BOWLING GREEN – Bowling Green State University’s football team started the home portion of its 2023 schedule with a bang in a 38-15 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
It was the 175th win all-time for the Falcons at Doyt Perry Stadium, according to BGSU’s athletic department. It was also the first victory in their home opener since defeating Morgan State in 2019.
BGSU’s 509 yards of offense were its most since racking up 620 against Morgan State, and the Falcons’ defense did its part with five sacks and an interception while holding the Panthers to 325 yards of offense.
Here are five observations from the Falcons’ first win of the season.
1. Terion Stewart took advantage of limited opportunities
BGSU running back Terion Stewart, who led the Falcons in rushing in 2020 and 2021 before sitting out last year, hasn’t been on the field very much through two games in 2023. But the 5-foot-9, 225-pound back has made the most of his time on the field. He played in just 14 of 66 offensive snaps against Eastern Illinois and had 10 carries for 51 yards, including a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs. In 26 total snaps played this season, Stewart has 17 carries for 106 yards and two scores, with a 20-yard run against Liberty and an 18-yard gain against Eastern Illinois being his longest of the season. During Saturday’s post-game press conference, BGSU coach Scot Loeffler echoed his statements from after the Liberty game on Sept. 2 that the Falcons need to make sure to get Stewart the ball.
2. Offensive line’s protection helped spark surge in passing game
Quarterback Connor Bazelak had all day to throw, and it showed. He took advantage of BGSU’s solid line play by throwing for 319 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions on 23 of 28 passing. Only a couple times did Bazelak have to scramble out of the pocket, and one of them resulted in an 11-yard touchdown pass to Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim. BGSU’s 82.5 pass block grade against Eastern Illinois from Pro Football Focus was an enormous improvement from the 34.1 the Falcons received from the 34-24 loss at Liberty. Center Alex Padgett (83.2 pass block grade on 52 snaps), right guard Bronson Warner (81.3 on 24), and right tackle Alex Wollschlaeger (77.2 on 61) were among BGSU’s standouts in the trenches.
3. Falcons excel in the red zone
BGSU found itself inside the Eastern Illinois 20 early and often, and the Falcons ended up in the end zone nearly every time. In six trips to the red zone, BGSU scored five touchdowns and made one field goal. The Falcons had a chance to make it 6 for 6, but Bazelak’s pass to Levi Gazarek in the back of the end zone late in the third quarter was broken up by an Eastern Illinois defender.
4. Alan Anaya perfect so far in kicking game
The Falcons had a key position to fill at special teams with place-kicker Mason Lawler (11 of 16 field goals, 34 of 34 PATs in 2022) transferring to University of the Incarnate Word during the offseason. None of the four kickers on the Falcons’ 2023 roster had any college experience booting the football, but sophomore Alan Anaya has stepped up so far when his name has been called. Anaya has converted all eight of his PATs and made field goals of 34 yards at Liberty and 27 yards against Eastern Illinois.
5. Odieu Hiliare can catch everything — and anything
BGSU receiver Odieu Hiliare has a great pair of hands — his streak of having at least one reception in 37 straight games shows how consistent the fifth-year wideout has been. His second catch on Saturday stood out for an odd reason. After catching a short pass on the right side of the field from Bazelak on third-and-5 from the Eastern Illinois 14, Hiliare darted up the field, lowered his head, and got sandwiched between two Panthers’ defenders for an 8-yard gain. Hilaire’s helmet came off on the hit, and with the ball in his left hand, he snatched the helmet with his right hand while falling to the ground.
First Published September 11, 2023, 12:01 a.m.
