The crowd was big, the game even bigger and what was at stake for the Bowling Green-Miami match up was without question the biggest.
A win for the RedHawks would set up a showdown with Marshall for the Eastern Conference Championship and a bid to the MAC bowl game. A win for the Falcons would keep BG alive in the conference race.
The 15th largest crowd in Doyt Perry Stadium history (22,828) was on hand to witness this great rivalry. Everything about this game was big except for the Falcons’ ability to make enough big plays. Miami, who capitalized on big plays all night, held off a late charge by the Falcons for a 24-21 victory.
“This was almost like a bowl game within itself,” BG sophomore cornerback Janssen Patton said. “We were a game away from having the possibility to be co-division champions. We didn’t perform.”
Two key plays by the RedHawks swung the first-half momentum and score their way. With the score locked at zero, BG punter Pat Fleming bombed a 57 yard punt that was downed on the RedHawk one yard-line. The Falcon defense, who has smothered the rush all year, saw Miami running back Steve Little break through the BG defensive line en route to a 30-yard gain. Five plays later, RedHawk quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected with Miami receiver Korey Kilpatrick for a 46 yard touchdown pass to put MU up 7-0.
Bowling Green answered with an 11-play, 70 yard drive capped off by a four-yard run by sophomore quarterback Josh Harris. Miami answered quickly with a big strike. Roethlisberger connected on an 81 yard touchdown pass that went over the head of BG safety Sergio Lund and into the hands of MU receiver Michael Larkin who trotted the rest of the way into the end zone.
“I thought play-makers were the difference in this game,” BG coach Urban Meyer said. “In a game of this magnitude, you need them to win this kind of game. We got beat by an offense that had play-makers, and we were struggling on offense to find our play-makers.”
In the third quarter, Little scored only the second rushing touchdown allowed by the Falcons this season on a 14-yard run. Miami then 21-7.
“This game was exactly what I thought it would be,” Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said. “It was a big win for us. We had some big conversions.”
The Falcons finally got the one big play they were looking for by a play-maker to put them back in the game. With 7:45 left in the fourth quarter, junior punt returner Robert Redd fielded a Miami punt and dashed 61 yards for a dive into the end zone.
“You have to make big plays against a team like Miami or else you will come out with a loss every time,” Redd said. “We just couldn’t get down the field. The defense played great, we just didn’t make the plays we needed to.”
The Falcons defense stopped Miami on the ensuing drive and with 3:44 left in the game, BG got the ball back on their own 28. But junior quarterback Andy Sahm was intercepted on the first play on a screen attempt by MU’s Phil Smith. The interception led to a RedHawk field goal to put Miami up 24-14.
Sahm then connected with senior receiver Kurt Gerling for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Gerling’s catch extended his streak with a reception in each game to 38. BG’s ensuing onside kick attempt failed.
Miami goes to 7-2 overall and will battle league leader Marshall next week. The Falcons play conference foe Ohio next Saturday.
