BOWLING GREEN — Black Friday took on a new meaning for Bowling Green State University’s football team.
With a trip to the Mid-American Conference championship game on the line, the Falcons couldn’t cash in offensively against a strong Miami (Ohio) defense, and a few big plays and lucky bounces helped the RedHawks earn a 28-12 victory on Friday at Doyt Perry Stadium.
Miami (8-4, 7-1 conference) advanced to the MAC title game on Dec. 7 at Ford Field in Detroit. The RedHawks will face Ohio (9-3, 7-1), which earned a spot in the championship with a 42-21 victory over Ball State on Friday.
● 1-for-10: Penalties were at a premium in the contest as Bowling Green was called for just one penalty in the amount of 10 yards. In similar fashion, Miami (Ohio) was called for two penalties for 20 yards.
● 372-261: The RedHawks’ advantage over the Falcons in total yards. This includes a 117-51 edge on the ground for Miami.
● 201: The amount of passing yards thrown by Bowling Green quarterback Connor Bazelak. It is the eighth time this season and 36th time in his career he passed for 200-plus yards in a game.
BGSU had its five-game winning streak snapped in falling to 7-5 (6-2). The 16-point loss was BGSU’s biggest of the season, as well as its largest deficit of the year.
“I’m extremely disappointed. Our kids are disappointed, but I’m extremely proud of those kids, particularly the seniors,” sixth-year BGSU coach Scot Loeffler said. “We fought. We fought back.
“We fought and brought the program back, and unfortunately, it didn’t happen for us today.”
BGSU had just 261 total yards of offense — its second-lowest output of the season — including a season-low 51 rushing yards in cold and windy conditions.
BGSU’s defense made numerous big plays to keep the Falcons in the game through three quarters. C.J. Brown and Jordan Oladokun both intercepted Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert in the first quarter; Patrick Day and Anthony Hawkins combined to tackle Dylan Downing in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter; and the Falcons forced four three-and-outs on four Miami possessions in the third quarter.
The Falcons capped off their best drive of the game with a 2-yard Jaison Patterson touchdown run to pull BGSU within 14-12 with 11:35 left. BGSU marched 92 yards in 11 plays, including a 22-yard run from Jamal Johnson to set up Patterson’s score.
“That was awesome. That was a great drive,” said BGSU quarterback Connor Bazelak, who was 5 of 6 passing for 47 yards on the possession. “That was one of the drives that felt like we really had some rhythm and some flow going and got the ball moving.”
Unfortunately for BGSU, Miami responded in the blink of an eye.
Two plays later, Gabbert connected with Javon Tracy over the middle for a 72-yard touchdown to push the RedHawks’ lead to 21-12 with 10:35 left. Miami’s defense forced a three-and-out on BGSU’s next two possessions, then provided the dagger with a 27-yard touchdown run from Keyon Mozee with 1:52 remaining.
“It’s difficult,” Oladokun said. “We weren’t expecting this outcome, I guess is best to say.
“But we’ve got to give our hats’ off to them. They played great, they made a couple more plays than us, and we’ve got to just get ready for the bowl game now.”
Miami struck first with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Gabbert to Cade McDonald midway through the first quarter, but BGSU responded with its safety and a 41-yard field goal from Zach Long midway through the second. Miami got a big break when Gabbert’s pass went through Javon Tracy’s hands and right to teammate Reggie Virgil, who walked into the end zone to complete a 20-yard touchdown with 2:40 left before halftime.
Gabbert was 18-of-28 passing for 255 yards. McDonald (nine catches for 82 yards), Virgil (six for 82), and Tracy (three for 91) combined for all 18 receptions.
Bazelak was 26-of-41 passing for 201 yards and was sacked four times for minus-34 yards. He also threw his first interception in eight MAC games and fifth overall this season.
BGSU’s Harold Fannin, Jr., who was a game-time decision earlier in the week and listed as questionable on the MAC’s availability report, had eight receptions on 17 targets for 47 yards, two carries for six yards, and completed a 9-yard pass to Levi Gazarek. Miami, however, severely limited any big plays from the standout tight end.
“They knew where he was at every single play,” Loeffler said. “Matt [Salopek], the linebacker, No. 15, he came up to me and goes ‘This is ridiculous.’
“We were stressing them, they were stressing us. It was a great, believe it or not, chess match. I know everyone wants to score and [have] an offensive explosion day. It was not that day today. It wasn’t going to be that day, and it was a helluva chess match.”
Malcolm Johnson, Jr., tallied eight catches for 75 yards, while Jamal Johnson had a team-high 36 rushing yards for BGSU. The Falcons allowed 372 total yards, their most since giving up 422 in a win over Toledo on Oct. 26.
First Published November 29, 2024, 10:28 p.m.
