Bowling Green football (2-3) bounced back into the win column as they clashed with the Akron Zips (1-5) in Northeast Ohio, walking out of Inforcision Stadium with a 27-20 victory to open Mid-American Conference (MAC) play.

“Anytime you open league play, especially on the road, you find a way to win. I didn’t like how we finished last week, BGSU head coach Scot Loeffler said postgame. “These games are going to be heavyweight fistfights.”

The victory over the Zips marks the Falcon’s 300th MAC win in school history. 

“We’re very blessed because of all the great players, great coaches to be apart of something way bigger than us,” Loeffler said. “Our players are blessed; our coaches are blessed to be a part of such a great place.

First Quarter

The Falcon’s defense started hot as senior defensive lineman Jordan Porter caused a strip sack on the first drive, forcing the Zips to punt the ball away early.

The Falcon’s offense started with a pass to superstar junior tight end Harold Fannin Jr., as he took the ball 63 yards on the drive’s first play, getting the Falcons into excellent scoring position early. 

Bowling Green wasted no time on offense, needing just two minutes and 39 seconds for senior running back Jaison Patterson to punch in the first score of the game on a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

Patterson started the game for redshirt junior running back Terion Stewart, who was listed as questionable going into the game and did not see the field against the Zips.

“Jaison’s a warrior; he does so many good things without the football,” Loeffler said. “The ball has got in his hands because of his unselfish play.”

The Zips did not waste much time trying to respond to the Falcon’s previous drive.

Redshirt junior quarterback Ben Finley took the ball himself downfield with a 33-yard rush to get the Zips into field goal range. The Zip’s drive ended with a 47-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 Falcon lead. 

The first quarter ended in dramatic fashion, as Akron punted the ball away in the remaining seconds of the quarter. BG’s punt returner, junior Justin Pegues, muffed the ball into the endzone, and UA’s long-snapper, redshirt junior Liam Reardon, quickly jumped on the pigskin, scoring a touchdown as time expired to gain a 10-7 lead to end the quarter.

Second Quarter

The Zips carried over the momentum they gained at the end of the first quarter right into the beginning of the second as they had back-to-back sacks, forcing the Falcons to punt on their opening drive of the quarter.

While Bowling Green struggled to put together consistent play on offense throughout the beginning of the game, they got the ball back and tied the game at 10 points apiece on a field goal by sophomore kicker Jackson Kleather.

Shortly after, BGSU’s defense came up big to give the Falcons an opportunity on offense, blocking an Akron punt to get the ball back at midfield with 1:33 remaining in the half.

Patterson got his second touchdown of the day, breaking four tackles on a nine-yard rush to give Bowling Green a 17-10 lead going into halftime.

Third Quarter

Action slowed down out of the locker rooms as both offenses stalled out and were forced to punt on their first drives of the third quarter.

Senior quarterback Connor Bazelak showed impressive pocked presence on a third and long, bobbing and weaving defenders to get a 33-yard completion to junior wide receiver Finn Hogan, keeping the Falcon’s drive alive. 

Although Bowling Green reached the red zone, they were unable to reach the endzone as Akron’s defensive line continued to wreak havoc, getting their fourth sack of the day and halting Bowling Green’s momentum going into the final quarter.

Fourth Quarter:

Bowling Green immediately started the quarter with a 31-yard field goal, extending their lead to two possessions, 20-10.

The Zips wasted no time on offense as wide receiver duo Adrian Norton and Bobby Golden got back-to-back big plays to get within the Falcon’s five-yard line.

Akron’s big play drive was capped off by a Tahj Bullock five-yard rushing touchdown to narrow BG’s lead to 20-17.

Akron once again got the ball back and started running the ball straight through BGSU’s defense. 

Redshirt junior running back Jordon Simmons had multiple runs of double-digit yard runs, getting the Zips into the red zone with an opportunity to tie or take the lead.

However, Bowling Green’s defense held strong, bending but not breaking and forcing a field goal. The Zips tied the game 20-20 with 7:13 remaining.

With just under three minutes left in the tie game, Bowling Green faced a critical decision on fourth and two at Akron’s 32-yard line.

Instead of attempting a field goal, BG rolled the dice, putting the Ball in Fannin’s hands on a jet sweep. The risk paid off as Fannin added another highlight to his reel, rumbling down the sideline and utilizing a stiff arm to make his way into the endzone, giving Bowling Green a 27-20 lead.

However, Finley and the Zips did not go away easy, as they quickly marched down the field with three impressive plays by Finley, a shifty run and two very accurate passes to get to the Falcon’s 18-yard line.

With their back against the wall, BG’s defense delivered when it mattered most, forcing Akron to turn the ball over on downs in the red zone.

Bazelak put on another solid showing, completing 24 of 30 attempts through the air for 268 yards, marking his fourth straight game with at least 200 passing yards.

Although Patterson tallied 52 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts, the team struggled to click on the ground without Stewart, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.

“We need to get the running game going,” Loeffler said. “We have good running backs, we have good enough linemen; we got to get going.”

Fannin continues to dominate on the gridiron, finishing the game with nine receptions, 135 receiving yards, 172 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.

He extended his program record with his fourth consecutive 100-plus receiving yard game. The Canton, Ohio, native also notched his 23rd consecutive game with a reception.

Fannin now has 676 receiving yards this season and 1,517 career receiving yards, ranking second in program history for tight ends as he creeps closer to further etching his name in the Orange and Brown record books.

Next, the Orange and Brown will return to Northwest Ohio and battle Northern Illinois at Doyt L. Perry Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Falcon Media Sports Network’s Sean Connelly and Andrew Helkowski will have the call on Falcon Radio. Kick off is set for 3:30 p.m.