September 7, 2013
FINAL
Bowling Green 41, Kent State 22
FOURTH QUARTER
12:51 ... The game continues to turn into a disappointing blowout.
Another easy touchdown march, ending in a 2-yard touchdown run by William Houston, has Bowling Green ahead 41-22.
It's going to be hard to count up all of the missed tackles today. There were five or six on this last touchdown run alone, including several at the end of a 41-yard pass from Johnson to Tyler Beck.
While the defense has been missing all game long, the offense lost its momentum after halftime. Three drives, three punts, just one first down in the first half.
Colin Reardon looked very good in the first half, but has had a real struggle since. After going 6-of-8 in the first quarter, he is 6-of-15 since.
9:46 ... More missed tackles for Kent State's defense as offensive numbers that were once pretty even are becoming unsightly.
Bowling Green now has 521 total yards on 62 plays while Kent State has 279 yards on 48 plays.
With 4:40 to play in the first quarter, the numbers were this: Kent State 243 yards on 26 plays ... Bowling Green 237 on 27 plays.
9:46 ... More missed tackles for Kent State's defense as offensive numbers that were once pretty even are becoming unsightly.
Bowling Green now has 521 total yards on 62 plays while Kent State has 279 yards on 48 plays.
With 4:40 to play in the first quarter, the numbers were this: Kent State 243 yards on 26 plays ... Bowling Green 237 on 27 plays.
I was an Englis major in college, but by my math, that means Bowling Green has out-gained Kent State 284-to-34 since Kent State took a 24-22 lead on the Trayion Durham touchdown run 4:40 before halftime.
6:00 ... That yardage advantage is now 305-to-37 since that Durham touchdown.
After this loss, Kent State now faces a tough road stretch with trips to LSU, Penn State and Western Michigan.
3:16 ... Kent State offense with a fumble on a handoff from Reardon to Boyle. A frustrating end to a frustrating afternoon for the Golden Flashes.
6:00 ... That yardage advantage is now 305-to-37 since that Durham touchdown.
After this loss, Kent State now faces a tough road stretch with trips to LSU, Penn State and Western Michigan.
3:16 ... Kent State offense with a fumble on a handoff from Reardon to Boyle. A frustrating end to a frustrating afternoon for the Golden Flashes.
Durham finishes with just 24 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
A promising start for Reardon ends with 164 yards on 15-for-28 passing with two touchdowns. He had completed 10-of-14 for 131 yards and two scores at halftime.
While the turnover was meaningless at the end of the ball game, Kent State loses another turnover battle 1-0. Forcing turnovers was a big key to the success of last season.
THIRD QUARTER
12:56 ... Bowling Green has broken Kent State's serve. The Golden Flashes are forced to punt on the first series of the game. A dropped second-down pass by Josh Boyle put the Flashes off schedule. Instead of 3rd-and-4, they faced a 3rd-and-10,were Reardon was flushed by the Falcons' blitz and forced to throw the ball into the sideline.
Now can Kent State's defense answer with a stop of its own?
8:24 ... Key error by the Kent State defense ... Finally get off the field on an incomplete pass on third-and-seven, but a challenge by Bowling Green proves that Kent State did not get a 13th player off the field on the snap.
A run for a first, and BGSU has first down at the Kent State 20.
7:19 ... And here they are again, 3rd-and-8 from the KSU 18.... And a sack by Fackler, flushed by Polk. Finally a big play on defense.
6:29 ... A 41-yard field goal by Tyler Tate extends the Bowling Green lead to 27-22, but at this point holding the Falcons to a field goal on a 10-play drive of over six minutes has to be considered some sort of victory. The Flashes made a play on third down (twice), and that's a step in the right direction. Still just a one-possession lead.
4:34 ... The defense's afternoon has gone from bad to worse.
Blown coverage on 3rd-and-15 led to an easy Johnson-to-Ryan Burbrink touchdown pass of 92 yards. Burbrink blew by Kent State cornerback Malcom Panell for an easy score after the Flashes appeared to have the Falcons pinned deep following a sack by Zack Hitchens.
The Flashes offense has also lost its swagger a bit here in the second half. They were forced three-and-out after a third-down throw from Reardon to Goode was a bit low and behind the receiver.
