Falcons Stop Broncos, 13-9, to Improve to 4-1 in the MAC

Wednesday, November 2

Bowling Green, Ohio

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

5-4 , 4-1

Western Michigan

3-6 , 2-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Western Michigan

Bowling Green

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

November 02, 2022 | Football

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Defensive stand with 1:22 to go seals the deal

By: BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University football team got a fourth-down stop with the game on the line, downing Western Michigan University by a 13-9 final on Wednesday night (Nov. 2). The Mid-American Conference matchup took place at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.

Mason Lawler kicked a pair of field goals to stake the Falcons (5-4, 4-1 MAC) to a 6-0 halftime lead, and Ta'ron Keith's long kickoff return to begin the second half put the home team in business. Harold Fannin Jr. ran for an eight-yard score with 13:39 left in the third quarter.

The Broncos (3-6, 2-3 MAC) got on the board late in the third period, when Treyson Bourguet found Corey Crooms on a 39-yard touchdown pass, but an errant snap on the extra-point try kept the score at 13-6.

A Bronco field goal cut the BG lead to four points with 5:28 left in the game, and WMU then held the Falcons to a three-and-out. Sami Sir's punt pinned the Broncos at their own 10-yard line, but Western drove into BG territory.

On fourth and 2 from the BGSU 19, Bourguet completed a short pass to Jehlani Galloway, but Jordan Oladokun wrapped up the receiver for no gain, and the Falcons took over on downs with 1:22 to go.

A pair of Jaison Patterson runs picked up a first down, and one kneel-down later, the Falcons had the victory.

Matt McDonald was an efficient 23-of-31 for 161 yards in the win, while Patterson ran for 56 yards and Keith 53. Odieu Hiliare caught nine of McDonald's passes on the night.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half. Western Michigan elected to receive and defend the north end zone to start the contest.
• Late in the first quarter, Chris Bacon intercepted a Western Michigan pass attempt and bring the ball back to the Broncos' 25.
• Early in the second quarter, the Falcons put the first points on the board with a 24-yard field goal off the foot of Mason Lawler to give BGSU a 3-0 lead.
• On the following Broncos drive, the Falcons' defense forced a turnover on downs, standing strong on a fourth-and-short.
• Western Michigan regained possession on a sack-fumble.
• Later in the half, Ta'ron Keith broke a 32-yard rush to give the Falcons a new set of downs from the WMU 15.
• After Keith's gain, the Falcons added another Lawler field goal to the tally. Lawler's kick was good from 28-yards out to extend the BGSU advantage to 6-0.
• Keith opened the second half of the game with an 83-yard kick return, taking the ball all the way to the WMU 17 to begin the first drive of the third quarter.
• The return set up an eight-yard touchdown rush by Harold Fannin Jr., his fourth rushing touchdown this season, for the first TD of the game, extending the BGSU lead to 13-0.
• Western Michigan was driving on the next possession, but Darren Anders forced and recovered a fumble to move the ball back into Bowling Green's hands.
• The Broncos found the end zone for their first points of the game later in the third quarter. A 39-yard pass resulted in the score, but the point-after-attempt was unsuccessful, keeping the score at 13-6 Falcons.
• WMU cut the BG lead to four points, hitting a field goal with 5:28 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• The Broncos held BGSU to a three-and-out on the next drive, before Sami Sir's punt gave the ball back to Western at their own 10-yard line.
• On the next WMU drive, the Broncos got into BGSU territory, and reached the red zone, setting up a fourth-and-2 play at the Falcons' 19. But, on that fourth-down play, Jordan Oladokun wrapped up the WMU receiver for no gain.
• Back-to-back Jaison Patterson rushes produced a first down, enabling McDonald to kneel down on the next play as the clock ran out.

STATS LEADERS
• Matt McDonald: 23-of-31, 161 yards
• Jaison Patterson: 10 rushes, 56 yards
• Ta'ron Keith: 10 rushes, 53 yards; 2 kickoff returns, 102 yards
• Odieu Hilaire: 9 catches, 51 yards
• Karl Brooks: 7 tackles (5-2); 1 FF
• Trent Simms: 6 tackles (3-3)
• Chris Bacon: 5 tackles (3-2), 1 INT, 39-yard return
• Darren Anders: 5 tackles (2-3); 1 FF; 1 FR

GAME NOTES
• BGSU's fifth win of the season gives them the most since the Falcons won the MAC in 2015 with a 10-4 record.
• BGSU's fourth win in league play give the Falcons the most since going 7-1 during 2015.
• Bowling Green won the toss for the seventh time this season and deferred for the seventh time this season.
• BGSU held Western Michigan to 91 yards of total offense in the first half.
• TE Harold Fannin Jr. scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season in the third quarter. The score went for eight yards. He currently leads BGSU with four rushing touchdowns.
• RB Ta'ron Keith returned the second half opening kick for a career-high 83 yards. It set up BGSU's first touchdown on the game.
• With 15 receiving yards, WR Tyrone Broden became the 40th Falcon in program history to reach 1,000-career receiving yards. He is the first Falcon to surpass the plateau since current Buffalo Bill Quintin Morris joined the club in 2019.
• S Chris Bacon snatched his first interception of the season and fourth of his career. His first career BGSU interception was returned 39 yards.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons wrap up the home portion of the schedule next Wednesday (Nov. 9), when Kent State comes to Perry Stadium. That game will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be televised by CBSSN.