Article published November 28, 2009
Falcons now have to play waiting game
By DONALD EMMONS
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
BOWLING GREEN - Now Bowling Green State University must wait for another week to see if its season will resume with a postseason bowl game.
After defeating the University of Toledo 38-24 yesterday afternoon before a crowd of 14,075 at Doyt Perry Stadium, the Falcons were optimistic about receiving an invitation to participate in a bowl game.
"I think it's very likely," said first-year coach Dave Clawson. "There are going to be a couple of bowls that need at-large teams, and there are not a lot of 7-5 at-large teams, and I think we've set ourselves up as one of the top 7-5 at-large teams. We've won six out of our last seven. We play an exciting brand of football.
"Every game this year, except one, has been very competitive. If teams want a good show in their bowl, I think, with a lot of confidence I think we can say we can deliver on that."
Tyler Sheehan, who entered yesterday's game with eight 300-yard passing games this season, believes the Falcons are worthy of a bowl bid after winning their seventh game of the season.
"Last year there wasn't a 7-5 team in the nation that didn't get a bowl game," Sheehan said. "We've done everything down the stretch for us to potentially get a bowl game. We've done what we can control, and now it's on whatever bowl that wants to take us."I'd be shocked if we didn't go to a bowl at this point."
FREDDIE WATCH: BG wideout Freddie Barnes came up four receptions shy of tying the Division I single-season receptions record of 142 for a season.
Barnes, who entered the game with a nation-leading 129 catches, was held to nine catches for 69 yards by a Rockets defense that oftentimes placed two defenders in his vicinity.
Nonetheless, Barnes, who is a Fred Biletnikoff finalist, added to his nation-leading touchdown receptions by catching two against the Rockets to give him 16 for the season.
Barnes' chance to break the single-season receptions mark (Manny Hazard, Houston, 1989) is still a possibility. A bowl berth for the Falcons would allow Barnes to play one more game this year and give him an opportunity to add to his MAC record total of 138 receptions this fall.
FALCONS MAKING PLAYS: Several Falcons defenders did their part to ensure a win over the Rockets.
Eugene Fells and Jahmal Brown were credited with blocking a punt apiece in the opening quarter.
James Schneider, P.J. Mahone, and Cody Basler recorded 13, 11, and 10 tackles, respectively.
Roger Williams intercepted two passes. Jerett Sanderson recovered two fumbles, and Angelo Magnone recovered one.
FURTHER REVIEWS: The Falcons and Rockets kept the replay official busy during the first half.
Both sides came away with a decision in their favor.
BG running back Willie Geter benefited from the replay official ruling he scored on a one-yard run that was initially ruled on the field as a carry for no gain. It was Geter's second one-yard score of the game to help the Falcons take a 21-0 lead with 5:31 left in the first quarter.
The Rockets received a call in their favor when a review supported a call on the field that Barnes fumbled near the goal line after pulling in a short pass from Tyler Sheehan.
SHEEHAN'S NUMBERS: Sheehan became the Falcons' all-time career yards leader yesterday afternoon on a 12-yard scramble in the first quarter. It put the three-year starter over 10,000 career yards.
THE SERIES: The Falcons, winners of the last three meetings with the Rockets, own a 39-31-4 record against UT.
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