Kent State needs to respond now, but will start inside its own 20 after Calhoun is stopped at the 18 returning a kick from the goal line.
3:06 ... Another three-and-out by the Kent State offense ... and it's serious trouble time.
Durham has just 22 yards on 10 carries, and Reardon is rushing a bit ... missing badly on a third-down throw for Boyle.
Bowling Green will start this drive at its own 33. It's time for Kent State's defense to show up. Still looking for the first forced turnover of 2013.
0:58 ... Finally, Kent State forces a three-and-out. Flashes take over at the 18 ... and a little less than 16 minutes to come back from a 12-point deficit. A big hit by Roosevelt Nix on a Greene run keyed that last defensive series.
That tackle by Nix tied him for Kent State's career lead in tackles for loss with 55.
0:00 ... Reardon blindsided on a sack by blitzing linebacker D.J. Lynch. Another three-and-out.
The Kent State offense in the third quarter: three drives, three punts, just one first down.
That was the first sack of the season against Reardon.
8:24 ... Key error by the Kent State defense ... Finally get off the field on an incomplete pass on third-and-seven, but a challenge by Bowling Green proves that Kent State did not get a 13th player off the field on the snap.
A run for a first, and BGSU has first down at the Kent State 20.
7:19 ... And here they are again, 3rd-and-8 from the KSU 18.... And a sack by Fackler, flushed by Polk. Finally a big play on defense.
6:29 ... A 41-yard field goal by Tyler Tate extends the Bowling Green lead to 27-22, but at this point holding the Falcons to a field goal on a 10-play drive of over six minutes has to be considered some sort of victory. The Flashes made a play on third down (twice), and that's a step in the right direction. Still just a one-possession lead.
4:34 ... The defense's afternoon has gone from bad to worse.
Blown coverage on 3rd-and-15 led to an easy Johnson-to-Ryan Burbrink touchdown pass of 92 yards. Burbrink blew by Kent State cornerback Malcom Panell for an easy score after the Flashes appeared to have the Falcons pinned deep following a sack by Zack Hitchens.
The Flashes offense has also lost its swagger a bit here in the second half. They were forced three-and-out after a third-down throw from Reardon to Goode was a bit low and behind the receiver.
Kent State needs to respond now, but will start inside its own 20 after Calhoun is stopped at the 18 returning a kick from the goal line.
3:06 ... Another three-and-out by the Kent State offense ... and it's serious trouble time.
Durham has just 22 yards on 10 carries, and Reardon is rushing a bit ... missing badly on a third-down throw for Boyle.
Bowling Green will start this drive at its own 33. It's time for Kent State's defense to show up. Still looking for the first forced turnover of 2013.
0:58 ... Finally, Kent State forces a three-and-out. Flashes take over at the 18 ... and a little less than 16 minutes to come back from a 12-point deficit. A big hit by Roosevelt Nix on a Greene run keyed that last defensive series.
That tackle by Nix tied him for Kent State's career lead in tackles for loss with 55.
0:00 ... Reardon blindsided on a sack by blitzing linebacker D.J. Lynch. Another three-and-out.
The Kent State offense in the third quarter: three drives, three punts, just one first down.
That was the first sack of the season against Reardon.
SECOND QUARTER
14:46 ... After some struggles at the end of the first quarter, Kent State's defense shows stiffens at the start of the second quarter. A nice play by Darius Polk on a lob to the end zone forces the Falcons to settle for a Tyler Tate field goal at the end of a 10-play, 77-yard drive
BGSU 10, KSU 8
9:45 ... Flashes offense making major strides after a slow start to the opener. The Falcons have been forced to call timeout on 3rd-and-8 with the ball on the Bowling Green 12.
Kent State got here with a string of nice runs by Reardon, Durham and Calhoun. The big play was a perfectly designed and timed 29-yard reverse by Calhoun that nearly vaulted Kent State into the lead. Trayion Durham worked over a Falcons defender blocking down the field ahead of Calhoun, who did his best Dri Archer imitation.We'll see what Kent State's offense can come up with on this big third-down play.
9:49 ... Kent State back in the lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Reardon to tight end Casey Pierce ... the second time that tandem has hooked up for a score this season.
