Here are updates from Saturday’s game between Bowling Green and Eastern Kentucky. This story will be updated after each quarter.
OVERTIME
A holding penalty kneecapped Bowling Green’s drive initially, but a pair of chunk gains by running back Ta’Ron Keith set up a 3-yard touchdown throw from quarterback Matt McDonald to Keith. On Eastern Kentucky's possession, the Colonels went three plays to a tying 3-yard score from running back Kyeandre Magloire.
In the second overtime, McKinney hit wide receiver Jaden Smith to set up a short touchdown run by running back Braedon Sloan, which was followed by a missed two-point conversion. With both defenses tiring, McDonald found wide receiver Odieu Hiliare for a touchdown, but the two-pointer was taken off the board because of holding.
McDonald found tight end Christian Sims for the two-point try in the third overtime, and offensive pass interference appeared to push Eastern Kentucky out of range to give the Falcons the victory before McKinney hit a perfect pass to convert from the 18. The Colonels’ next conversion was true, but so was McDonald, forcing a fifth overtime.
McDonald’s next two-point try was wobbly, giving Eastern Kentucky a chance to win it, but a trick play went awry. Bowling Green committed pass interference in the sixth overtime, and Sloan converted the ensuing try. The Falcons responded with a perfect fade to force a seventh overtime.
This time, McDonald was incomplete, and the Colonels scored to win it.
FOURTH QUARTER
A pair of critical defensive stops to start the last quarter forced Eastern Kentucky into a 3rd-and-29 and eventual punt. Bowling Green responded by driving to the tying touchdown — a 20-yard strike on 3rd-and-13 from quarterback Matt McDonald to junior wide receiver Tyrone Broden. The Colonels moved into Falcons territory on their next drive before defensive lineman Karl Brooks sacked McKinney, and junior running back Pasean Wimberly blocked the ensuing punt.
The Falcons reached the Eastern Kentucky 5-yard line before being stopped on three consecutive plays; sophomore running back Jaison Patterson scored from the one to put Bowling Green up 38-31. The Colonels reached the Falcons’ 3-yard line, where McKinney hit sophomore wide receiver Jayden Higgins for the tying touchdown.
THIRD QUARTER
Bowling Green’s first possession ended in a punt after Eastern Kentucky swarmed quarterback Matt McDonald on 3rd-and-nine. The Colonels immediately began moving again on their next drive. A pair of third-down conversions led to a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Parker McKinney to wide receiver Cornelius McCoy, and Eastern Kentucky went up 31-17. McDonald found wide receiver CJ Lewis for a 34-yard touchdown on the Falcons’ next possession to cut the lead in half with 5:49 left in the quarter.
The Colonels’ next drive was highlighted by 3rd-and-nine and 2nd-and-20 conversions orchestrated by McKinney before a 3rd-and-nine sack from senior defensive lineman Walter Haire forced Eastern Kentucky to punt. Bowling Green returned the favor by punting just before the end of the frame.
SECOND QUARTER
Eastern Kentucky opened the second quarter with a shaky punt that gave Bowling Green possession on its own 42. The Falcons turned to sophomore running back Jaison Patterson for back-to-back runs before getting 17 yards on the ground from quarterback Matt McDonald. A 32-yard field goal by Lawler sailed wide and Bowling Green's lead stayed 10-0.
Colonels quarterback Parker McKinney responded by completing three straight passes of double-digit yardage to wide receiver Jaden Smith, and after being roughed by senior inside linebacker Darren Anders, McKinney found wide receiver Jayden Higgins for a six-yard touchdown.
The Falcons pounced on an Eastern Kentucky unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on their next series, as McDonald ripped off a 31-yard touchdown run that withstood a review to determine whether he’d let go of the ball before crossing the goal line. The Colonels drove down to Bowling Green’s seven, where sophomore cornerback Jalen Burton broke up McKinney’s pass into the end zone on third down. Eastern Kentucky kicker Patrick Nations booted a 24-yard field goal to make it 17-10 Falcons.
Bowling Green’s next drive ended in disaster, as a bad snap was recovered by linebacker Jadyn Bost in the end zone to tie the game at 17. A 10-yard punt set the Colonels up with good field position after a three-and-out and running back Braedon Sloan tallied a 15-yard touchdown to put Eastern Kentucky up at the break.
FIRST QUARTER
Bowling Green won the coin toss and deferred its choice to the second half, but quickly took possession after its opening kickoff struck an Eastern Kentucky player and the Falcons fell on it. Two chunk runs from sophomore running back Ta’Ron Keith set Bowling Green up in the Colonels red zone. A negative rush from Keith and a false start penalty stalled the Falcons’ momentum, but senior kicker Mason Lawler’s 45-yard field goal gave Bowling Green a 3-0 lead.
Eastern Kentucky went three-and-out on its opening possession and punted. The Falcons struck quickly on their next drive with a 20-yard pass from senior quarterback Matt McDonald to senior tight end Christian Sims. Bowling Green could do little else after that and punted again after a third-and-11 McDonald pass was batted away by Colonels defensive lineman TK McLendon Jr.
A disastrous flea flicker by Eastern Kentucky led to an interception by senior safety Jordan Anderson, which gave the Falcons possession on their own 40-yard line. McDonald got into a groove on the ensuing drive and hit senior wide receiver CJ Lewis for a six-yard touchdown, which gave Bowling Green a 10-0 advantage.
First Published September 10, 2022, 8:59 p.m.
