Week five is here, and the Bowling Green Falcons, at long last, are back home again after 30 long days.
The Falcons (1-2) are set up for a matchup against the Old Dominion Monarchs (0-3) this Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
This will be Bowling Green and Old Dominion’s first-ever meeting on the gridiron.
Breakdown:
ODU is coming into Bowling Green 0-3, but the record shouldn’t fool anyone. They lost in week one by four to South Carolina. They lost by six to East Carolina in week two. And then in week three they were defeated by Virginia Tech 37-17; however, it was a four-point game at halftime, with Virginia Tech scoring 17 in the fourth to pull away.
Saturday was also just the third time in the last 17 games that ODU did not play a one-score game. So the monarchs won’t be going down without a fight.
Old Dominion is also coming into BG off of a bye week. So they’ll be fresh and ready to go come Saturday evening.
This Monarch team is gritty despite the 0-3 record. With that grittiness, head coach Scot Loeffler knows this and knows on Saturday, they’ll have their hands full.
“I think this team that we’re about ready to play, I think they’re very similar to us. They played a hellacious, hard hard schedule. I think they’re very well-coached. I got a ton of respect for Ricky. I think they do things the right way. So we’re gonna have our hands full, and I don’t care who we play. I mean, just watch what’s going on in college football. If you’re not locked in, anyone can win anytime.”
The Monarchs are led by fifth-year head coach Ricky Rahne. In his time at ODU, he’s gone 15-26 with an 0-2 bowl record.
Here’s what he had to say about the upcoming matchup.
“They’re a good football team, and they’re well coached. They’re an older team. I mean, when you look at them, they’ve got a ton of experience, 4 returning starters on the offensive line, and a tight end who is a great player.”
For ODU, they come into this game 120th in total offense and 101st in total defense.
But numbers can lie. There’s a reason why BG only opened as a -10.5 favorite. This won’t be a cakewalk by any means, so don’t let the numbers fool you.
This is a team that Rahne believes, when they play to their full potential, can be dangerous.
“I think that everyone sees what we can be when we play our best and what type of football team we can be. You want to finish those games and win those games when you get those opportunities. But in terms of knowing that we have good football players and can compete with anybody in the country, yeah, I think our team is confident in that.”
Like last week for the Falcons, the opposing starting quarterback is a little banged up. Junior Grant Wilson, who is the usual starter, missed last week’s game against Virginia Tech with a wrist injury.
In his place was true freshman Quinn Henicle, who went 5/12 for 38 yards with one interception.
Colton Joseph, also a true freshman, got some reps as he was 1/2 for 12 yards on the day.
As for Wilson’s return?
We’re unsure whether he’ll play this weekend or not, but here’s what Rahne had to say about his health.
“Grant’s been doing a great job. He’s doing what he needs to do in the training room and on the field. And, um, like I always say, whoever is gonna give us the best chance to win” said Rahne.
Now on the Bowling Green side of things?’
Would you like me to say much more?
Rhys Patrykus alluded to it on the Zig Zone this past Sunday. Harold Fannin, and we’re all witnesses.
Fannin ranks #1 in the nation amongst all tight ends in catches (25), yards (349), yards after catch (227), first downs (19), and broken tackles (10).
Along with being the MAC’s offense player of the week.
Yeah, he’s not going unnoticed by Rahne.
“He’s tough to bring down when he’s got the ball. I mean, he’s very good after the catch.”
Here’s what junior safety Darius Lorfills had to say about Fannin and the intensity he brings to the team.
“Harold’s gonna do Harold. If we just put ourselves in a position, you know, and put him in a position to make a play, I feel like we have an opportunity to win any game playing any opponent.”
A key part of the Bowling Greens’ success so far this season has been the offensive line.
Through three games, they’ve only given up two total sacks. Both were last Saturday.
The Falcons are tied for 11th in the country in sacks allowed. Loeffler loves the offensive line play so far, however, believes it takes everyone on the offense to prevent a sack.
“We got a good offensive line, and they’ve been challenged in these last 2 weeks like no other.” Said Loeffler
“The offensive line always gets criticized when there’s a sack. Well, there’s a lot that goes on with that sack. It could be poor offensive line play. It could be poor quarterback play. It could be the receiver’s splits were wrong. It could be the depth of the receiver was wrong. It could be the back not holding up in protection. So I’m really proud of our entire offensive unit for not allowing sacks. I think it’s a combination of both.”
All of this praise we, along with all other media outlets, have given about Bowling Green Football over the previous three weeks won’t phase Loeffler and the Falcons.
Rat poison is what it’s called, and it’s what Loeffler is insisting his players and himself don’t eat into.
As he mentioned earlier, anyone can beat anyone in college football if you’re not locked in.
Join Rhys Patrykus and Carter Leonard on Falcon Radio at 4:45 p.m. with the pregame coverage and 5:00 p.m. for coverage.
