AMHERST, N.Y. — In a dramatic turn of events for BGSU, the Falcons lest head coach Scot Loeffler to an ejection by referee Jeremy Valentine following sideline warnings and heavily exchanged words.
Despite a strong first half, the Falcons have crumbled in allowing 13 unanswered points and committing seven penalties for 87 yards in the quarter. In total, BGSU has been flagged 12 times for 137 yards, which includes two unsportsmanlike calls on Loeffler.
Buffalo scored on the first possession of the second half, when they capped a 16-play drive that lasted 7:20 with a 2-yard run by Dylan McDuffie. That cut the Falcons’ lead to 28-17.
Loeffler then was ejected for arguing no-calls on Buffalo with Valentine. The Falcons lost not only their head coach, but also their primary play caller. The Falcons went 3-and-out, and two more personal fouls and a defensive pass interference on BGSU helped lead to a 3-yard TD run by reserve quarterback Matt Myers. A 2-point conversion pass went incomplete, and BGSU held a 28-23 lead.
BGSU scored early in the fourth quarter, as an interception by Devin Taylor led to a 30-yard TD strike by McDonald to Broden downfield. The Falcons held a 35-23 lead with 13:58 to play.
Bowling Green 28, Buffalo 10 — 3rd quarter
Matt McDonald is on his way to a potential career day as his Bowling Green State University Falcons hold a 28-10 lead at halftime.
McDonald has completed 8 of 11 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, including his strike fo 81 yards to Christian Sims in the first quarter, and then a 64-yard bomb to Tyrone Broden for a TD in the second quarter.
The Falcons got a big play on defense, as Jordan Anderson picked off a Kyle Vantrease pass deep in Buffalo territory, and a 27-yard return brought the ball to the UB 4. McDonald found Sims once again for a TD on a misdirection play that left the Falcons tight end wide open in the back-left corner of the endzone for a 21-3 lead with 7:12 to play in the half.
The teams traded touchdown drives to follow, as UB got a 14-yard rushing TD by Mike Washington to cut the Falcons lead to 21-10 with 2:52 left in the half.
The Falcons responded with a scoring drive, as McDonald found Broden burning down the far sideline for his score with 2:07 left in the half.
Sims has three catches for a career-high 103 yards and two TDs. Terion Stewart has carried the ball five times for 61 yards.
Bulls QB Kyle Vantrease left the game near the end of the half with an apparent left-knee injury. Matt Myers entered the game in his absence.
Bowling Green 14, Buffalo 3 — 2nd quarter
Bowling Green presented tricks and was rewarded with treats in the first quarter on a chilly, rainy Halloween eve in western New York.
A quick strike for a touchdown and a successful fake punt that led to another score have given the 13½-point underdog Falcons a 14-0 lead after 15 minutes of play.
The Falcons began the game with the ball on their own 25 following a touchback. Quarterback Matt McDonald was sacked for a 7-yard loss on a 2nd-and-long, setting BGSU up with 3rd-and-16 on their own 29.
McDonald then slipped a screen pass to tight end Christian Sims, who bowled through Buffalo defensive back E.J. Brown, cut left to the near sideline, and sprinted to an 81-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead early on.
Adding insult to injury, Brown was ejected for targeting on the play.
The teams exchanged punts, and the BGSU defense held Buffalo into their own territory on their two drives to follow. The Falcons then got back on the board with some trickery.
With 4th-and-7 on the UB 17, the Falcons faked a field goal attempt and successfully converted the first down, as punter/holder Matt Naranjo scooted to the far sideline and dove for the first down. That led to a 1-yard TD by Jhaylin Embry on a jet sweep that gave BGSU a 14-0 lead with 3:31 left in the quarter.
The Bulls got on the board with 11:36 to play in the first half on a 51-yard field goal by Alex McNulty.
First Published October 30, 2021, 4:57 p.m.
