 Photo courtesy Deb Ruthenberg
Quarterback Tyler Sheehan led the Falcons in both passing (20-32, 230 yards) and rushing (10 cars, 65 yards) and accounted for two touchdowns to spoil Senior Night in Ypsilanti.
The Friday night ESPNU telecast was a back and forth affair, marked both by Eastern's strong straight-ahead running game and its inability to capitalize on opportunities.
Eastern Michigan's (2-2, 2-4, 3-8) Pierre Walker carried the ball 31 times and rushed for 155 of the Eagles' 269 yards rushing but the Eagles couldn't take advantage of some gifts courtesy of the BGSU offense.
Early in the third quarter Falcons running back Dan Macon fumbled the ball into the end-zone on a first down run from the EMU 22-yard line. Several Eagles appeared to have an opportunity to either fall on the loose ball or knock it out of the end zone but Bowling Green lineman Shane Steffy recovered the fumble for a touchdown that put the Falcons ahead 21-20 with the one point difference courtesy of Zach Johnson's missed second quarter extra point for Eastern Michigan.
Eastern added a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including one on a nifty fake Statue of Liberty keeper by Eagles' quarterback Andy Schmitt which put the Eagles ahead 32-31 with just over six minutes remaining in the game. But the Eagles were unable to convert on either of their two-point conversion attempts and clung to a slim one-point advantage.
The lead was short-lived as Bowling Green responded quickly, moving right down the field on their next possession using a mix of mid-range passes and off-tackle runs, scoring on a one-yard quarterback sneak from Sheehan. Unlike the Eagles however, the Falcons were able to convert on their two-point conversion attempt to grab the lead back, 39-32, with 3:54 remaining in the contest.
The Eagles were unable to move past midfield on their final possession, and the Falcons took over and ran out the clock to seal the victory.
The win kept Bowling Green's hopes for a MAC East title alive but they will need some help if they are to claim the divisional crown.
To win the East, BGSU must beat Buffalo next Saturday, have Buffalo beat Kent State the following week, and hope that Miami loses to Akron or Ohio.
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