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Bowling Green defenders converge on a Toledo runner during Friday's game between the two rivals. Willie Geter, below, had three TDs in the Falcons' win. Photos by Nate Thompson.

BG’s offense responded in a big way, going 60 yards in eight plays to regain the lead on a 17-yard pass from Tyler Sheehan to Freddie Barnes with 9:04 to play in the game.

The Falcon defense then forced a fumble and BG scored another touchdown to secure a 38-24 victory.

The Falcons are 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference. Having won five straight games, BG awaits a possible post-season bowl invitation.

“To finish the game the way we did, I’m just really proud of our football team. We’ve got some really good character guys in that locker room and we’ve got a really good senior class that has done a great job of leading our team this year,” BG head coach Dave Clawson said.

BG’s offense basically struggled through three quarters, but put together the big drive when it was needed.Sheehan was 3-of-4 passing on the drive for 40 yards, including the TD pass, and Willie Geter rushed four times for 20 yards.

“We just knew we had to take it play for play,” Sheehan said. “We knew we had a good plan going in and in that certain situation in the game we knew we had to stick to the plan. We couldn’t have any negative plays, any penalties, to push us back. “It was just 11 guys on the same page trying to do their job,” he added.

BG started the game in a hurry, scoring three touchdowns in the first 10 minutes by taking advantage of Toledo’s special teams miscues. The Rockets had two punts blocked and then Eric Page fumbled a BG punt with Jerett Sanderson recovering at the 1-yard line for the Falcons. The Falcons scored after all three mistakes.

Eugene Fells blocked the first punt and Jahmal Brown, with help from Zach Akenberger, from Bowling Green High School, got the second block. Toledo punter Bill Claus, from Perrysburg, fell on the first block and Sanderson got the recovery on the second one.

“It was a great job by our special teams guys to scheme that up,” Clawson said about the blocked punts.
The Falcons got another turnover late in the first quarter when Fells stripped the ball away from UT quarterback Austin Dantin and Angelo Magnone recovered.

After the fumble, BG had a touchdown wiped out by a motion penalty and had to settle for a field goal.
BG also lost another chance for a touchdown, when Barnes fumbled at the 4-yard line with 8:40 to play in the first half.

Toledo made it a game with two second-quarter TDs as BG led 24-14 at the half.
The Rockets got a field goal in the third quarter and with DaJuane Collins’ 4-run yard TD run with 13:08 to play in the game, Toledo had come all the way back to tie the game.

“I’m real proud of everyone the way we fought back,” Dantin said.
That’s when the Falcons put together the key 60-yard scoring drive when it was needed the most.

“I don’t think our guys press when they are in that situation. I don’t sense nervousness,” Clawson said.
Toledo was not done, getting to BG’s 11-yard line, where P.J. Mahone made the initial stop on Page. Adrien Spencer then stripped the ball away and Sanderson again recovered.

“I knew our defense would respond,” Sheehan said. “Our defense has been able to do that all year when we’re really needed them to respond they have done it.”

Helped by a 61-yard run by Willie Geter, the Falcons got an insurance touchdown with 1:27 left to play. Geter got the score on a 1-yard run, his third rushing TD of the game.
“Whenever you have two blocked punts and don’t play well on special teams it’s awful hard to fight back,” UT head coach Tim Beckman said. “That’s the game of football.

“That game does not come down to an official’s call and it doesn’t just come down to one play. It’s a game of plays and we didn’t make the plays we needed to,” Beckman added. “We had too many turnovers and gave up too many big plays.”