BG Solid in Expected Win, Sweet Victory

The Falcons looked a lot more solid in their victory over Eastern Illinois.  As well, they should...that's what EIU is on the schedule for.  It wasn't always great and it wasn't a dominating performance--on the other hand it wasn't one of the two MAC teams to lose their FCS game and two more who needed the last minute to win.

It's possible the FCS might see an influx of talent.  Players who would have sat on the bench on G5 teams are now moving to FCS to get onto the field.

Anyway, the final was 38-15.  BG led 7-6 after 1 and 21-12 at the half, aided by a highly successful fake punt that Loeffler said was "100% on him."  (I have many questions.)

Anyway, EIU has a shot, starting with the ball in the 3rd.  They drive to the BG 26, but the defense rallies, coming up with sacks on 1st and 2nd down and then a pick in the endzone on 4th down.

BG went on a 14-play, 5+ minute drive that included a 4th down conversion.  They drove to the 2 before stalling (ineligible man downfield included) and kicked at FG to go up 12.

EIU went 3 and out and then Taron Keith went to work, going 58 yards to the EIU 16 before Bazelak hit Fannin for a score to make it 31-12 with 1:07 left in the 3rd and it was over from there.

Starting with the offense.  BG did most things better.  The running game was probably just above average.  BG didn't run that much.  They had 9 straight runs to close the game, but before that it was 30 passes and 25 runs.  I'm guessing that EIU was giving us run looks so we went to the pass. As a team, BG rushed for 4.1 yards per carry, which is actually not very good. Stewart had 5.1 yards per carry.

On the pass side, BG was highly effective.  Bazelak was 23 of 28 for 319, 3 TD and 0 sacks. That's 13.9 yards per completion, which actually is good.

Taron Keith is an amazing player.  He had 6 catches for 123 yards and every single yard was after the catch.  Not sure that happens too often.  Fannin had a great game too with 7-109 and 1 TD, 86 yards after the catch.  In addition to the TD, he had a catch that got us to the 1 and one on the 4th down conversion on the first drive of the 3Q.

Osborne and Hilaire had 4 catches each and Ibrahim had a tip-toe TD that was fantastic.

Overall, BG had 8 yards per play, which is really good.  No turnovers. 5 of 9 on 3rd/4th down. No sacks allowed and only four pressures.  

BG ran 64 offensive plays.  Wollschlaeger, Stewart and Padgett played most of them.  Dunbar played 42, Pabst played 40, Warner 24 and Fatusaki 24.

The offense was much better, which is should have been.  It's week 2 and it was EIU.  Whether the offense is cured remains to be seen.  When we face the OU defense, will we be able to protect the QB and run the ball up front....and let our playmakers do their thing?

Gibby said the defense was competent.  I would agree.  EIU had 5.5 yards per play...the average in MAC games last year was 5.3. and 4 10-play drives.  We had an INT, 5 sacks and another 4th down break up that could have been an INT but was knocked down instead.  And only 1 3rd down conversion in 10 attempts.

Is our identity making big plays on both sides of the ball?

You take the sacks out at EIU ran for 5.2 yards per carry.  They were 21 of 33 (64%) and 12 yards per completion.  

Also 20 first downs.

Competent is a good word.  Strong on 3rd, a pick in the end zone...overall held them to 15 points and only 3 scores. But, in the margins room to imrpove.

Special teams.  Well, there was the WIDE OPEN fake punt. The kickoff game was weak on both ends---we tried to squib one and EIU taught us how to handle it and we kicked another OB.  BG also had a couple of big hits on kickoff coverage, particularly Wimberly. We made our only FG and all of our XP. 

For individual players on defense, I'd note that Ali Saad and Evan Branch-Haynes--two p5 transfers--are improving, based on PFF. Hardamon and Howell were beasts on the pass rush--this is a hidden test for our team.  Hardamon was great last year with Brooks attracting a lot of attention.  It will be harder this year...he's very capable and having other guys contributing will open space up, especially if Hardamon can force teams to double him.

Overall pass coverage was just OK.

Anyway, this one is where it belongs, in the win column.  BG had a solid effort. As Urban said, "one thing we will never apologize for is winning."

It was great to be at the Doyt, Awesome student turnout.  Hope to see them back in two weeks.  Overall, the crowd was 12K, which is what you can expect when your program is where it is.

Next week will be very difficult, let's hope we don't get too banged up.  Then, the OU game, homecoming....really the linchpin to our season.