It was BGs second straight win and the Falcons have two games remaining.
Tyler Sheehan led the BG offense, throwing for 207 yards and two scores and catching a pass for another touchdown. Backup quarterback Andrew Beam ran for a score and also threw a scoring pass.
And sparked by interceptions from fifth-year senior linebackers Erique Dozier and John Haneline, the Falcons defense limited Ohio to 228 total yards, including just 40 on the ground.
"We did everything we talked about during the week that we needed to do, BG head coach Gregg Brandon said. We played great defense, virtually shutting them out. For our kids ... we needed that boost. They (Ohio) struggled for almost the entire game; the defensive kids really stepped up.
Offensively we talked about imposing our will and taking theirs. In the second half ... our offensive line was physical and did the things they need to do to control the clock, Brandon continued. It was a great team win and it just gives us an opportunity to play the next one which is a bigger game now. Thats the way its going to be and we wont have it any other way.
The Falcons have a bye week before hosting Buffalo on Nov. 21 with kickoff at 6 p.m.
Doziers 38-yard interception return helped set up BGs first touchdown. A 30-yard screen pass from Sheehan to Chris Bullock put the ball at the 8-yard line. Three plays later Sheehan threw a laser beam to Jeremiah Kelly for an 8-yard TD.
The Falcons increased their lead to 14-0 with 6:29 to play in the first half. Backup quarterback Andrew Beam made his first pass attempt of the season a successful one, as Sheehan pulled in a low throw for a 22-yard touchdown reception.
It was nice to finally get a pass off and complete one, Beam said. It was kind of ironic it was to Tyler. It made it all the more special.
Hes one of the reads and he just happened to come open, Beam continued. He made a great play catching it and getting it in. It was a good effort on his part.
To start the second half, Ohio took 6:06 off the clock, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Barrett Way. Ohio had moved to a first-and-goal at the 8-yard line before BGs defense made a stand. The Falcons Jahmal Brown made the stop on the second down play while Dozier and Joe Schaefer combined to make the third down stop.
Bowling Green countered with a 15-play, 80-yard drive taking 6:55 off the clock, to go up 21-3 with 1:59 to play in the third quarter. Beam got the score on a 3-yard run.
On the ensuing possession, Haneline got his interception, returning the ball 25 yards to the 9-yard line.
I was just excited to get it, help the team out and get our offense in that field position, Haneline said.
Three plays later Sheehan connected with Marques Park for a 9-yard TD with five seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Coach Brandon and the coaches are always preaching that to us - get turnovers and set the offense up. When they are able to convert and get seven on the board, thats huge, Haneline said.
The Falcons defense took over in the fourth quarter as Ohio switched quarterbacks going from Boo Jackson to Brandon Jones. BG held Ohio to 79 total yards in the final quarter, 92 through the air and minus-13 on the ground.
Late in the game, Ohio drove to a first-and-goal from the 10-yard line, but the Falcons held helped by an illegal shift penalty which wiped out a touchdown.
The Falcons then ran out the clock
We wanted to put together a full four quarters and execute the way we know we can, Haneline said about BGs defense. We felt like we achieved that through the four quarters. We didnt want to let them in the end zone, that was our goal today.
