BG Football loses to EMU at Factory

 Well, the misery continues at Bowling Green football.  As the team loses its 4th straight after the Toledo win, BG will not be in a bowl for the first time in 4 years.

Certainly disappointing, but the signs were there.  Liberty is not the team they had in the past few years, and we beat Toledo on a few big plays.  As Coach himself said, winning was perfume to cover up some stink.

So we probably were a little over our skis.  Because we are not very good right now.

First, despite Pyne and Anderson being listed as officially available, Coach decided to start Najm.  Here's a walk-on, right?  But Coach seems to think they can build on him...even beyond this year, based on his post-game comments.

Note:  the three players who were arrested were not dressed.  No further info available.

BG took the kick and went three-and-out.  EMU went 59 yards in 9 plays to score and take a 7-0 lead.

For as much trouble as BG has had scoring, one advantage they have had is kickoff returns.  Kaderris Roberts took the kickoff and went 65-yards to the EMU 35.  BG is #6 in the nation in kickoff returns.  On the third play, Najm hit Jymir Johnson for a 32-yard TD.  There was holding, so BG handed it to Dendy who scored from the 19 and it was 7-7.

EMU went on a 13-play drive, highlighted by a terrible DPI call against the Falcons.  The Eagles had a TD called back and ended up with a FG to make it 10-7.

BG took the ball and punted early in the 2nd.

EMU then went on another drive.  This one was a 14-play, 57-yard drive, converting two third downs along the way.  BG had them off the field from our 41, but there was a roughing the passer call.  EMU ended up missing a FG to end the drive.

BG started on their own 24 with 6:43 left.  The Falcons got a DPI, and then Dendy went for 19 and 16 on back-to-back plays to score, making it 14-10.

After some punt-trading, Najm threw a pick with :30 left, but EMU didnt capitalize and BG went nto the locker room ahead.

EMU got the ball to start the second half and BG forced a punt. However, BG was called for holding and started on their own 10 off the punt.  They went three and out and punted EMU to their own 40.

Riding two dubious DPI calls against the Falcons, EMU used the short field to score and make it 17-14.

There was more punting trading until McMillan made a huge play for EMU.  Now in the 4th, he went 33 yards to the BG 10 and then he scored a couple plays later.  The score put EMU up 24-14, a two-score lead with 10 left.

BG did not fold.  In fact, they went on 70-yard TD drive that took 5:35.  Score was Najm to Johnson.  Now it's 24-21 EMU.

EMU went on a classic 4-minute drive, converting 3rd and 7 and 3rd and 12 on a 10-play drive to the BG 26, and with :58 left, EMU kicked a FG that made it 27-21.

BG got a KOR to their own 41. They moved the ball to the EMU 36 when the game ended.

Coach said we just ran out of time.  I guess.  He also said that there needs to be some kind of common agreement about what DPI is...given the three calls against the Falcons.

Coach said that we had a thin playbook for Najm.  They asked him to manage the game.  He did OK.  He was 11 of 15 for 129, 1 TD and 1 INT.  That's as good a day as our QBs have had.  With the bye, I'd expected an expanded playbook for Akron.

Dendy also had a nice day. He was 21 for 113 and scored twice. He also caught 2 passes.

In fact, BG's offense was respectable at 5.1 yards per play. That's exactly what EMU ended up with...they did it over 75 plays against 51 for BG.  BG's biggest problem on defense came on 3rd down, with EMU going 8 of 17.  Cut a couple of those drives short, and maybe BG has a shot.

BG is not playing wining fototball right now.  We are in 12th place in the MAC and will finish the year in Amherst.