Love the play-calling so far in this game. Kent State's offense moving the ball behind 9-of-11, 109-yard start by Reardon, and adding 71 rushing yards on 10 carries by four different ball carriers.
8:00 ... Bowling Green offensive line got away with a big hold ... How there was no flag on that is beyond me ... and it turns into a long pass play from Johnson to Calhoun to the KSU 14.
6:57 ... Kent State defensive troubles continue as Bowling Green cruises to another score and a 17-15 lead.
Andre Givens gets this score on a 3-yard run.
Which defense will make the adjustments? Both are having a tough time.
Bowling Green 17, Kent State 15
6:12 ... A big play and a scary play as Reardon bootlegs for 32 yards. A shoestring, touchdown-saving tackle by BGSU linebacker Gabe Martin looked led to an ugly tumble with Reardon clutching his knee.
The freshman quarterback popped up after a few seconds, then tried to run to the sideline before falling just short of the Kent State bench.
Reardon is now back in at quarterback... and delivers a 22-yard pass to Humphrey to the BGSU 2.
4:40 ... Durham a 2-yard touchdown plunge and Kent State right back in the lead.
That touchdown, by the way, is the first not scored by Humphrey or Pierce this season.
Some offensive numbers:
Kent State 243 yards on 26 plays ... Bowling Green 237 on 27 plays.
That touchdown, by the way, is the first not scored by Humphrey or Pierce this season.
Some offensive numbers:
Kent State 243 yards on 26 plays ... Bowling Green 237 on 27 plays.
Kent State 22, Bowling Green 17
0:54 ... Bowling Green comes right back, and review gives the Falcons a 7-yard touchdown pass from Matt Johnson to Jared Cohen. Initially ruled out at the KSU 1, replay showed that Cohen had possession of the football and touched the pylon with his foot.
Kent State's defense has to make some major adjustments in the second half.
It is hard to win a game against a division rival when you allow 308 yards in a half the way Kent State did in the first 30 minutes today.
The biggest play of that final drive was Kent State's inability to get off of the field on 3rd-and-12 from the BGSU 41. Johnson hit Joplin for 23, with an extra 10 coming off of poor tackling on the sideline.
HALFTIME ... Bowling Green 22, Kent State 17 ... 555 combined yards.
FIRST QUARTER
15:00 ... Kent State won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Bowling Green will get the football first.
10:22 ... Pretty discouraging start for the Kent State defense. An easy 9-play, 77 yard-march gives the Falcons an early 7-0 lead ... all capped by a 1-yard Travis Greene plunge.
Take away a sack by Roosevelt Nix early in the drive, and pretty much nothing went right for the Golden Flashes. Gaping running holes off of both tackles led to long runs by Greene.
Some poor tackling as well as both Greene and tight end Alex Bayer carried Kent State tacklers – Greene for 6 yards after he was hit at the line of scrimmage on the first play of the game, and Bayer for an additional 9 yards on a third-down catch.
The only good sign was that Kent State managed to putt some pressure on Matt Johnson when he dropped back to throw. But if the Falcons are going to have it that easy when they run the football, we may not see Johnson drop back very often.
7:52 ... Back to encouraging as Kent State's offense scores a touchdown on its opening drive for the second week in a row.
Chris Humphrey was the star of this one, catching a 16-yard pass on third down to move the chains, catching a 42-yard touchdown pass from Colin Reardon after breaking wide open on a post route, then adding a 2-point conversion run to put Kent State ahead 8-7.
Offensive line giving Reardon lots of time. The deep throw to Humphrey was the first attempt over 20 yards for the true freshman quarterback. I like to see Kent State attempting to stretch the field with Archer out. BGSU had crowded the line and keyed on Durham on the first two plays, setting up that 3rd-and-10 pass to Humphrey.
Anthony Meray with a nice 17 yard burst on first down was also a key to the march.
10:22 ... Pretty discouraging start for the Kent State defense. An easy 9-play, 77 yard-march gives the Falcons an early 7-0 lead ... all capped by a 1-yard Travis Greene plunge.
