FOURTH QUARTER
3:36 ... Bowling Green moves the chains on the ground.
Going to come up short again, by the same score as last week.
Great effort and fight. Just have to hope that this team builds on experience of all of these close games and better times are ahead. I know that's tough for fans, but I believe that the future is bright.
6:05 ... Another great series of throws followed by a bad decision. Reardon with passes to Humphrey of 15 and 28 yards, but then he makes a bad throw into double coverage, and has it picked off by Ryland Ward at the BGSU 3.
The Flashes had a first down at the BGSU 24.
7:47 ... Bowling Green 30, Kent State 20
Suddenly this game is a shootout.
A 5-play, 78-drive in just 1:47 ends with Givens 2-yard touchdown run.
The Falcons used two big throws – a 45-yarder to Burbrink, and then a crushing 33-yarder to Lewis at the 1-yard line on a 3rd-and-12 throw by Knapke. Lewis pulled in the football despite pass interference.
9:40 ... Bowling Green 23, Kent State 20
The Golden Flashes answer quickly, driving 60 yards in six plays and scoring again on a 14-yard strike from Colin Reardon to Casey Pierce in the back of the end zone.
A 24-yard throw to Chris Humphrey set up the score. Humphrey showed great concentration pulling in the football on the sideline, even as he was being interfered with. Officials threw the flag, but the Flashes didn't need it.
11:59 ... Bowling Green 23, Kent State 14
Bowling Green extends its lead on a 21-yard Tate field goal.
12:45 ... The Bowling Green drive continues. The Falcons will face a third and goal at the Kent State 4 after a stoppage for injury.
Going to come up short again, by the same score as last week.
Great effort and fight. Just have to hope that this team builds on experience of all of these close games and better times are ahead. I know that's tough for fans, but I believe that the future is bright.
6:05 ... Another great series of throws followed by a bad decision. Reardon with passes to Humphrey of 15 and 28 yards, but then he makes a bad throw into double coverage, and has it picked off by Ryland Ward at the BGSU 3.
The Flashes had a first down at the BGSU 24.
7:47 ... Bowling Green 30, Kent State 20
Suddenly this game is a shootout.
A 5-play, 78-drive in just 1:47 ends with Givens 2-yard touchdown run.
The Falcons used two big throws – a 45-yarder to Burbrink, and then a crushing 33-yarder to Lewis at the 1-yard line on a 3rd-and-12 throw by Knapke. Lewis pulled in the football despite pass interference.
9:40 ... Bowling Green 23, Kent State 20
The Golden Flashes answer quickly, driving 60 yards in six plays and scoring again on a 14-yard strike from Colin Reardon to Casey Pierce in the back of the end zone.
A 24-yard throw to Chris Humphrey set up the score. Humphrey showed great concentration pulling in the football on the sideline, even as he was being interfered with. Officials threw the flag, but the Flashes didn't need it.
11:59 ... Bowling Green 23, Kent State 14
Bowling Green extends its lead on a 21-yard Tate field goal.
12:45 ... The Bowling Green drive continues. The Falcons will face a third and goal at the Kent State 4 after a stoppage for injury.
Freshman linebacker Marques Moore attended to on the field.
THIRD QUARTER
Replay looked like it should have been ruled a catch as Dieter had a foot down and control. The catch would have given the Falcons a first down inside the Kent State 10. But after a long look in the booth, officials said the call on the field would stand.
Is that the first break to go Kent State's way this season?
1:49 ... Reardon has been brilliant most of the way, but he just threw an interception that is hard to figure out. After just a beautiful throw for 29 yards to Pierce for a first down in BGSU territory, Reardon threw the football right into the hands of BGSU linebacker Gabe Martin.
Reardon was off balance while throwing on the run. A very poor decision as momentum was continuing to build in Kent State's favor.
The pass came on a first-down throw from the BGSU 37. The pick was made by Martin at the 32.
The catch by Pierce for 29 yards gave Pierce the most catches by a Kent State tight end in one season with 51.
4:25 ... Flashes defense holds again, and Kent State has the football again at its own 12 after the Bowling Green punt.
As I type, Reardon hits Pierce for 11 yards and another first down.
6:09 ... Bowling Green 20, Kent State 14
Three plays after the fumble recovery, Reardon hit Humphrey again, this time on a 4-yard fade to the right corner.
From 20-0 to 20-14.
Reardon is now 14-for-23 for 150 yards, two touchdowns and the one interception.
7:34 ... One more great opportunity missed as Reardon intercepted at the 3-yard line.
Flashes gave themselves the chance with great defense and a nice punt return by Ernest Calhoun to the 15 ... An illegal-block in the back penalty moved the ball back to the 30.
But as I type, the Flashes have the football back on a Bowling Green fumble ... Jordan Italiano forced it. It looked like Najee Murray fell on the ball at the 6-yard line of BGSU.
