BGSU football fell 35-20 to Ohio University in the first Mid-American Conference (MAC) game of the season on Saturday, highlighted by graduate student quarterback Drew Pyne struggling for the second straight game.
Pyne completed 19 of his 29 pass attempts for just 170 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
His first pick, on the fourth offensive play of the game, was tipped at the line and returned 71 yards by Ohio graduate student linebacker Cameron Hollobaugh for a touchdown.
Tipped passes at the line were a problem all game for Pyne and the Falcon offense.
“Too many tip balls; a lot of tip balls. We got to figure that out,” Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach Eddie George said postgame. “We can’t expect him to execute those situations if we’re constantly seeing tip balls.”
Pyne’s second interception was a pass into double coverage in the end zone while scrambling to his right.
“The second [interception] was not a good read; that was a bad interception,” George said. “The ball shouldn’t have gone out that way. I have to go back and look at the film, but he probably could have ran it or found a different option, but that was not a good decision on his behalf.”
Pyne’s last interception was a low throw on fourth-and-long late in the game.
The Bobcat defense harassed the signal caller all game, sacking Pyne four times and racking up multiple other hits.
Pyne entered the medical tent during a drive, forcing redshirt freshman quarterback Lucian Anderson III to briefly command the offense. Later, Pyne suffered a big hit on a completion to senior wide receiver Finn Hogan, forcing him to be shaken up and leave the game for a play.
“I was surprised that they were able to get to Drew that way. For a quarterback that is trying to find his confidence, that doesn’t bode well,” George said. He played hurt. His ankle tweaked a little bit.”
Overall, Pyne has completed 64% of his passes for 830 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions through the first five games this season.
However, he has struggled to find continued success over the past two games against Louisville and Ohio.
Through the first three games this year, Pyne completed 67% of his pass attempts for 529 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Meanwhile, over the past two contests, he has completed only 56.8% of his throws for 301 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions.
George acknowledged that the coaching staff also has to do a better job going forward to help Pyne find more success.
“He’s got to stay positive with it. I think we have to figure out what he does best, and not probably put him in those situations where he can throw interceptions,” George said. “That’s on us; it’s on coaching. So, I’m going to figure that out.”
