AMHERST, N.Y. — The usual suspects got theirs, but it was the elevated play and strategy of unfamiliar names that helped elevate Bowling Green State University to Saturday’s 56-44 victory at Buffalo.
The play of Alex Padgett, Trent Simms, Jalen Burton, Matt Fortner, and Demetrius Hardamon proved vital, and so was the effort of the coaching staff in an unusual circumstance.
True freshman Padgett was inserted into the starting lineup at left guard in place of an injured Cade Zimmerly. Junior linebacker Demetrius Hardamon slid into a more prominent role once Bryce Brand left the game with an injury. Redshirt freshman Simms, a Northview graduate, was put in at safety in place of senior standout Davon Ferguson, who was unable to play on Saturday. Fortner, another Northview grad, entered the game when starting left tackle Jeremiah Banks-Wall exited the game with an injury.
“I thought they did a great job, and I’m happy for our all kids,” Loeffler said. “I thought they battled, and it was nice to see them have some success.”
Padgett helped anchor an offensive line that rushed for a season-high 261 rushing yards and boom for a season-high 484 yards of total offense.
The Falcons were able to connect on multiple splash plays, including touchdown scores of 20, 30, 47, 64, 77, and 81 yards that comprised six of eight Falcons touchdowns. Fortner entered the game near the end of the fourth quarter and helped McDonald rush for his 47-yard TD.
Running back Terion Stewart, who missed three games with an injury and got back to a full workload against Eastern Michigan, rushed for a career-high 172 yards and two TDs on 11 carries. His touchdown runs went for 20 and 77 yards.
“I’m so proud of him,” McDonald said of Stewart. “He hasn’t had the season that I know he would like, but for him to hang in there and stick in there and make two clutch plays like that, he really put the game away from us.”
Defensively, four Falcons notched 10 or more tackles, and one of those players was Hardamon. Brand sustained an apparent injury to the face in the third quarter, forcing Hardamon in alongside Anders and Horne. The linebacker trio each had 10 or more tackles, and Hardamon also added a half of a sack and 1½ tackles for loss.
Simms accumulated nine total tackles in starting in place of Ferguson. Also making a statement in the defensive backfield was Burton, who is rising quickly on the team’s depth chart into a reliable cornerback.
Burton, a true freshman, tallied five tackles, one for loss, and broke up two passes.
The coaching staff was also forced to adjust on the fly and make in-game changes. Offensive coordinator Terry Malone took over the play-calling duties from the booth once Loeffler was ejected in the third quarter following two unsportsmanlike penalties. Associate head coach Steve Morrison took over the main headset from the sidelines.
BGSU was outscored 34-28 in the second half, but much of the third quarter was spent making adjustments to the temporary coaching hierarchy.
Bowling Green outscored Buffalo 28-21 in the fourth quarter.
“When [Loeffler] went out, you saw some guys step up in leadership roles and really stick together, and it was a really great thing to see, and a great thing to build on,” McDonald said.
First Published November 1, 2021, 3:57 p.m.
