BGSU football (3-6, 1-4 MAC) hosted the Buffalo Bulls (5-4, 4-1 MAC) in a 28-3 loss on Saturday afternoon, losing their third game in a row.
Buffalo didn’t waste any time in this Mid-American Conference (MAC) matchup, as they scored on the very first possession of the game. Senior running back Al-Jay Henderson took a handoff 41 yards and scored a touchdown as he was untouched the whole way.
The Falcons looked poised to respond, as senior running back Kaderris Roberts made a kickoff return to Buffalo’s 48-yard line. Unfortunately for the orange and brown, they would fail to convert a first down as fifth-year senior tight end Blane Cleaver gained zero yards on a QB sneak on 4th & 1.
Failed fourth downs were a common theme of the Falcons’ first half as they began with three consecutive drives that ended with a turnover on downs. The other two in the half were on 4th & 5 and a second 4th & 1 play.
The Bulls were able to convert off Bowling Green’s fourth down struggles as redshirt junior wide receiver Victor Snow scored on an end-around handoff for a two-yard touchdown.
In the final two minutes of the half, Roberts fumbled on a handoff, and Buffalo’s sixth-year senior linebacker Jalen McNair returned it to BG’s six-yard line.
Following the fumble, sixth-year quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson found redshirt senior wide receiver Jasaiah Gathings for a five-yard touchdown pass. That made the score 21-0 to end the half.
Coming out of halftime, BGSU had an opening drive three-and-out. The BG defense wasn’t given a chance to defend as Snow scored his second touchdown of the game on a 65-yard punt return touchdown to make it 28-0.
The Falcons’ defense was forced to respond after another short BG drive. Buffalo drove down the field until senior cornerback JoJo Johnson tipped a pass and freshman safety Preston EstoEsta came away with an interception.
Junior linebacker Gideon Lampron recorded 11 tackles on the day, leading the team. Despite his impressive statistical performance, he took the blame for the initial touchdown of the game.
“We gave up a sixty-yard touchdown run, and it was my fault,” said Lampron. “We just got to be better overall to help them; they [the offense] are deep with injuries right now, and we haven’t done enough to help them.”
The offense was unable to score off the EstoEsta interception. On the next drive, BG decided to switch from sixth-year senior quarterback Drew Pyne to redshirt freshman quarterback Hunter Najm.
Head coach Eddie George spoke about the quarterback switch, “We’re going to have to address the quarterback position this week, see where Drew [Pyne] is health-wise.”
George continued by saying, “We’ll hopefully have Lucian [Anderson III] back this week.”
Najm would lead the offense into field goal range midway in the fourth quarter. Junior kicker Jackson Kleather made a 51-yard field goal going against the wind to make it 28-3. That was the lone score for the Falcons’ offense.
Kleather is now 15 of 17 on field goal attempts this season. He has made three of four kicks from 50+ yards this season.
On the next drive, Najm would throw an interception to redshirt junior cornerback Oliver Bridges. Buffalo won the turnover battle two to one on the day.
The offense would make one final push on the final drive of the game. However, they would let the clock run out after reaching the red zone.
Senior tight end Jyrin Johnson was a bright spot despite the loss. He hauled in five receptions for 69 yards on the day. Johnson spoke about how to bounce back and finish the season strong.
“We want to focus on doing the little things correctly,” said Johnson. “Everybody doing their job, they are one of eleven and let the rest take care of itself.”
Looking forward, the Falcons will travel to face the Eastern Michigan Eagles next week at 1:00 p.m.. At 3-6, Bowling Green will need to win out to stay bowl eligible.
Falcon Media Sports Network will have full coverage of the game on bgfalconmedia.com