9:35 ... Reardon has stayed hot, but the drop on the first series, another drop by Kris White on the second series, and then a missed call on what should have been a clear pass interference call against BGSU cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah (with an arm-bar bump on Calhoun) have kept Kent State from building on its momentum.
Reardon is 13-for-20 for 146 yards, and with two big drops and the pass interference call, those numbers could be even better.
13:38 ... A big drop by Josh Boyle on a perfect 3rd-and-10 throw by Reardon forced the Flashes to punt on first down.
Boyle was wide open on a seam route, and Reardon hit him in the hands at around the 25 yard line. There was a Falcon defender in the area who may have made the tackle, but a catch in stride may have gone for a 58-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-14.
That happens, and maybe Bowling Green starts to feel a little pressure in its bid to clinch a division title.
SECOND QUARTER
Bowling Green has outgained Kent State 322-to-138. The Falcons have also doubled Kent State's first down total, 14-7 ... and four of those first downs were converted on 3rd-and-6 or longer.
Reardon is 9-of-11 for 112 yards and a touchdown. Strock is 3-of-10 for 22 yards.
When Strock was in, the Flashes ran 12 plays for 20 yards. Since Reardon has been in, the Flashes have run 17 plays for 118 yards. Similar to last week when Strock was the one who gave the offense a lift in relief of Reardon
.
The Flashes are a bit fortunate just to be in this one when you look at the lopsided numbers.
Kent State gets the football to start the second half. Get just a field goal to pull within two scores on this first drive, and the Flashes are in this fight.
0:38 ... Bowling Green 20, Kent State 7
This week it is Colin Reardon's turn to provide a spark on offense. Reardon marched Kent State 92 yards in 11 plays. The 5 minute and 51 second drive ended with a perfectly executed bubble screen from Reardon to Humphrey, who had an escort service of offensive linemen leading him into the end zone for a 21-yard score.
Reardon was a perfect 7-of-7 for 86 yards on the drive.
6:18 ... Colin Reardon is in for his second possession at quarterback.
His first throw on the previous possession demonstrated some excellent touch as he dropped the ball over the hands of BGSU linebacker Austin Valdez for a 21-yard pickup to Casey Pierce. Unfortunately, after moving the ball into Falcons territory for the first time, the drive stalled.
Reardon has a 23-yard hookup with Chris Humphrey early in this second drive and the Flashes are near midfield.
11:15 ... Bowling Green 20, Kent State 0
The Falcons have added a 22-yard Tate field goal.
Bowling Green already has 272 yards of total offense and there are still more than 11 minutes to play.
Kent State's offense has struggled to just 20 yards on 14 plays.
Colin Reardon was warming up on the sideline during the last Bowling Green drive. We may see him on the next possession. KSU's coaches said Reardon would play tonight.14:34 ... Another three and out for the Flashes offense, but the drive could have been extended as Strock made a great throw running to his right and threading the needle between three defenders to feet the ball to Casey Pierce. Unfortunately, the usually sure-haded tight end couldn't make the catch.
15:00 ... Some quick numbers from the first quarter:
Bowling Green has outgained Kent State 212-to-20.
The Falcons have seven first downs to Kent State's 1.
The Flashes are averaging just 1.67 yards per play compared to BGSU's 7.85.
And the worst stat of the first quarter ... it took 54 minutes... 54 minutes for 39 plays.
FIRST QUARTER
0:30 ... Bowling Green 17, Kent State 0
The defense did its job, holding the Falcons to just a 37-yard Tate field goal.
The Flashes just can't afford mistakes like the one that handed the Falcons a short field and a free possession.
2:06 ... A major error on special teams for Kent State. The Flashes finally forced a punt by Bowling Green from deep in its own end, but when the rolling punt hit the foot of Kent State's Jerrell Foster, the Falcons recovered at the KSU 35. Bowling Green looking to add to the lead.
5:47 ... Bowling Green 14, Kent State 0
The Falcons turned a 3rd-and-12 into an easy 82-yard touchdown as wide receiver Roger Lewis got behind the defense on the post, an easy mark for quarterback James Knapke.
The chance to get off the field on third and long, however, came courtesy of Elcee Refuge, who made a nice play in the backfield to drop Givens for a 5-yard loss. Refuge is playing linebacker tonight as the Flashes try to get more speed in the secondary to match the Falcons.
8:17 ... Bowling Gren 7, Kent State 0
The Falcons strike first with a 58-yard drive ending in a 6-yard touchdown run by running back Andre Givens.
Travis Greene is out for this game, so Fred Coppet got the start at running back for Bowling Green. But Coppet limped off the field earlier in this first quarter, leading to Givens taking over.
All three running backs have had an impact for the Falcons offense this season.
Givens already has five carries for 55 yards, including a 33-yard run to set up the score.
Kent State has had trouble bringing down Givens, missing several tackles on that 33-yarded, and then allowing Givens to carry a tackler into the end zone.
