DE KALB, Ill. — So many times this season, it has been the Bowling Green special teams making headlines with their timely and momentum-swinging plays.
Like the Western Michigan game, when Alex Glantzis blocked the potential game-winning field goal for the Broncos. Or, in the same game, when Cornelius McGrady blocked a Bronco punt which set BG up inside the Bronco 20. Or like the season-opening win over Tennessee Tech, in which defensive back Keon Newson blocked two punts which again set the Falcons up with more great field position.
In Saturday’s 26-17 loss to Northern Illinois, though, it was the Huskies’ special teams who won the game, as a great game from punter Jimmy Erwin, four made field goals from kicker Steve Azar and two big returns spelled doom for Bowling Green.
“[The returns] killed us,” BG Coach Urban Meyer said. “I’m in charge of that, the kick return and the punt return really hurt us. I made a comment that before the game: I thought our kickoff team and our punt team and our offensive and defensvive linemen would be the difference in the game. Those four things were the difference. We did not do a good job covering kicks today.”
The first big play for the NIU special teams unit came just over a minute into the second quarter, after BG punted being down 10-0. NIU wide receiver Dan Sheldon, who had just caught a touchdown pass a minute earlier, took the punt and raced 80 yards up the left sideline, giving the Huskies the ball at the BG 11 yard line.
“Punt returns are all blocking,” Sheldon said. “I was just reading [teammate] Randee’s block in front of me, and followed his block.”
Sheldon referred to Randee Drew, who also made a huge return of his own late in the fourth, with BG threatening. After the Falcons cut the lead to 23-17, Drew took the kickoff and raced to the BG 43.
“I was just trying to make a play,” Drew said. “I asked coach before that play to let me return it, and the return team opened up a huge hole for me.”
Completing the great day for the unit was the kicking of punter Jimmy Erwin and kicker Steve Azar. Erwin averaged 39 yards a punt, and pinned the Falcons inside their own 20 once, while Azar converted four short field goals, giving him 15 for the year.
“Jimmy Erwin pounted well, and Azar kicked well, obviously,” NIU coach Joe Novak said.
