Toledo Blade: Boise gives BGSU the blues

[edr4225]

Until the fourth quarter, Bowling Green State University's offense looked as sad as it has in years, and by then it was much too late.

The much-hyped matchup between Boise State and BGSU was just that. The Broncos won 48-20, dominating the Falcons in every facet of the game in front of 30,561 at Bronco Stadium.

"This is the first time since I've been here we didn't have any answers," BGSU coach Gregg Brandon said.

It was the worst loss for the Falcons since a 34-point defeat against Toledo on Nov. 22, 2000.

As against Wisconsin in this year's season opener, the defense had no answer for the running game. Unlike the Wisconsin game, the offense couldn't keep the Falcons in the game.

BGSU's offense had 304 yards, but a chunk of that was in the fourth quarter when the outcome was not in doubt. The Broncos' committee of running backs - most notably Lee Marks and Ian Johnson - had 337 yards on the ground.

"If we can't stop the run we're going to struggle the rest of the way," Brandon said.

Boise State put up 546 yards on the Falcons, holding the ball for 37:34 of the 60 minutes.

"I don't think fatigue got to us that much," linebacker Teddy Piepkow said. "I think it was more mentally, we were kind of suffering where the idea is, we can't stop these guys."

The game's quarterbacks were lauded at the start of the season, but each had followed a different path to this game. BGSU's Omar Jacobs, who had been stellar, and Boise State's Jared Zabransky, who had failed to live up to expectations, seemed to switch places last night.

Zabransky returned to his 2004 form, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for another, completing 16 of 23 passes for 202 yards and rushing for 64 yards.

Jacobs, at times markedly wild on his passes, was 18-of-36 for 220 yards, his lowest yardage total since his first career game against Oklahoma last season. With four minutes left in the third quarter, redshirt freshman Anthony Turner briefly came in at quarterback and Jacobs moved to wide receiver.

"I was off the whole night," Jacobs said.

Usually successful out of the gate, BGSU had just three yards of offense in the first quarter and only one score by halftime. The Falcons' passing game was immediately snuffed, as Bronco defenders knocked away two passes on BGSU's first possession and one pass on its second possession. The Broncos had five pass breakups in the first half, seven in the game.

Boise State drove 70 or more yards in each of its first two possessions, but the BGSU defense made stops in the red zone both times, forcing the Broncos to kick two field goals for a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Falcons scored early in the second when Jacobs found Steve Sanders for an eight-yard completion, and a missed extra point left the score tied at 6.

But any momentum BGSU might have gained was swatted away when running back Lee Marks returned the Falcons' kickoff 92 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.

BGSU moved the ball just 12 yards on its next possession, and the Broncos answered with a touchdown. The Falcons didn't move an inch on offense on their next possession, and Boise State responded with a touchdown, going into halftime with a 27-6 lead.

"You can't put a good football team like Boise out there over and over and over," Brandon said.

The Falcons were hapless in the third quarter, giving up two more touchdowns. Their other two scores came in the fourth quarter after falling behind 48-6. Sanders had another touchdown catch with 9:30 left, and tight end Ruben Ruiz had a three-yard reception.

Sanders was a bright spot in the game, catching seven balls, including a few with tight coverage.

The Falcons play next against Temple Oct. 1 in their home opener. Jacobs said it is up to him and the other captains to make sure the team is ready for the game.

"It was an aberration," Jacobs said. "That wasn't us, that wasn't Bowling Green football. We have to bounce back from that."

[BelieveNBG]

"I don't think fatigue got to us that much," linebacker Teddy Piepkow said. "I think it was more mentally, we were kind of suffering where the idea is, we can't stop these guys."

This quote sums it up. What kind of chance do we have with guys thinking like this? If you think you can't, you better believe you won't. Are we really that soft? Talk about absolutely no fire. It is time for somebody to dig deep within themselves and put some pressure on the QB and stop the run before it gets to the secondary. It's time to find someone with the fire to get it done.

[Falconfreak90]

"I don't think fatigue got to us that much," linebacker Teddy Piepkow said. "I think it was more mentally, we were kind of suffering where the idea is, we can't stop these guys."

This quote sums it up. What kind of chance do we have with guys thinking like this? If you think you can't, you better believe you won't. Are we really that soft? Talk about absolutely no fire. It is time for somebody to dig deep within themselves and put some pressure on the QB and stop the run before it gets to the secondary. It's time to find someone with the fire to get it done.

I heard that....I don't care if the players are Freshman or Seniors...Find someone that wants to knock the snot outta people and lay the smack down. Defense is all about attitude...and ours is sorely lacking at the moment.

[rocketfootball]

That was one loud and crazy crowd for just over 30K. They were loud on every down too, not just 3rd down. I wish Rocket games were like that.

[Falconboy]

That was one loud and crazy crowd for just over 30K. They were loud on every down too, not just 3rd down. I wish Rocket games were like that.

The "noise" at Boise was nothing compared to what we had to deal with at Wisky or OK last year. But we played as though it were 100,000 fans screaming at the top of their lungs.

[Flipper]

"I don't think fatigue got to us that much," linebacker Teddy Piepkow said. "I think it was more mentally, we were kind of suffering where the idea is, we can't stop these guys."

This quote sums it up. What kind of chance do we have with guys thinking like this? If you think you can't, you better believe you won't. Are we really that soft? Talk about absolutely no fire. It is time for somebody to dig deep within themselves and put some pressure on the QB and stop the run before it gets to the secondary. It's time to find someone with the fire to get it done.

I highlighted that quote in another thread. That is NOT an acceptable attitude for a SR captain to display