From 1990-97, BG went 7-1 against Miami.

The Falcons hope to regain that magic from the decade of the 1990s  on Saturday against the RedHawks. Kickoff is at noon in Perry Stadium, Its Family Weekend at Bowling Green.

This season, BG is 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the MAC East, while Miami is 1-5, 0-2.

BGs only win over Miami in the last nine games was in 2005, 42-14, at Miami.

In 2006, Miami came into BG 1-9 overall, but literally slipped past Bowling Green, 9-7, when the Falcons field goal kicker at the time, Sean Ellis, slipped on the muddy field on a late field goal try.

Last year, Miami got three turnovers and sacked BGs Tyler Sheehan six times in a 47-14 victory. The RedHawks finished 6-7 last season, losing in the MAC championship game while BG was 8-5 and played in the GMAC Bowl.

Miami has been better when weve played them, BG head coach Gregg Brandon said when asked about Miamis domination in recent years. It doesnt mean anything to this game, unless we allow it.

Last year, we were out of it before we were in it ... Its been wild the last three times weve played them.

With their 1-1 conference record after a 37-33 win over Akron last Saturday, the Falcons are first in the MAC East.

You want to be in control of your own destiny. Beating Akron gave us that. We just have to keep winning, Brandon said.

TURNER: With Willie Geter and Chris Bullock still not at 100 percent, Anthony Turner will continue to see extensive action at running back for the Falcons.

Against Akron, Turner rushed 19 times for 126 yards, made five receptions for 42 yards and threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Jimmy Scheidler, which at the time put BG ahead 28-27.

Jason Rice, a redshirt freshman, has been moved from defensive back to running back to add some depth at the position.

MAC HONORS: Sheehan has been named the MAC East offensive player of the week.

In the 37-33 comeback win at Akron, Sheehan led the Falcons to 23 fourth-quarter points and was responsible for four of the teams five touchdowns.

Sheehan completed 26-of-42 pass attempts for 239 yards and three touchdowns and added a 19-yard rushing TD. His rushing touchdown and two of his passing scores came in the fourth quarter.

Its the second time this season and fifth time in his career that Sheehan has been honored.

FAMILIAR HOLD: Derek Brighton, who suffered a broken foot in preseason, is back on the active roster for the Falcons.

A wide receiver, Brighton is also the holder for BGs place kicks.

Hes not full speed running routes and things, Brandon said.

Brandon is hoping the return of Brighton will help the mental state of BGs Sinisa Vrvilo, who was 47-of-47 on extra points and 15-of-19 on field goals in 2007.

This fall, Vrvilo is only 3-of-9 on field goals and he has made 19-of-20 extra points.

I told him after he missed that first field goal (34 yards against Akron), Jeesz, I brought Brighton for you. Lets go, Brandon said. Then, he drilled the one (44 yards) at the end which was huge.

NO MORE RUB: BG used a gadget play on a 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter when Sheehan made a lateral back to left tackle Brady Minturn, who was stopped short of the end zone. Left guard Shane Steffy was supposed to provide the blocking for Minturn, who was not an eligible receiver on the play as was previously reported.

The guys were just harassing him (Steffy) big-time because he did not get out there and throw a block. They think he sabotaged him because everybody wanted to be the one catching the ball, Brandon said. We practiced that all last year with Drew (Nystrom).

 

We called it Rub Right Drew.

So this was Rub Right Minturn.  Really its Rub Right Done or Rub Right Over, Brandon joked.