Take away a sack by Roosevelt Nix early in the drive, and pretty much nothing went right for the Golden Flashes. Gaping running holes off of both tackles led to long runs by Greene.
Some poor tackling as well as both Greene and tight end Alex Bayer carried Kent State tacklers – Greene for 6 yards after he was hit at the line of scrimmage on the first play of the game, and Bayer for an additional 9 yards on a third-down catch.
The only good sign was that Kent State managed to putt some pressure on Matt Johnson when he dropped back to throw. But if the Falcons are going to have it that easy when they run the football, we may not see Johnson drop back very often.
BGSU 7, KSU 0
7:52 ... Back to encouraging as Kent State's offense scores a touchdown on its opening drive for the second week in a row.
Chris Humphrey was the star of this one, catching a 16-yard pass on third down to move the chains, catching a 42-yard touchdown pass from Colin Reardon after breaking wide open on a post route, then adding a 2-point conversion run to put Kent State ahead 8-7.
Offensive line giving Reardon lots of time. The deep throw to Humphrey was the first attempt over 20 yards for the true freshman quarterback. I like to see Kent State attempting to stretch the field with Archer out. BGSU had crowded the line and keyed on Durham on the first two plays, setting up that 3rd-and-10 pass to Humphrey.
Anthony Meray with a nice 17 yard burst on first down was also a key to the march.
BGSU 8, KSU 7
5:46 ... A better showing by Kent State's defense on the second Bowling Green drive of the day. This time a quick three-and-out.
Tackling was better, holding Greene to a 1-yard run on first down.
And a good sign that the pressure on Johnson continues ... Possibly the best jump of a snap I've ever seen on third down as Roosevelt Nix was in on Johnson as soon as he caught the snap. While he didn't get the sack, he flushed Johnson out of the pocket and forced him to eventually throw the ball into the Falcons bench.
A potentially exciting note ... Ernest Calhoun was back by himself to field the punt. While he didn't get a chance to return this one, his speed could be dangerous in the return game.
0:00 ... The Faclons are on the move as Kent State's defense is having problems again. When the second quarter starts, BGSU will have the ball 2nd-and-10 at the Kent State 12.
Poor tackling and big running holes are a problem. The Flashes had a chance to put an early end to this drive when several Flashes had a shot at a sack of Johnson. Instead, the Bowling Green quarterback found an escape route and rumbled 19 yards for a first down.
Bowling Green already has 105 rushing yards on 14 attempts. That's a problem.
PREGAME NOTES
UPDATE, 11:35 a.m. ... With no Dri Archer again, the pressure is on Trayion Durham to carry the bulk of the rushing load with assistance from Anthony Meray, who according to Paul Haynes had one of the best camps of anyone on the team this season.
Will Kent State also stretch the field a bit after keeping most (or really all) of last week's pass routes inside 20 yards during Colin Reardon's first game.
It's all a tall order when you consider the importance of Archer and last year's two long touchdown runs in last year's win over the Falcons.
Kent State will also be without starting safety Calvin Tiggle. Keenan Stalls would be the likely starter in his place.
The good news is Pat McShane appears to be ready to go at left guard. That's an important return in the middle of the offensive line. Durham behind McShane and center Phil Huff may be the order of the day.
UPDATE, 11:02 a.m. ... Dri Archer was out on the field and appears to be ready to give it a go. He spent a long (a bit uncomfortably long) time posing for the ESPN3 cameras.That is, of course, longtime fan Hank Dunckel standing in the background.
The offensive line just came out for warmups and Pat McShane is with the group.
Jim Katusha is also expected to be available after missing last week to a concussion.
If you aren't here yet, come on out ... It's a beautiful day to sit in the stands, get some sun, and cheer on the Golden Flashes in a huge game.
Here are the links to all of today's stories on the internet:
- Kent State vs. Bowling Green preview by Stephanie Storm in today's Beacon Journal.
- Allen Moff's preview of KSU vs. BGSU in today's Record-Courier.
- BGSU beat writer John Wagner also previews the Golden Flashes and Falcons in today's Toledo Blade.
- Jack Carle of the Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune previews today's game.
- In case you missed it from earlier this week, Elton Alexander had this piece on Kent State wide receiver Tyshon Goode in the Plain Dealer.
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