Happy Homecoming: Falcons Douse Flames, 23-13

Saturday, September 13

Bowling Green, Ohio

5 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

2-1 , 0-0

Liberty

1-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Liberty

Bowling Green

This catch by Jacob Harris late in the first half gave BGSU a 10-0 lead in Saturday's win over Liberty

Photo by: Scott W. Grau

September 13, 2025 | Football

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By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University football team sent a large Homecoming crowd home happy, picking up a 23-13 win over Liberty University on Saturday (Sept. 13) at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.

Drew Pyne threw for 146 yards for the Falcons (2-1), while a pair of BG running backs, Kaderris Roberts and Chris McMillian, each ran for over 50 yards in the win.

A spectacular catch by Jacob Harris late in the second quarter put the Falcons ahead by 10 points at the half, and after the Flames (1-2) got a touchdown midway through the third period, BGSU reeled off the next 13 points, with two Jackson Kleather field goals sandwiched around a McMillian touchdown.

Kleather was a perfect 3-for-3 in field-goal attempts on the night, including a 50-yarder that gave BG a 16-7 lead early in the fourth period.

Pyne was 16-of-31 through the air, for those 146 yards and a TD. Roberts and McMillian ran for 59 and 56 yards, respectively.

For the visitors, Ethan Vasko threw for 194 yards and a score, but the Falcon defense sacked Vasko four times, and BG also picked off two passes and forced three LU fumbles, recovering two.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons won the coin toss, electing to defer. Liberty chose to receive the opening kickoff, with Bowling Green defending the south end zone.
• On the third play from scrimmage, Kal-El Pascal forced a fumble for the Falcons, punching the ball loose. Keyon Washington recovered the fumble, giving possession to the Orange and Brown less than two minutes into the game.
• That BGSU drive ended with a 48-yard field goal off the foot of Jackson Kleather, pushing BGSU out to a 3-0 lead.
• Liberty attempted to respond with just under a minute left in the opening quarter, but missed a 38-yard field goal attempt.
• Early in the second quarter, a John Henderson punt was downed inside the Flames' one-yard line.
• With just under two minutes remaining before the half, Pascal jumped a route and hauled in an interception for the Falcons, ending a Liberty drive that was in plus-territory.
• Liberty got the ball back, but the defense forced their third turnover of the game. Darius Lorfils popped a fumble loose with Dorian Pringle picking it up to give BGSU possession at the LU 23.
• The turnover turned into a touchdown for the Falcons with Drew Pyne finding Jacob Harris in the front right corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. Harris made a nifty adjustment to make the grab, with Kleather's kick giving the hosts a 10-0 lead with just eight seconds left before the intermission.
• Midway through the third period, Liberty put a touchdown on the boa,rd, with a 44-yard TD pass from Ethan Vasko to Elijah Canion trimming the BGSU lead to 10-7.
• The Falcons responded with just over a minute left in the third quarter with Kleather hitting a 26-yard field goal to extend the BGSU advantage to 13-7.
• Less than two minutes into the final frame, Kleather continued his strong game by hitting a 50-yard field goal to increase the BG lead to nine points, at 16-7.
• And, the Falcons continued to apply the defensive pressure on. On a fourth down play, BGSU held the Flames short of the line to gain, and Pringle forced a fumble. While LU recovered the ball in the backfield, the play resulted in a turnover on downs, giving BG the ball at the Liberty 26.
• Two Chris McMillian runs later, the Falcons were in the end zone, as a seven-yard scamper (along with Kleather's kick) gave the Falcons a 23-7 lead with 11:48 to go.
• The defense continued to wreak havoc, with Collins Acheampong deflecting a pass that Pringle hauled in for an interception.
• With just under three minutes on the clock, Liberty added a score to their tally, as an Evan Dickens run capped a lengthy drive. The Flames' two-point conversion attempt, however, was unsuccessful, keeping it a two-score game.
• The Flames attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by Trey Johnson, and the Falcons then picked up a first down and went into victory formation.

GAME NOTES
• BGSU is 2-1 to start a season for the first time since 2014.
• BGSU is now 2-1 all-time against Liberty.
• BGSU held Liberty to 4-of-12 on third downs.
• BGSU forced four turnovers for the first time in a game since reaching the number against Akron in 2023.
• BGSU scored 10 points off turnovers.
• Since the start of the 2023 season, BGSU is + 17 in turnover margin.
• BGSU notched four sacks in a game for the first time since having four in the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl.
• BGSU is 308-100-4 (.752) all-time when scoring at least 21 points. BGSU is 74-21 (.779) all-time since 2010 when scoring at least 21 points.
• TE Jacob Harris scored his first career touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Drew Pyne just before the half.
• BGSU played Liberty 22 years ago to the day at Doyt Perry Stadium and Harris' dad, Josh, started the game at QB for the Falcons.
• CB Keyon Washington recovered his first career fumble in the first quarter.
• Washington finished with a career-high eight tackles.
• DE David Afogho notched his first career sack in the second quarter.
• DE Eriq George tied his career high with 2.0 sacks
• S Kal-El Pascal recorded his first career interception in the second quarter to set up BGSU's first touchdown. He also forced a fumble that led to BGSU's first points.
• With two receptions, TE Jyrin Johnson extends his active game streak with at least one reception to 36 games. He entered the weekend with the second-longest active streak in the nation.
• RB Chris McMillian notched his first career FBS touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard rush.
• McMillian had a career-high 56 rushing yards.

BOOM - Jacob Harris with the TD just before the half!

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— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) September 13, 2025

STAT LEADERS

Drew Pyne: 16-0f-31, 146 passing yards, 1 touchdown // 5 carries, 25 yards
Kaderris Roberts: 10 carries, 59 yards
Chris McMillian: 12 carries, 56 yards, 1 touchdown
RJ Garcia II: 3 receptions, 38 yards
Finn Hogan: 3 receptions, 36 yards
Jackson Kleather: 3-for-3 field goals, long of 50
Keyon Washington: 8 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
Kal-El Pascal: 7 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT
Dorian Pringle: 7 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 2 TFL
Eriq George: 4 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"What an environment, Homecoming was amazing. The crowd was awesome. Fans were excited. Gutsy win, gutsy win. It's hard to win in this league, it's hard to win in football. Liberty came in with their pedigree strong, 21-8 over the last two years, undefeated season two years ago, eight-win season last year. Guys, they played hard. We had chances early in the first half to get things rolling, offensively. Just got out of sync. Every time we got something going, it seemed like it was a penalty. We had like seven or eight, first-and-15 or second-and-15, seven of those. And that's tough to overcome, but we were able to do that. Sometimes it has to happen for us to go to the next level. Four penalties the last two games and somehow we get 14. That's a recipe for disaster, but our defense produced turnovers. They did a phenomenal job against this unit, who rushed the ball very well. Did a good job of preparing last week for what they were going to do defensively. Again, producing four turnovers, not turning the ball over, gave us a chance. When we did have chances to score down in the red zone, Jackson Kleather had another great day kicking field goals. But in order for us to go to the next level, we have to finish drives. We have to finish drives with touchdowns and not shoot ourselves in the foot with penalties. So, great team win, great complimentary team win. Never going to balk at that, but we clearly have some work to do before we jump into MAC play. " -- Head Coach Eddie George

UP NEXT
• The Falcons hit the road to take on Louisville next Saturday (Sept. 20). Kickoff for that game is set for 12:00 p.m. at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will begin Mid-American Conference play the following Saturday (Sept. 27) at Ohio. BGSU's next home game is set for Saturday, Oct. 11, against Toledo.