UB-Bowling Green Game Thread
FINAL: Bowling Green 30, UB 29.
0:39 4th: Sheehan to Barnes for 18 yards and the go-ahead TD. BG 30-29. It's last year in reverse.
10:34 4th: BG QB Tyler Sheehan goes in from the 4 on a QB draw. UB 29-23.
13:30 4th: BG blocks another Rachuna punt, He's a tall kid who has to unfold but he has to get it off faster. Better blocking wouldn't hurt either, Falcons start on UB 17.
End of 3rd: Bulls 29, Falcons 16. Don't book it yet. Remember UB came from 20 down to win at BG last year.
9:07 3rd: Gill goes in from the 5. UB, 29-16 after Maynard runs for conversion.
9:17 3rd: Geter muffs booming Rachuna punt and UB recovers at BG 5.
3rd: Bowling Green 34-yard field goal early in quarter makes score 21-16, UB.
Halftime: Bulls 21-13. Say hello to freshman RB Jeffvon Gill, a 5-11, 220-pounder from Euclid, Ohio, outside of Cleveland. Gill takes over the running with Nduka on the shelf and amasses 98 yards on nine carries. Maynard finished half 9 of 14 for 137. Bowling Green getting nothing on ground, managing just 20 yards on 12 attempts. Real solid half for Maynard, especially with his decision-making. He ran six times for 33 gross yards and pulled back a screen throw for Roosevelt that would have been a probable pick.
ALERT: Nduka reinjures ankle and is questionable for rest of game. He's game 30 yards on eight carries.
2:34 2nd: UB, 21-13. Bulls answer Falcons TD march almost yard for yard, going 81 in nine plays, a drive capped by an 18-yard pass to tight end Jesse Rack. It's Rack's sixth TD catch of the season, tied for the team lead, and extends Maynard's streak of having thrown for a TD in every game this season. Drive included runs of 16 yards by Nduka and 24 yards by freshman Jeffvon Gill.
6:16 2nd: Dominated in time of possession until this point, BG goes 82 yards in 14 plays and scores on a 1-yard run by Willie Geter. A missed extra point leaves UB with a 14-13 lead. Freddie Barnes, the nation's leading receiver, broke out on the drive, catching three balls, including receptions of 19 and 21 yards.
13:26 2nd: UB moves ahead, 14-7, on 2-yard Mario Henry plunge. Drive stalled then continued when A.J. Principe was roughed while making a 36-yard FG. Bulls got a new set of down starting on the 9 and a pair of Henry runs put them in the end zone.
End of 1st: 7-7. UB looking at a 2nd and goal from the BG 8. Maynard 6 of 7 for 102 in quarter. Throws of 16 yards to Hamlin, 12 to Roosevelt and 20 to Rack on current drive.
4:58 1st: Willie Geter scores from a yard out and Bowling Green draws even, 7-7. Touchdown was set up by a Marquese Quiles block of a John Rachuna punt after he bobbled the snap. Falcons returned block from the 5 to the 1.
10:26 1st: Bulls go 80 yards in nine plays on game-opening possession and take 7-0 lead on Ike Nduka's 3-yard run. Zach Maynard's 30-yard pass to Brett Hamlin on first play puts the drive in rapid motion. Nduka had six carries for 20 yards on march.
Surprise change in UB lineup: Kendric Hawkins starts at corner in place of Domonic Cook. Not sure why. Flu?
Hello everybody and welcome to tonight's UB-Bowling Green game thread from UB Stadium. We're about 15 minutes from kickoff. Wind's blowing fairly hard out of what appears to be the WNW. Today's fast fact: Bowling Green's Tyler Sheehan and UB's Zach Maynard are the only two QBs in the MAC to have thrown a TD pass in each of their team's games this season, non-conference included. We'll deliver game updates as neccesary, and we anticipate a lot of scoring.
-- Bob DiCesare
Turner Gill made a point of "delegating" more this year to his assistants. It may be that some of those "decisions" were not Gill's but of Barrett and others. Don't really know, but what you see is what you get.
Posted by: David,Amherst | November 05, 2009 at 11:42 AM
I WENT TO A UB BULLS GAME AND A BUFFALO BILLS GAME SHOWED UP. (drum roll please)
Special teams lost this game with two blocked punts. Special Teams have really regressed this year.
The clock management (or lack of it) especially in the final minute of the 1st half was unforgiveable. This happened in the final minute of the 1st half in a previous game this season (was it against Cent. Mich?).
UB could've driven for at least a field goal which would've changed the whole complexion of the game. Also why not use up a time out or two during the final BGU drive in the 4th qtr?
You have to question Turner Gill and his staff for these grievious coaching errors.
Finally what is with the failure to use Naaman Roosevelt? What's going on?
Posted by: Bbburbs | November 04, 2009 at 12:16 AM
Congratulations to the BF Falcons for getting down to business with the game on the line.
In one word: Penalties.
So, no excuses.
And, the (lack of double) coverage on Freddie Barnes' last TD was glaring.
Kicking game another big minus.
Good to see some players come to play with energy, like Gill from Cleveland area.
Game captains have to have more order from their charges.
Many good individual performances show the Bulls are not that far off from really outstanding football.
Injuries matter.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
The Bulls were favored by 3, lost by 1. Hmmmm.
Posted by: David,Amherst | November 03, 2009 at 10:51 PM
I am one of Turner Gill's biggest fans. But I'd have to pin this loss on his shoulders. His game management at the end of the first half was Jauron like. He had a 1:34 and the ball on the Bulls 25 or so. They had run and thrown the ball at will. rather than take advantage of the momentum, fearing a mistake no doubt, he played not to lose. Of course that's exactly what happened. He squandered three timeouts and didn't use one. Way too many dumb penalties as well, a sign of a poorly disciplined and coached team. Also a very poor effort to get Roosevelt, UB's best offensive weapon(contrast that with BG going continuously to their best player throughout the game) by far even though a great game by the freshman, involved in the offense. Only two catches I believe. Nice adjustment by the BG coaches at halftime with run blitzes which shut down UB's run game. Unfortunately, UB failed to adjust and didn't get more aggressive offensively. They paid for their mistakes with a loss in what has to be considered a very disappointing season. My hunch thoughg is that Gill and crew will come back with a vengeance next year. Sadly, local product Naaman Roosevelt won't be around to go out with a bang which he richly deserves after such a stellar career.
Was disappointed with Steve Means tonight on BG's second TD in the first half. It was a running play between the left guard and tackle. From where I was sitting it looked as if Steve made absolutely no effort on the play. The BG running back blew through the hole and right by Steve.
Posted by: Larry | November 03, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Bob,
The only thing that beats this game is a good day on the stream! Stay warm.
Mark
Posted by: Mark | November 03, 2009 at 08:41 PM