After a 2003 campaign saw Mitchell Crossley emerge as one of the top defensive linemen in the Mid-American Conference, his start to this season could be considered slow.

Coming into Saturday’s game against Eastern Michigan, Crossley had yet to get a sack this season and was in dangerous position to lose his stature as an All-MAC player.

That all changed in a 41-20 win over EMU that saw Crossley step up in a big way for the BG defense.

“I saw Mitch being disruptive,” BG head coach Gregg Brandon said. “I saw him coming off the edge, collapsing the pocket and forcing the quarterback to get out of there.”

Crossley led the Falcons in 2003 with nine sacks and was selected second team All-MAC. Brandon said he saw Crossley getting back to that form in the Falcons past few games and he was in rare form for the Falcons Saturday.

The junior led the team with seven tackles, had two sacks and forced a fumble, while returning another fumble for a touchdown.

The impressive part of Crossley’s performance was when he decided to make them.

With 13:30 in the third quarter and the Eagles looking to improve on a 24-10 deficit, Crossley decided to make his first strike against the Eastern offense.

On a lateral screen pass to running back Anthony Sherrell, Crossley stepped in between Sherrell and quarterback Matt Bohnet to make a one handed pick that would go down as a fumble recovery. Crossley then rumbled down the rest of the field untouched for a 30-yard touchdown that gave the Falcons a 31-10 lead

“Mitchell Crossley made a play that gave us a lot of momentum,” Brandon said.

Crossley gave credit to the coaching staff for the play.

“It was a slant call,” Crossley said. “Coach put me in a great position to make the play and I read the quarterback and he threw it straight to me, and I just took it to the crib.”

Crossley’s one-handed grab with a man on him reminded some of BG wideout Charles Sharon, who is known for his acrobatic grabs.

“I was looking at a couple films of Chuck and said I had to get me one,” Crossley said smiling.

But the play didn’t pull the Falcons into the clear.

With BG leading 34-20 in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Eagles were in the midst of a 13 play drive that took them into BG territory.

Crossley again was the one who made the big play to swing the momentum back in the Falcons’ favor when he sacked Bohnet and forced a fumble that linebacker Daniel Sayles recovered.

“It was important,” Crossley said. “They were running on us and passing on us. Someone had to make a play and my number was called and I just had to go out and make the play.”

For the rest of BG’s opponents one thing is now clear, Crossley is back on the war path.