BGSU football (3-5, 1-3) traveled east to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes (3-5, 2-2) in Dix Stadium on Saturday. Bowling Green had an 18-point lead in the third quarter, but the Golden Flashes were able to come back and take them down 24-21.
Coming into the matchup, Bowling Green was dealing with some injuries. Graduate student quarterback Baron May had earned the start after Drew Pyne and Lucian Anderson III were ruled out for the game.
“It’s testing our depth. Finding out what guys can do,” said Mike and Jan Wilcox, Head Coach Eddie George, postgame. “It’s a next man up mentality.”
Redshirt freshman running back Cameron Pettaway was ruled out as well. Different running backs saw the field, with another redshirt freshman, Austyn Dendy, making a name for himself.
“I came to practice every day, working hard. I got my opportunity and took advantage,” said Dendy after the game.
In his first career start with the Orange and Brown, May played a solid first half. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 53 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore tight end Jacob Harris caught the pass, marking his fourth touchdown catch of the season.
“(Harris) is a threat everywhere. We gotta try and find ways to get him the ball. I think Jacob is special, I think he can play on Sundays,” said George at the press conference.
Dendy continued his impressive debut, punching it in from one yard out at the very end of the half. The Falcons as a whole rushed the ball very well, gaining 102 yards on 24 carries in the first half.
Bowling Green’s defense played a stout first half, only allowing 109 total yards and one field goal from senior kicker Will Hryszko. The Falcons held the advantage 14-3 at the conclusion of the first half.
May started the second half very strongly, with two huge pass connections to Johnson and senior wide receiver RJ Garcia II. The Falcons drove all the way down to the one, and May kept it himself for the score, his first rushing TD of the game. BG was now up 21-3 early in the second half.
Kent State responded with two touchdown drives of its own. Sophomore quarterback Dru DeShields connected with freshman wide receiver Cade Wolford for the 29-yard touchdown pass. On their next possession, junior running back Gavin Garcia took it 45 yards to the house to cut the lead to 21-17.
The Golden Flashes’ dominance of the second half continued with their third touchdown drive, ending with a touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Wayne Harris. Kent State had taken the lead after an 18-point deficit, the score now being 24-21.
BGSU struggled in the second half defensively, allowing 21 points and 185 yards. The Falcons only recorded one sack by graduate defensive tackle Evan Branch-Haynes.
“We had one penalty for nine yards in the first half and finished with seven penalties. They came at times where it shifted momentum,” said George.
Offense in the second half was another problem for the Orange and Brown. They only scored 7 points. May played well in his first start, completing 12 of 22 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 55 yards and another touchdown in the game.
Dendy went well in his BGSU debut, recording 93 yards and a rushing touchdown on the afternoon.
The Falcons now turn their attention to the Buffalo Bills. That game will be at Doyt L Perry Stadium on November 1st with a noon kickoff.
