BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University’s football team doesn’t want to waste another opportunity to get a victory this weekend.

Especially in a winnable game with a gauntlet of a schedule coming up.

For the first time, BGSU will be facing FCS school Eastern Illinois when the teams square off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Doyt Perry Stadium. The Falcons are coming off a 34-24 loss at Liberty in which they threw five interceptions, while the Panthers, who had an 8-43 record from 2018 to 2022, picked up a 27-0 victory over Indiana State in which they forced six turnovers.

“Offensively, after watching the tape, I thought we played really hard. I thought it was one of our better efforts in terms of running the ball, very encouraged with that,” BGSU coach Scot Loeffler said. “I think we’re going to have a team, finally, that can run the ball effectively. I thought we blocked really well on the perimeter. I thought up front, we did some good things up front in terms of run blocking.

“What killed us in the game was we had nine pressures. We did not protect the quarterback whatsoever. We had the five interceptions; two of them were horrific decisions, the other three I don’t know what to tell the guy to be quite honest with you. They had a guy in his lap before he could even take the right footwork.”

When BGSU has the ball

Coming off their best rushing performance since late in the 2021 campaign, expect the Falcons to continue to churn out yards on the ground.

BGSU’s 191 rushing yards against Liberty were its most since Oct. 30, 2021 when the Falcons had 221 vs. Buffalo. Running back Terion Stewart (seven carries for 55 yards in 12 snaps) will likely see a significant increase in his role, while Ta’ron Keith, Jaison Patterson, and PaSean Wimberly should also factor in. The four players combined for 170 yards on 20 rushes a week ago, and each had at least one carry of 10-plus yards. Quarterback Camden Orth brings in an added feature as well with his mobility.

Eastern Illinois allowed just 101 rushing yards on 36 carries (2.8 yards per attempt) and 116 passing yards in a dominating defensive effort versus Indiana State.

When Eastern Illinois has the ball

Quarterback Pierce Holley, a graduate transfer from Georgetown, was solid in his first game with Eastern Illinois. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder completed 19 of 30 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. In 11 games with Georgetown last season, Holley threw for 2,882 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while completing 66 percent (292 of 442) of his passes.

The Panthers have a proven running back in Kevin Daniels (6-2, 230), who had 57 of the team’s 94 rushing yards last week. In 2021 with Northern Arizona, Daniels rushed for 1,146 yards and seven touchdowns on 185 carries (6.2 yards per attempt).

BGSU’s defense surrendered 246 rushing yards and 143 passing yards vs. the Flames, who averaged 5.6 yards per play.

Special teams

BGSU will be a factor when it comes to blocking kicks. The Falcons’ Dontrez Brown blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt from Liberty’s Teagen Lenderink, and it was returned 76 yards for a touchdown by Trent Simms. It was the Falcons’ sixth blocked kick since the start of the 2022 season.

The Falcons, however, will look to improve in other areas. BGSU struggled with kickoffs (9.4 yards per return) and oftentimes started deep in its own territory.

BGSU sophomore kicker Alan Anaya made his lone field goal attempt and all three PATs in his collegiate debut, while sophomore punter Sami Sir averaged 40.7 yards on three punts.

Eastern Illinois made 1 of 2 PATs and didn’t attempt a field goal.

BGSU will win if…

Protecting the quarterback has to be a top priority this week — and the rest of the year — if BGSU wants to reach its potential. Starting quarterback Connor Bazelak was under constant pressure last week, leading to a couple of his interceptions. BGSU’s offensive line looked solid on running plays but struggled mightily in passing situations.

Eastern Illinois will win if…

If Eastern Illinois can not only produce turnovers, but score off of them, the Panthers can hang around. Cornerback Tyris Harvey (19 yards) and safety NiJhay Burt (67) had interception returns for touchdowns in the final minute of the second quarter vs. Indiana State. Eastern Illinois’ six turnovers forced are tied with Furman for the most in the FCS, while BGSU’s five turnovers are tied with Army, Ohio, and South Alabama for the most in the FBS.

First Published September 7, 2023, 4:01 p.m.