10:50 ... The Flashes lost three yards on their first drive as Strock was sacked by Gus Schwieterman on third and six.
After a short punt, Bowling Green will begin its second drive at its own 42.
12:13 ... Bowling Green's first drive reached the red zone, thanks to a long pass connection. But the Falcons were forced to settle for a 36-yard field goal attempt by Tyler Tate that missed wide left.
The Flashes offense is on the field with Nate Strock making his first start.
The defense did its job, holding the Falcons to just a 37-yard Tate field goal.
The Flashes just can't afford mistakes like the one that handed the Falcons a short field and a free possession.
2:06 ... A major error on special teams for Kent State. The Flashes finally forced a punt by Bowling Green from deep in its own end, but when the rolling punt hit the foot of Kent State's Jerrell Foster, the Falcons recovered at the KSU 35. Bowling Green looking to add to the lead.
5:47 ... Bowling Green 14, Kent State 0
The Falcons turned a 3rd-and-12 into an easy 82-yard touchdown as wide receiver Roger Lewis got behind the defense on the post, an easy mark for quarterback James Knapke.
The chance to get off the field on third and long, however, came courtesy of Elcee Refuge, who made a nice play in the backfield to drop Givens for a 5-yard loss. Refuge is playing linebacker tonight as the Flashes try to get more speed in the secondary to match the Falcons.
8:17 ... Bowling Gren 7, Kent State 0
The Falcons strike first with a 58-yard drive ending in a 6-yard touchdown run by running back Andre Givens.
Travis Greene is out for this game, so Fred Coppet got the start at running back for Bowling Green. But Coppet limped off the field earlier in this first quarter, leading to Givens taking over.
All three running backs have had an impact for the Falcons offense this season.
Givens already has five carries for 55 yards, including a 33-yard run to set up the score.
Kent State has had trouble bringing down Givens, missing several tackles on that 33-yarded, and then allowing Givens to carry a tackler into the end zone.
10:50 ... The Flashes lost three yards on their first drive as Strock was sacked by Gus Schwieterman on third and six.
After a short punt, Bowling Green will begin its second drive at its own 42.
12:13 ... Bowling Green's first drive reached the red zone, thanks to a long pass connection. But the Falcons were forced to settle for a 36-yard field goal attempt by Tyler Tate that missed wide left.
The Flashes offense is on the field with Nate Strock making his first start.
PREGAME
Hard to blame the fans with temperatures just over 30 degrees and falling.
The warm press box is packed, however.
With top running back Travis Greene out for the Falcons tonight, Fred Coppet will get the start.
7:37 p.m. ... The Flashes have given us some surprises during warm-ups with a few changes to the apparent starting lineup.
In an attempt to get faster to match the speed of Bowling Green, the Flashes appear to be prepared to move Najee Murray from cornerback to the star position. There had been some talk earlier in the week of freshman corner Jerrell Foster playing the star spot while Elcee Refuge moved from star to linebacker.
Foster was working out wight he twos during practice.
Tad France will make his first career start at right guard. His first career action on the offensive line came in the fourth quarter of last week's game against Toledo.
6:45 p.m. ... Bowling Green will be wearing their "soot" uniforms tonight. Soot means a dark grey, and with orange numbers. In person, the grey looks quite a bit darker than the picture in this tweet from Matthew Daley to the right.From the press box, it is difficult to read the orange numbers against the dark background. That or my 44-year-old eyes aren't what they used to be.
6:30 p.m. ... We are an hour and a half away from kickoff here at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The team arrived just a few minutes ago and quarterbacks and wide receivers are on the field warming up.
This will be the first career start for Kent State redshirt freshman Nathan Strock at quarterback. Head coach Paul Haynes said Colin Reardon will also see action for the Golden Flashes. When we will see Reardon and how much he will play is not known.
There are a few other changes for the Flashes, who are battered and bruised along the offensive line coming into this one.
Eli Sayre, a fifth-year senior defensive lineman, has moved to offensive line this week. The Flashes were worried they may not have enough bodies with Terrell Johnson and Nathan Puthoff both unlikely to play due to injury, and Wayne Scott and Jim Katusha both expected to play despite injuries.
Sayre had to switch his number from 55 to 58 this week because left tackle Reno Reda wears the No. 55 on the offensive side of the football.
Freshmen Connor Shinsky and Stefano Millen are on the trip this week, but don't expect the Flashes to burn their redshirts.
The Flashes will also be without Nate Vance on the defensive line. He will not be in uniform tonight.
6:15 p.m. ... When we parked our car here at Doyt L. Perry Stadium, we happened to find a spot right next to some Kent State tailgaters led by family and friends of Golden Flashes freshman defensive back Marcus Elliott. Hope they have a good time, along with some more friends from the Toledo area who are reportedly on their way.Elliott and teammates Nick and Nate Holley all played their high school football at nearby Toledo Whitmer, and we expect a large contingent of Panthers fans to be in the stands tonight.
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