BGSU football redshirt freshman running back Cameron Pettaway touched the ball just five times on offense against Toledo on Saturday.
However, he made the most of his opportunities, hauling in two game-changing receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Falcons defeat the Rockets 28-23 in the Battle of I-75 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
Pettaway’s first touchdown was a 45-yard screen pass he took to the house through traffic in the final two minutes of the first half, the start of 28 straight points for the Orange and Brown.
“It was a big play. We needed the momentum going into halftime,” Pettaway said postgame. “I saw the blockers in front, but I also saw a lot of green grass, so I had to take advantage of what I saw.”
His second touchdown was even more electric, with the Falcons running a trick play that resulted in senior wide receiver RJ Garcia II finding Pettaway wide open down the left sideline for a 73-yard touchdown to tie the game at 21 apiece in the fourth quarter.
“We were practicing it all week, so I knew he could do it. I told him to throw it as far as he could and that I would go get it,” Pettaway said.
The play would not have been possible without the perfect execution by Garcia.
“We ran it last week for the first time, and it was based off of what we were able to do against Ohio. We ran the reverse. So, RJ is an athlete and had a few passes in practice last week, some beautiful balls. I was like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna have to dial this up.’ We had to do it at the right time,” Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach Eddie George said. “We needed something in the passing game, and he threw a spiral on the money. We may have to put him back at quarterback at some point in time, because it was a nice, tight ball.”
Pettaway continues to be the most electric player for Bowling Green this season.
The Farmington Hills, Michigan, native has the five longest plays of the season for the Falcons. He has tallied kick returns of 98, 55 and 49 yards to go along with his monster receptions against the Midnight Blue and Gold.
Pettaway also leads the country with 35.1 yards per kick return.
“He is becoming an explosive player, and his confidence is starting to grow… He’s only going to grow from here,” George said.
However, Pettaway’s breakout campaign was not on the radar to begin the season. In fact, he was not in line to see the field much.
“Cam has come on big time for us. From the time that I got here, he wasn’t even in the plans to play,” George said. “But, again, he doesn’t say a lot. He may have said five words to me the entire time I’ve been here. He’s a quiet kid, works hard, but you could see his explosiveness and what he brings to the table.”
