MOBILE, Ala. — A season that began with high expectations ended with an all-too-familiar finish for Bowling Green State University’s football team on Thursday.

The Falcons couldn’t overcome numerous self-inflicted penalties and crucial mistakes on special teams, and despite racking up nearly 500 yards of offense, BGSU fell to Arkansas State 38-31 in the 68 Ventures Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

“The fact of the matter is we beat ourselves, and that’s on me,” sixth-year BGSU coach Scot Loeffler said. “Had some very, very costly penalties. Should have been off the field on third down and we weren’t because of a penalty that shouldn’t have occurred.

“Complete no talent issue, and jumped offsides two times in the red (zone). Didn’t play well on (special) teams, missed checks, and was completely outside of who we are. So we’ve got to evaluate that and we’ve got to figure that out.”

BGSU, despite returning nearly all of its top players and having arguably its most talented roster under Loeffler, finished 7-6 for the second straight season. The Falcons lost their third bowl game in the past three seasons; all have been by one score (30-24 loss to Minnesota in 2023 Quick Lane Bowl and 24-19 loss to New Mexico State in 2022 Quick Lane Bowl).

“Unfortunately, we got what we deserved today with all the non-talent stuff and jawing at the other team and just being undisciplined and uncharacteristic by us,” BGSU senior linebacker Brock Horne said. “So I hate it for us.”

Arkansas State (8-5) led the entire game. The Red Wolves finished the season with a 7-2 record in games decided by 10 points or less, while the Falcons finished 2-5.

BGSU had a 479-360 advantage in total yards. Star tight end Harold Fannin, Jr., had a career performance that included breaking two FBS records, and quarterback Connor Bazelak threw for nearly 400 yards.

The Falcons’ mistakes, though, were significant.

A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Trent Simms after BGSU stopped Arkansas State on third down extended a Red Wolves’ drive, which ended with a 6-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jaylen Raynor late in the first quarter.

Courtney Jackson returned a BGSU punt 60 yards for a touchdown midway through the first to make it 10-0 Arkansas State. Falcons’ kicker Zach Long made just 1 of 4 field goals, and punter John Henderson came up short on a fake punt after running for 5 yards on fourth-and-6 in BGSU territory.

“Very uncharacteristic of our team. We play great special teams around here, and we did not tonight unfortunately,” Loeffler said. “The no talent issues creeped up on us, which, just like I said, that hasn’t occurred a lot this year.

“We’ve been a fairly disciplined football team. Unfortunately, we shot ourselves in the foot multiple times.”

Fannin finished with 17 receptions for 213 yards – both career highs – and a 4-yard touchdown catch late in the second quarter after a pass from Bazelak went through the hands of Arkansas State’s Justin Parks and right to the BGSU standout in the back right corner of the end zone.

Fannin, who finished as the game’s MVP, broke the FBS record for single-season receiving yards by a tight end with a 23-yard reception in the first quarter. His 7-yard catch midway through the third quarter set the FBS single-season receptions record by a tight end.

Fannin needed 11 yards to break the previous record held by Jace Amaro, who had 1,342 yards for Texas Tech in 2013, and 12 receptions to surpass the mark by James Casey, who had 111 for Rice in 2008.

“Just a phenomenal human being, so super happy for him and super happy for our staff,” Horne said. “We do a great job of putting him in a position to be successful, but he does a lot of stuff himself too.”

Bazelak threw for 390 yards and three touchdowns on 32 of 49 passing. Rahkeem Smith had seven catches for 97 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown to pull the Falcons within 38-31 with 1:42 left, and Jaison Patterson hauled in an 8-yard touchdown reception midway through the second quarter.

BGSU executed a trick play to perfection for its first score. Facing fourth-and-20 from the Arkansas State 43, third-string quarterback Baron May lined up as the Falcons’ punter, took the snap, and fired a strike to Malcolm Johnson, Jr., down the left sideline for a touchdown.

Raynor finished 18 of 30 for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for the Red Wolves. Zak Wallace had 15 carries for 99 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown with 3:10 left to extend Arkansas State’s lead to 14.

Corey Rucker tallied four catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

First Published December 27, 2024, 12:31 p.m.