Tag it:

?

KENT STATE 27, BOWLING GREEN 15

Kent State (2-6, 1-3 MAC) not only ended a three-game losing skid overall, but picked up its first Mid-American Conference win of the season as the Flashes had a season high in points (27) and yards (319). Coming into the game, Kent State’s offense averaged just 10.1 points and 108 yards of offense - last in the MAC, and one of worst numbers in both categories in the entire Football Bowl Subdivision.

“It was a good win.” KSU head coach Darrell Hazell said after the game. “We made enough plays to win the football game. We didn’t play our best defensively, but we came up big in the end. Offensively, I thought we moved the ball early and made some plays both running and passing. But all-in-all I am proud of this football team.”

Bowling Green (4-5, 2-3 MAC) suffered its fourth loss in the last five games despite a season-high 445 yards of total offense

“This was a very disappointing game.” BGSU head coach Dave Clawson said afterward. “I knew coming into the game, Kent State was better than their record, but we made too many mistakes to beat any football team at this level.”

Third year sophomore quarterback Matt Schilz completed 29-of-45 passes for 400 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. It was the third time this season, Schilz has gone over 400 yards. He passed for 437 twice (against Wyoming and West Virginia). Fifth-year wide receiver Kamer Jorden had 12 receptions for a career high 203 yards and a score. It marked the fourth time this season, Jorden has had over 100 receiving yards in a game.

“It was very frustrating.” linebacker Dwayne Woods said. “We were put in the drivers seat to win the MAC title last week (a 13-6 over Temple) and now our road is a little tougher.” BGSU finishes the season with home games against Northern Illinois and Ohio and a road tilt at Buffalo.

The Flashes, coming off a bye week, opened the scoring on the first drive of the game as they moved the ball from their own 23 yard line to the BGSU 26. The key play was a 35-yard pass play by junior quarterback Spencer Keith to fifth-year wide out Chris Gilbert. The completion was the longest play from scrimmage of the season for KSU. When the drive stalled, junior place kicker Freddy Cortez kicked a 44-yard field goal.

While the points were the first given up by the Falcons defense during the first half in three games, it was the second consecutive game KSU scored points on its first possession.

BGSU would get another chance one play later as Keith fumbled the ball, Red shirt freshman defensive end Charlie Walker recovered at the KSU 22. Three plays gained minimal yardage, so Stein came on again for a field goal try, this time converting a 39-yarder to tie the game 3-3.

Despite the fumble, Hazell stayed with Keith and was rewarded as Keith led the offense to a touchdown on the next possession.

KSU took possession on its own 40 after the BGSU kickoff went out of bounds. During the 11-play drive, Keith called on two players who, at the start of the season, were supposed to be integral parts of the offense, but so far this season have been used sparingly.

Tyshon Goode came into the game with just five catches on the season. Keith found him twice on the drive for a total of 18 yards.

Jacquise Terry,  who figured to be the heart of the running game in 2012, has 120 yards rushing and six pass receptions through the first seven games. His 12-yard run on a third down from the BGSU 23 kept the drive alive. Freshman Trayion Durham capped the drive with a tough run around the left side, breaking four tackles on the way to his first collegiate touchdown and a 10-3 KSU lead.

“We made some adjustments this week, but give credit to the offensive line.” Durham said.

When asked about his touchdown he said “When you’re in the red zone, you just got to want it. I saw the goal line and just kept going.” Durham finished the game with 62 yards on 19 carries. The touchdown was the first for the Flashes offense since the second quarter at Ohio,  when Keith scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak.

The second quarter was scoreless, although the Falcons squandered a couple of scoring opportunities.

The first was on the drive after the KSU touchdown. Sophomore Boo Boo Gates took the kickoff deep in the end zone and decided to come out. He was tackled on the BGSU five yard line. Two runs by red shirt freshman running back Jamel Martin gained 16 yards. Schilz then went back to the air as the offense reached the KSU 29. On a third down and one, Schilz called a quarterback draw and was stopped for no gain.

On fourth down, Clawson decided to go for the first down rather than try a 46-yard field goal. Working out of the “wildcat” formation, Martin took the direct snap and was stopped short, turning the ball over on downs.

Martin was in the game for freshman running back Anthon Samuel who did not make the trip due to post concussion syndrome after suffering a blow to the head in the Temple game. Samuel is BGSU’s leading rusher with 704 yards, fourth best in the MAC. Martin finished the day with 50 yards on 18 carries. Earlier in the season, Martin had 118 yards rushing in the loss at West Virginia.

“We never had any balance on offense.” Clawson said. “We played pitch and catch, but they kept it (the ball) in front of them and did not allow us to score touchdowns. I thought our execution was awful.”

On the Falcons next possession after a KSU punt, Schilz moved the offense from the BGSU 17 down to the Kent State 39. On a fourth down-and-one, Clawson this time went for the field goal, but Stein’s 38-yard attempt was again wide left, and the half ended with KSU leading 10-3.

We were not producing (in the red zone)” Jorden said. “We’ve got to start producing, or we are going to keep losing close games,”

At the start of the third quarter, the Bowling Green offense again moved the ball. Starting from their own 31, the Falcons reached the KSU 27. Facing a  third down, Schilz’ pass was intercepted by cornerback Darius Polk. The sophomore started to run with the ball, then was hit and fumbled. BGSU recovered at the KSU 10.

