Article published November 28, 2009
BG running game catches fire in cold
Falcons lean on Geter, Bullock
By ZACH SILKA
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
BOWLING GREEN - Since his arrival at Bowling Green State University, coach Dave Clawson has preached the importance of being able to run the ball in bad weather and at the end of a game to close out a win.
Right on cue yesterday, with a temperature of 38 degrees at kickoff and a 31-24 lead with
3:15 remaining, junior running back Willie Geter ripped off a 61-yard scamper and then punched in a one-yard TD run to seal a 38-24 victory over the University of Toledo.
With the Falcons' passing attack hampered by a strong crosswind all afternoon at Doyt Perry Stadium, Geter produced when he was called upon. He finished with 16 carries for 114 rushing yards, including three one-yard TDs, and hauled in four catches for 31 yards.
Geter now has six touchdowns in his last four games.
"On the sideline, we knew we had to finish the game," Geter said. "The senior linemen said just put it on their backs, and they did that."
Geter came into yesterday's contest averaging just 45 rushing yards per game. Through three quarters against UT, he had 20 yards on the ground.But in the fourth quarter when it mattered most, Geter delivered.
"I just take that as a blessing, because coach put it on my shoulders this time and he believed in me," Geter said. "I just appreciate what he did for me today and for what the o-line did for us."
Sheehan added four carries for 28 yards, and senior running back Chris Bullock had six carries for 14 yards against the Rockets.
The Falcons totaled 152 yards on the ground compared to 137 yards through the air.
"The past three weeks when it came down to us needing to run the ball, we did it effectively," Sheehan said. "That's really a sign of a good team, and I think that's really the difference between this year's team and last year's team. We've been able to run the ball when we needed to and be able to finish. We knew that was going to be important coming into the year, and the way we finished running the ball, our offensive line should be very proud of themselves."
Asked to recall those comments he made during spring practices about the importance of the run game, Clawson played coy.
"I was just trying to throw people off. I didn't really mean that," he deadpanned. "You know what? The last couple games we've run the ball when we had to. We did it last week against Akron and the week before against Miami. When you get into situations with the lead with not much time left, you need a hard-hat approach. You know, we did that."
After Geter's 61-yard run, Clawson opted to give him the ball on the next play, and he rambled 12 yards before Walter Atkins tackled him at the 1-yard line.
"In those situations, the whole world knows you're running it, but it seems like we run it best in the toughest situations," Clawson said. "We've been successful all year in short-yardage goal line [situations] and late in the game with a lead."
Contact Zach Silka at:
zsilka@theblade.com.
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