC play. Ohio beat Buffalo, so BG can still win the MAC East by winning out and Buffalo losing one more time. The Falcons do face in my opinion, 3 of the 4 best teams we see in MAC play. Good teams beat not as good teams, so BG going 4-0 when playing the lower half of strength in the MAC schedule is massive. BG needs to finish at worst 1-2 in the last 3 to make a bowl. I said we NEEDED a 3 game win streak to salvage bowl hopes the boys freakin did it. There is so much left to prove but my golly this team has found their energy, their heart, and rattled off 4 wins in 5 games. Still can win the MAC East, can still beat Toledo, and can end this bowl drought. My BGSU fandom did not start until I enrolled in 2016, so after being a die hard fan through the worst seasons for this program has made these wins so much sweeter and I just hope these kids at least go bowling. Go Falcs!!! Ay Ziggy