BG: 20 for 20

[jpfalcon09]

Since we're 20 days out from the beginning of the season, I thought it would be fun to reflect back on the past 20 years of BG football, counting down from 20 to 1 (in my opinion) of the best of the best Falcon football has offered us. Feel free to provide your own memories and connections to the games.

#20:

September 3. 2009
Bowling Green 31
Troy 14

The beginning of the Dave Clawson era opened with a bang as the Falcons hosted perennial SBC power Troy for the season opener. The Trojans had been on top of the Sun Belt for quite some time and featured offensive playmakers that would wind up in the NFL (Jerrell Jernigan and Levi Brown to name a couple).

After a slow start which saw BG down 14-0 early in the 2nd quarter, Tyler Sheehan and Freddie Barnes connected twice to tie the game before halftime. BG would then put the defensive clamps on in the second half, en route to scoring 17 fourth quarter points, including an Adrien Spencer pick six to seal the game late.

Want to re-live that game? Check it out here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NHVbDScqHU" target="_blank

[jpfalcon09]

#19:

October 2nd, 2004

Bowling Green 70
Temple 16

Omar Jacobs threw for 367 yards and 4 TDs as the Falcons routed the Owls in early October in Philadelphia. PJ Pope managed to hit over 100 yards on only 8 carries, including a 77-yard late run in the second quarter to make it 42-9 and put the game out of reach. Jacobs connected with Charles Sharon, Steve Sanders, Cole Magner and Pope, all in the first half. The defense held the Owls to 305 yards of total offense, including 97 yards rushing on 35 carries. The vixtory would be the first of six straight for BG en route to a 9-3 season.

[Falconfreak90]

Nice work, JP. That Temple game was crazy...and a year later we hang 70 on them again. Looking forward to #18. Perhaps a game with the great #18 Brian McClure?

[jpfalcon09]

Nice work, JP. That Temple game was crazy...and a year later we hang 70 on them again. Looking forward to #18. Perhaps a game with the great #18 Brian McClure?

I wish I could include Brian but this only covers games from the last 20 years.

[jpfalcon09]

#18:

October 5, 2002

Bowling Green 72
Ohio 21

The Falcons throttled the Bobcats after coming off two consecutive wins against P5 competition (more on those games to come) in a sign of what the season had to hold. Josh Harris threw for 297 yards and 4 TDs while the Falcons rushed for a combined 349 yards in an absolute rout of their then cross-divisional rivals. The 692 yards of total offense would be a school record which would be broken in 2015 (vs. UMass).

[jpfalcon09]

#17:

November 29, 2013

Bowling Green 24
Buffalo 7

The final game of the 2013 season was for all the marbles, the winner would move on to the MAC Championship Game to face an NIU team that would be undefeated and looking to earn a BCS bid for the second consecutive year. On a cold late November afternoon, the Falcons traveled into Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY for the de facto MAC East division championship game.

The BG defense would prove to be stout, allowing only 236 yards of total offense, while Travis Greene ran for 125 and a TD. Matt Johnson himself had a day, both throwing and rushing for a TD as the Falcon offense was able to overcome Buffalo's tough defense, led by eventual first-round NFL draft pick Khalil Mack. Cameron truss was able to seal the game late with an interception of Buffalo QB Joe Licata.

Want to re-live this game? Check it out here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntvxABlTmuc" target="_blank

[Falconfreak90]

Nice work, JP. That Temple game was crazy...and a year later we hang 70 on them again. Looking forward to #18. Perhaps a game with the great #18 Brian McClure?

I wish I could include Brian but this only covers games from the last 20 years.

Ahhh...so I missed that. lol.

[jpfalcon09]

#16:

August 30, 2008

Bowling Green 27
#25 Pittsburgh 17

The season opener in 2008 saw the Falcons face off against a Pitt team facing high expectations. Star running back LeSean McCoy was set to dominate the then Big East, and the Panthers were picked to contend for a conference title. The Falcons were entering the season picked to compete for the MAC East title and were still licking their wounds from a 63-7 drubbing at the hands of Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl in January.

The Falcons started the game extremely slow and found themselves down 14-0 early. However, two TD catches by Jimmy Schiedler got BG back in the game as they trailed by three at half. In the second half, the defense stepped up to limit McCoy and the Pitt offense to no points and forced three turnovers. Anthony Turner and Tyler Sheehan capped off the game with designed runs for scores as the Falcons beat a ranked opponent for the first time since 2003. Unfortunately for Falcon fans, this win would largely be squandered in a year of almosts which would see the departure of Gregg Brandon at season's end.

Want to re-live that day? Watch it here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfwtbmFcx0k" target="_blank

[jpfalcon09]

#15:

September 1, 2007

Bowling Green 32
Minnesota 31

After a 4-8 campaign in 2006, the Falcons were looking for something to build on for the 2007 season and the first opportunity came on the road against the Golden Gophers. After BG took a 21-0 lead, Minnesota battled back to tie and eventually take a 24-21 lead in the 4th quarter. A final drive by BG made possible by Tyler Sheehan and Freddie Barnes allowed Sinisa Vrvilo to tie the game at 24 and force OT.

In OT, the Gophers struck first on an 8-yard TD run to go up 31-24. BG answered on their possession as Sheehan found Marques Parks for a TD, and then decided to go for two and the win. On the final play, Sheehan rolled right as Barnes was in motion to hit the WR in the side of the end zone for the two points and the victory.

Watch the final play here, courtesy of the Godfather. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjYQOluaPDU" target="_blank

[Falconfreak90]

I believe this was the first game ever on the BiG ten network...and the BTN announcers were less than thrilled calling that final play. lol. Great ending...

[MarkL]

It was the second game on BTN.

The first was Appalachian State at Michigan.

[Siborg]

Was it also the first game at Minnesota's new stadium?

[Schadenfreude]

It was the second game on BTN.

The first was Appalachian State at Michigan.

[jpfalcon09]

Was it also the first game at Minnesota's new stadium?

This game was played at the Metrodome. TCF Bank Field opened in 2009.

[Flipper]

Gotta think the whompings that were laid on the Herd in 1998 ...I think it was 98...and 2004 will be in the top 5. They are for me