BOWLING GREEN — Scot Loeffler made a pretty convincing statement the last time his Bowling Green State University football team took the field for a game.
“This is one thing I can promise you, is that we’re going to run the football next year,” the Falcons’ coach said after BGSU’s 24-19 loss to New Mexico State in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26. “… So come hell or high water, everything that we’re going to be doing this spring is going to be built around running the football. We do that, we’ll be back here in a theater near you.”
It’s time to find out if the Falcons can turn the tide when it comes to their ground game.
■ Who: Bowling Green (6-7 last year) at Liberty (8-5 last year).
■ When: Saturday, noon.
■ TV: CBS Sports Network.
■ Line: Liberty by 9½.
■ Series: Bowling Green leads 1-0 (2003).
After finishing at or near the bottom of the Mid-American Conference in rushing the past two seasons, the Falcons have high hopes this year for a talented group of running backs that features Terion Stewart, who returns after sitting out the 2022 campaign.
BGSU has confidence in its offensive line, as well, and that unit will get its first test in Saturday’s season opener at Liberty.
“They’re better,” said Loeffler, before praising the job co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Greg Nosal.
“We’ve got some guys that are banged up in that area right now, but we are better. We’re much improved. Having the running backs back helps, and you’ll see some things that are totally different with us right now. It’s all predicated on the new personnel that we have.”
BGSU’s ground game was effective in Loeffler’s first two years as coach. In 2019, the Falcons averaged 161.8 yards per game (eighth in the MAC), and the following year, they averaged 184 per contest (sixth).
The past two years have been significantly lower.
BGSU was 12th in the MAC in 2021 with 102 rushing yards per game, and a year ago, the Falcons were 11th with 100.3. Both ranked 120th out of 130 teams in the FBS.
The offensive line play will likely determine how successful BGSU can be in the running game.
The Falcons have plenty of experience along the line; four players who combined to start 38 games a year ago are listed atop the depth chart.
Junior Bronson Warner (6-foot-3, 320 pounds) started all 13 games at right guard in 2022; junior Alex Wollschlaeger (6-7, 295) started 12 games at right tackle; senior Kameren Stewart (6-6, 290) made nine starts at left tackle; and junior left guard Tunde Fatukasi (6-5, 320) had four starts in nine games. Sophomore center Alex Padgett (6-6, 330) adds size, as well, and appeared in every game last season, while Arizona State transfer Armon Bethea (6-5, 280, right tackle) and Cedric Dunbar II (6-5, 335, three starts at left guard in 2022) are among the players adding depth to the line.
“I think this is the best our offensive line’s ever looked,” BGSU tight end Levi Gazarek said. “We’ve been doing a great job all offseason of really building things up, and we’ve got a lot of momentum. So it’s going to be good.”
With Stewart, BGSU will be getting an efficient runner (6.6 yards per carry for his career) with big-play potential. The 5-9, 225-pounder had touchdown runs of 77 yards against Buffalo and 62 yards against Miami (Ohio) in 2021.
Stewart, the Falcons’ leading rusher in 2020 and 2021, has combined for 707 yards and nine scores on the ground in his career. Jaison Patterson, who led BGSU in rushing in 2022 with 583 yards, also returns, while Ta’ron Keith (332 receiving yards, 195 rushing yards, five touchdowns) will also be among the backs looking to make an impact.
“Coach Loeffler always preaches how football’s won up front, offensive and defensive line, and our offensive line has taken a huge step forward,” BGSU linebacker Darren Anders said. “And then obviously, having Terion back this year’s huge. I think he’s an unbelievable player. Get the ball in his hands as much as possible, and good things are going to happen.”
First Published September 1, 2023, 3:39 p.m.
