Falcons Win Another Close One
I'm slowing moving into the "a win is a win" camp. It is clear we are not going to beat anybody badly (except maybe Temple), and have no safe games anywhere on our schedule. Having said that, we managed to win that game instead of losing it, and that's about all we can do right now.
The story of the game was at QB--again. Anthony Turner dislocated his shoulder with about 1 minute left in the third quarter. Enter Freddie Barnes, who engineered the team to enough fourth quarter offense to put the game away against Florida International---considered one of the poorest teams in I-A football.
When the injury occurred, we were leading 23-21. The defense got FIU to punt, and we took over on our 39. Barnes led an 11 play drive that included seven rushing plays by Freddie (including for the TD), and, perhaps just as importantly, a 16 yard completion to Brantley on 3-13 from their 37 to keep the drive alive.
FIU answered with a four play TD drive to get it back to 30-28. BG took the kickoff with 9:08 left. BG held the ball for over six minutes, ran 13 plays, and hit the FG that put the game pretty much out of reach, again led by Freddie and Fr. RB Chris Bullock. Again, for all his running, Freddie completed a key pass on third and nine on our 21, and third and 8 from the FIU 16 to keep the clock moving and the drive alive.
Contrast this to how the team performed last year when Omar went down.
The other story line this season is special teams. While not a strength, this was much improved this week. To begin with the positive:
- No punts were blocked.
- Rojas punted four times for an average of 47 yards, a long of 61 and one touchback. (that's what we're talking about!).
- Sean Ellis drilled two field goals.
- Loren Hargrove caused a fumble on a first half kickoff, and Jarrett Sanderson picked it up and scored a TD--that was the difference in the game.
On the improvement side of the scale, we gave up a KO return for a TD, and had an XP apparently blocked at the line.
Hopefully, this can build some confidence and get this part of the game shored up.
Offensively, it was much the same as we have seen all season. On one hand, we all complain about not seeing more plays. On the other hand, it seems to continue to work. We ran 45 times (and threw 34). This was even more balanced while Turner was still in the game. AT ran 17-59 yards, and Freddie was 16-70. Our running backs carried only 12 times, for a total of 32 yards. (Dan Macon is not making the contribution we kind of expected, and I wonder if he's healthy).
On the passing game, we were 18-34 with 2 Tds and 2 INTs and 242. Not a bad days work if you can run the ball.
AT was 12-22-1INT and 1 TD and 185 yards, and Barnes was 6-12, 1 INT and 1 TD for 57 yards.
Freddie ran a TD, caught a TD, and threw a TD pass. Welcome to your MAC East offensive player of the week.
Corey Partridge caught five passes. It was great to see him on the field again.
As a team, our rushing average was 3.6--a little under what this offense needs to be really effective. We averaged 7.1 yards per pass attempt, which reflects cautious playcalling.
On the defensive side off the ball, we didn't see the success that we have seen in other weeks. FIU had 332 yards total O (we had 403), and had a higher per play yield (6.5) than we did (5.1). They were very effective on the ground (6.7 per carry). We really need to be able to watch this, because this game plan we are using is dependent on not letting the other team eat up the clock when they have the ball.
From what I could see on the webcast, we seemed to tackle really poorly. We're a young team, so maybe some variance is to be expected.
To capture a positive note, FIU was only 3 of 11 on third down. A defense that makes plays on third downs can make up for a lot of soft numbers in between. (BG was 10 of 18).
Finally, in the second half BG had the ball for 21:07.
So, where does that leave us...especially concerning my previous post? We still don't know what we have, really. We have a team which is 2-1 with wins over teams that probably aren't very good. At the same time, clutch fourth quarter play has kept those from being losses.
The MAC East is completely overturned. Akron lost @ CMU, and Kent beat Miami in Oxford. It is going to be crazy, and right now, winning is enough. The Kent game next Saturday--considered a gimmee at one time--now has to be taken seriously. If we can win our next two games, we will control our own destiny to win the East.
This team seems to have flaws, but I'm not sure anyone has made the case that they are better. One week at a time--and if we can improve by November, it might all come together.
Note: Post updated due to comically bad stats from FIU on web. Had reserve QB Tony Hunter (who was probably in BG) catching a pass, Barnes returning punts, wrong number of BG plays. Hilarious commentary of public education in Florida.
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