Falcons Finish Regular Season, Look Ahead To MAC Championshp Game

Friday, November 28

Bowling Green, Ohio

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

7-5 , 5-3

Ball State

5-7 , 4-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Ball State

Bowling Green

Photo by: BGSU Marketing and Communications

Falcons Finish Regular Season, Look Ahead To MAC Championshp Game

November 28, 2014 | Football

Box Score

BGSU drops to 7-5 with 41-24 setback at home to Ball State

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University football team was defeated by Ball State, 41-24, on Friday (Nov. 28) night at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in both team's regular-season finale. The Falcons scored three touchdowns within the first six minutes of the contest to take a 21-7 lead. But Ball State outscored Bowling Green, 34-3, over the remaining three quarters to run away with the victory on Senior Day.

With the loss, Bowling Green falls to 7-5 (5-3 MAC), while Ball State ends its season with a record of 5-7 (4-4 MAC).

Travis Greene and Fred Coppet led the Falcon offense, combining for 299 rushing yards across 30 carries and scoring one touchdown each. Greene rushed for 159 yards on 14 touches, while Coppet racked up 140 yards on 16 carries. James Knapke completed 18-of-27 passes for 140 yards. Ronnie Moore hauled in a team-high six receptions for 37 yards, and Roger Lewis contributed nicely with 60 yards on four catches.

Linebacker Gabe Martin paced the Falcon defense with nine tackles, including three tackles for loss with one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. Defensive ends Charlie Walker and Bryan Thomas were next in line, registering seven and sick tackles, respectively. Thomas recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, while Walker was credited with a half tackle for loss. Defensive back Nick Johnson, linebacker James Sanford and defensive tackle Taylor Royster registered five tackles apiece.

On Bowling Green's first play from scrimmage, Greene rushed for a 75-yard score. Ball State countered with a three-play, 66-yard touchdown drive, but true freshman defensive back Clint Stephens returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown – the play was the longest kick return for a touchdown in school history.

After a defensive stop, Coppet capped off a five-play, 82-yard drive with a two-yard rush to put the Falcons up, 21-7. All five of the plays were Coppet rushes, including a 69-yard scamper on the first play of the drive. Ball State went on to score 17 straight points to take a 24-21-halftime lead.

The Falcons received a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter from Tyler Tate to pull within three points at 27-24, but the Cardinals scored two more touchdowns to close out the ballgame.

Running back Jahwan Edwards rushed for two touchdowns and gained 165 yards across 28 carries for Ball State. Quarterback Ozzie Mann completed 20-of-29 passes for 286 yards on three touchdowns, while wide receiver KeVonn Mabon caught six passes for a game-high 119 yards and one touchdown.

Bowling Green will now prepare for the 2014 Mid-American Conference Championship Game, which will be played on Dec. 5 at Ford Field at 7 p.m. The Falcons will play Northern Illinois for the second straight year, after defeating the Huskies, 47-27, in last year's title game. Northern Illinois finished the regular season with a record of 10-2 (7-1 MAC).