The KSU defense responded again, starting with a nine-yard sack of Schilz on the first play after the turnover. After a 14-yard Schilz-to-Jorden completion that moved the ball to the five, heavy pressure forced a Schilz incompletion. Stein came on for his second field goal, this one a 22-yarder to narrow the margin to 10-6.

The first of two key moments in the game came on BGSU’s next possession. Starting from the BGS 13, Schilz moved the ball to the KSU five.  On third down from the five, Schilz rolled out to the far sideline and tried to throw the ball into the end zone. Sophomore safety Luke Wollet stepped in to get his third interception of the year, which leads the squad.

“I was just trying to make a play.” Wollet said. “It was third down, I just went with the play and was there and I picked it off.”

A second key moment came at the start of the fourth quarter when, at the end of a KSU punt, the ball hit senior returner Eugene Cooper in the foot.  The Flashes recovered on the Falcons 14, and  KSU capitalized as on the second play of the drive, Keith found senior tight end Justin Thompson, who broke a tackle and went in for the touchdown to make the score 17-6. Keith finished the afternoon 16-for-23 passing for 179 yards, with the touchdown to Thompson and no interceptions or sacks.

Bowling Green responded with a touchdown of its own just five plays after the KSU score, Schilz found Jorden on a simple go route. 52 yards later, the Falcons were back within striking distance at 17-12. Clawson decided to go for a two-point conversion, which failed when Schilz’s pass for Cooper fell incomplete.

With BGSU gaining momentum again, Kent State responded with a scoring drive of their own. Keith and the offense moved the ball from their own down to the BGSU two. Terry had a 34-yard run in the drive. It was his longest of the season and he finished the day with 65 yards on the ground. When the defense stiffened, Cortez came on to make a 21-yard field goal, his second of the game, extending the Flashes lead to 20-12.

Like a game of checkers, it was the Falcons turn to respond. They did with a 12-play drive from their own 33 to the Kent State 7. Schilz connected with Jorden for two completions that gained 43 yards, along with an 11-yarder to fifth-year senior wide out Ray Hutson.

At the seven, Schilz twice tried for Jorden in the end zone, the first was juggled and dropped. The second was broken up on an outstanding defensive play by senior cornerback Josh Pleasant. With 5:09 remaining, Clawson decided on the field goal rather than a touchdown try. Stein booted his third of the game, a 25-yarder, making it a one-possession game again at 20-15.

The Falcons needed the ball and BG’s defense limited the Flashes to just one first down on the next possession forcing a punt. The offense took over on the its own 18 with 1:51 remaining, but the Falcons turned the ball over on downs at their own 30.

Keith and the offense went into the victory formation three times, but could not run out the clock. That forced a punt that went into the end zone with 15 ticks left on the clock.

That was enough time for KSU’s defense to put the coup de grace on the victory. Sophomore linebacker Anthony Hitches hit Schilz from behind forcing a fumble. Defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix scooped up the ball at the nine and went in for the touchdown to clinch Kent State’s first MAC win since the season finale against Ohio last year and the first win over BGSU at home since 1999. It was the first time since 1972-73 they have defeated the Falcons in consecutive years. The Flashes picked up a 30-6 win in BG last year

Kent State has a short turnaround as they host Central Michigan on Friday November 4th

GAMERS

OFFENSE: TYSHON GOODE and JACQUISE TERRY-KENT STATE. Two men that were supposed to be key parts of the KSU offense in 2011 came through with important contributions. Terry, the senior from Phenix City, Alabama had 65 yards on eight carries. His 34-yard run in t he fourth quarter set up a field goal. Goode, the junior from Syracuse, New York, had four catches for 43 yards after owning five receptions coming into the game.

DEFENSE: LUKE WOLLET-KENT STATE. The sophomore from Poland, Ohio made arguably the biggest play in the game when he intercepted Matt Schilz in the end zone late in the third quarter. It was his third interception of the season, which leads the club. In addition he made nine tackles (two solos).

SPECIAL TEAMS: FREDDY CORTEZ-KENT STATE. The junior from Fort Meade, Florida made two field goals (44 and 21 yards) and averaged 64.2 yards on six kickoffs during the game

NOTEBOOK
The game is the 79th meeting between the two schools with Bowling Green holding a decisive 55-18-6 record winning three of the last five and eight of the last 11…38th lifetime game in Kent with BGSU leading 28-8-2…The 445 yards by Bowling Green were the most a KSU defense has allowed since Alabama’s 482 in the season opener…The 400 yards passing by Matt Schilz-BGSU was the most against Kent State since Bowling Green’s Tyler Sheehan had 505 in 2009, and Kamer Jorden’s 203 yards were the most since Freddie Barnes-BGSU 278, also in the 2009 at Dix Stadium…Roosevelt Nix-KSU fourth quarter touchdown was the defense’s  second this year (Luke Wollet at NIU had the other)…The 12 receptions were the most against KSU since Eric Page-Toledo had 14 last year…Jorden has 155 catches in his Bowling Green career,moving him into 10th place on the all-time list…BGSU head coach Dave Clawson is 1-2 lifetime against Kent State (0-1 vs Darrell Hazell)