MOBILE, Ala. — Below were updates and analysis from Thursday’s 68 Ventures Bowl between Bowling Green State University and Arkansas State. This story will was updated after each quarter.
Team stats can be found at the bottom of the article.
FOURTH QUARTER
■ What happened: For the third straight season, BGSU came up short in its bowl game as Arkansas State notched a seven-point victory.
BGSU finished 7-6 for the second straight season. Arkansas State finished 8-5.
Arkansas State’s Zak Wallace found the end zone from 14 yards out to give the Red Wolves a 38-24 lead with 3:10 left. That came after BGSU’s Zach Long missed a 32-yard field goal, his third missed kick of the game.
BGSU’s Connor Bazelak found Rahkeem Smith for a 23-yard touchdown with 1:42 left to pull the Falcons within 38-31, but Arkansas State recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
🎯TOUCHDOWN FALCONS 🏠@BG_Football makes it a one-score game with under 2 minutes in Mobile, AL.@68VenturesBowl | #MACtion | #AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/KP8AV051Ic
— MACtion (@MACSports) December 27, 2024
■ Analysis: A season that had high expectations ended in disappointment for the Falcons, an experienced and talented squad that had nearly all of its top players return from the 2023 campaign. With a loss to Miami (Ohio) in the regular-season finale eliminating BGSU’s Mid-American Conference championship hopes, and now a third consecutive bowl loss, BGSU will have to rely on a lot of young players and possibly transfers with a large amount of seniors completing their eligibility.
THIRD QUARTER
■ What happened: Arkansas State and BGSU traded scores as the Red Wolves took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Jaylen Raynor found a wide-open Corey Rucker for a 7-yard touchdown to give Arkansas State a 31-21 lead with 11:21 remaining. BGSU responded with a 38-yard field goal by Zach Long with 6:14 left.
BGSU’s Harold Fannin Jr. broke the FBS single-season receptions record by a tight end with a 7-yard grab midway through the frame. It was his 12th catch of the contest.
■ Analysis: The Falcons made a couple defensive stands in forcing a punt and a missed field goal. Special teams continue to be an adventure for the Falcons as John Henderson’s run on a fake punt went for 5 yards on fourth-and-6, resulting in a first down for Arkansas State at the BGSU 37. BGSU, though, is right in the game despite trailing the entire way.
SECOND QUARTER
■ What happened: Numerous big plays offensively from both teams highlighted a wild second quarter as Arkansas State maintained a slim lead.
BGSU pulled within 17-14 with 6:46 left when Connor Bazelak found Jaison Patterson for an 8-yard touchdown. Arkansas State, though, quickly responded as Jaylen Raynor found Corey Rucker over the middle for a 79-yard touchdown two minutes later.
BGSU star tight end Harold Fannin, Jr., added a highlight-reel catch to pull the Falcons back within three. Bazelak’s pass bounced off Arkansas State’s Justin Parks in the back right corner of the end zone and into Fannin’s hands for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:36 left.
All-American Concentration. All-American Catch. All-American Dance Moves.
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) December 27, 2024
BGSU trails, 24-21
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/BfEXVCAQUA
Fannin, who broke the FBS single-season receiving yards record for a tight end in the first quarter, tied the FBS record for single-season receptions by a tight end late in the frame. Overall, he had 11 catches for 137 yards and one touchdown.
BGSU missed two field goals in the quarter. Zach Long’s 43-yard attempt early in the frame was blocked, and he was off the mark from 34 yards in the final seconds.
■ Analysis: The Falcons have been thriving in the passing game, but so have the Red Wolves. Of the 495 yards of offense in the first half, 466 have been through the air. BGSU got a key stop late though as cornerback Jordan Oladokun intercepted Raynor’s deep pass with one minute left.
FIRST QUARTER
■ What happened: Arkansas State dominated the opening frame, and multiple mental mistakes from BGSU helped give the Red Wolves a 10-point lead.
Courtney Jackson returned a BGSU punt 60 yards for a touchdown to make it 10-0 Red Wolves with 8:02 left in the first quarter, and Jaylen Raynor’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:39 left pushed the lead to 17-7. Clune Van Andel added a 46-yard field goal on Arkansas State’s opening possession.
BGSU’s score came on a trick play. On fourth-and-20 from the Arkansas State 43, third-string quarterback Baron May lined up as the punter and threw a strike down the left sideline to Malcolm Johnson, Jr., who ran into the end zone for a touchdown to pull the Falcons within three with 4:04 left.
Oh the Trickery!!!!
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) December 27, 2024
Fake Punt by BGSU goes for 43 yards and a touchdown as Baron May finds Malcolm Johnson Jr. for SIX!!!
BGSU trailes, 10-7.
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/RmkS9zBnfN
BGSU’s Harold Fannin, Jr., broke the FBS single-season receiving record for a tight end with a 23-yard catch late in the frame.
The Falcons had three penalties — two facemasks and an unsportsmanlike conduct — for 36 yards. Trent Simms’ unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave the Red Wolves a first down on their last scoring drive after BGSU made a stop on third down.
■ Analysis: BGSU looked undisciplined, especially mentally on defense. The Falcons were lucky they didn’t get flagged for another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after Raynor’s touchdown run.
First Published December 27, 2024, 3:10 a.m.