Bowling Green running back P.J. Pope may not get the most chances, but he makes the most of his chances. And that was never more evident than in the Falcons’ 52-0 win over Western Michigan Saturday. The junior had a career day for the Falcons, running the ball 12 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns and leading the Falcons to 350 yards rushing on the ground. Pope exploded in the middle of a season in which the running game has been overshadowed by the Falcons’ high octane passing attack. “Every week we go in with a balanced game plan,” Pope said. “I think sometimes we’re more successful passing or passing is what [the defense] is giving us.” Pope is coming off a breakout 2003 season that saw him finish the year with 1,005 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground to go with 48 receptions and 433 yards through the air. Pope’s campaign was good enough to earn him second team All-MAC honors. Until Saturday’s game, it appeared that Pope’s chances for duplicating those honors was slim, especially in a conference with so many solid running backs. Pope’s carries have been numbered this year thanks to a passing attack that ranks among the nation’s best. But he has taken advantage of the team’s offense and caught 36 passes for 352 yards and a pair of scores. Pope’s role as a receiving back was one he could deal with. “I like it and I accept it,” he said in an interview Tuesday. “The coaches have talked to me about coming out of the backfield and making catches.” Pope’s rushes have been down this year, but he has made the most of his chances. Through Saturday’s game he has ran the ball 105 times for 729 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 7.1 yards per carry are the best in the nation for running backs and with B.J. Lane, he forms one of the best one-two punches in the Mid-American Conference. According to quarterback Omar Jacobs, the two make his life easier as a passer. “P.J. is doing a great job right now of running the ball and running it hard,” Jacobs said. “We got great backs with P.J. and B.J. and [the defense] knows if they back off we’re going to run it straight down their throats.” The fireworks really started for Pope late in the first half when on his tenth run of the game, he broke through the Western defense for an 88-yard touchdown run to make the score 49-0 in favor of the Falcons. “Somebody got a hand on my feet,” he said. “I know I was right behind Kory Lichtensteiger who pulled on the play, him and Andy Grubb. There was a hole there and I just ran as fast as I could.” At this point, it doesn’t seem to matter if Pope is running the ball or catching it. All that matters to him is that he helps his team win the game. “Every week I go in expecting to get carries,” Pope said. “It depends on what the defense does and we do what works for us.”
Categories:
Pope rolls for 205 yards in BG’s win
November 7, 2004
0
Donate to BG Falcon Media
$0
$2500
Contributed
Our Goal
Your donation will support the student journalists of Bowling Green State University. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
More to Discover