#FREE RIDE GAMES FOR MAC MAC#
The strides this defense has made since 2020 cannot be overstated, and this caliber of defensive play can turn any MAC game into a winnable one. Bowling Green stifles opponents’ aerial attacks to a 53 percent completion rate and 148 passing yards per game, while forcing an average of two interceptions. Photo by David Berding/Getty Imagesįerguson is joined by other defensive backs Devin Taylor and Jordan Anderson in one of the most productive secondaries in the country. Bowling Green CB Davon Ferguson has proven to be a stellar open field tackler at the cornerback position, garnering 5.5 tackles for loss in four games. Ferguson recorded two pivotal third down sacks against Minnesota and he ranks first on the roster with 5.5 tackles for loss - an extremely high number for a cornerback. Coach Lewis has shown an affinity for calling the corner blitz, and that play is paying dividends. Another havoc raiser on defense is cornerback Davon Ferguson. He currently leads the team with 36 tackles, and he is writing a cover letter for the MAC Defensive Player of the Year candidacy with three tackles for loss, a sack, a pick six, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery through four games. The junior outside linebacker has been a menace to opposing offenses all season. Only four touchdowns have been scored on this defense over the last three weeks.ĭarren Anders serves as the leader of the unit. From the blitzes to the coverages he draws up, Bowling Green consistently executes perfect plays and the unit hasn’t revealed many weaknesses since the opener at Tennessee. First-year defensive coordinator Eric Lewis has done a masterful job of play calling since his offseason promotion from his role as cornerbacks coach. The ingredient behind the sudden breakthrough of Bowling Green lies within the defense.
As a result, the Falcons now ride a 2-game win streak entering MAC play after their best non-conference showing since 2015. The Falcons held the Golden Gophers to five completions on 13 passing attempts, picked off two passes in crunch time, and reasonably contained a Minnesota ground attack spearheaded by a top 10 rusher in the FBS. Instead, the opposite story arc unfolded in non-conference play.īy means of a relentless defense, Bowling Green repeatedly shut down Minnesota and pulled off a stunning 14-10 upset in Minneapolis - college football’s largest upset in terms of the point spread since 2012. With a horde of key contributors departing the program this offseason, it appeared things could get even drearier for a team that hasn’t finished better than 4-8 in six years. The Falcons’ rushing defense was stuck at the absolute bottom of the barrel less than a year ago. The defense deteriorated every year since the 2015 MAC title season, finishing as low as the second worst scoring defense in the FBS in 2020. In year three of the Scot Loeffler era, Falcons football is finally back.īowling Green entered the 2021 season with eight consecutive losses by 28 points or greater. Nobody outside the confines of Bowling Green’s locker room saw this coming. The Golden Flashes and their high-flying offense are considerable favorites, but they must be wary of an upstart Falcons defense which suffocated Minnesota en route to a monumental upset last weekend. While Bowling Green has a stranglehold on the all-time series, Kent State is presented with an opportunity to achieve a feat its never done - beat Bowling Green in four consecutive matchups. The Falcons and Golden Flashes battle for the trophy on an annual basis. The Anniversary Award was first handed out in 1985 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of two Ohio-based academic institutions - Bowling Green State University and Kent State University. Last meeting: Kent State 62, Toledo 24 - November 28, 2020Ī rivalry trophy is on the line as MAC play kicks off in the East division.All-time series: Bowling Green leads, 60-22-6.
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