Bowling Green can't overcome early woes in 21-14 loss to Tarleton State
The Falcons' late-game rally came up six yards short, showing pivotal weaknesses along the way.
30 pass attempts. Almost 300 passing yards. Over 100 rushing yards. No interceptions.
No, this is not the statline for Tarleton State (2-0). It's the statline for Bowling Green (0-1). Despite this performance that– just from looks– you'd assume won the game, the Falcons managed only one touchdown.
The Texans, meanwhile, continued their prodigious winning ways. They beat an FBS opponent for the second time in as many years (they beat Army last year in double overtime), and add more pieces of evidence to their case that they should be the next FCS program to get an invitation to participate in the highest division of football in the land.
The game had about as auspicious a start as you could ask for. Coming right off a 16-yard pass from Jay Kastantin to Jeremiah Scoby on the third play of the game, Austin Dendy ran 11 yards up the middle before gifting the ball to Fredd Adams of the Texans. It was all downhill from there.
A Tarleton State touchdown drive was followed by a Bowling Green punt, and the Texans going four-and-out the next drive was not capitalized on by the Falcons whatsoever, who punted. Tarleton State would put up another 10 points before Bowling Green finally materialized a touchdown drive in the dying moments of the half, down 17-7.
The Falcon defense got a lot more hard-nosed after the half. The Texans only scored three more points the entire game, with the rest of their drives ending in a punt, a fumble, and two turnovers-on-downs. But the Bowling Green offense couldn't take advantage, misfiring time and again.
A field goal drive to bring them within a score of tying the game was followed up by another fumble on the first play after getting a crucial fourth-and-short stop on defense.
The two teams traded field goals, again bringing the Falcons to within a score. After the Texans went four-and out, Bowling Green drove to the Tarleton State eight-yard line before also failing to convert on a fourth-and-one rush up the middle. The Texans responded immediately with an 81-yard run by Tylan Hines on the first play from scrimmage, almost ending the game right then and there.
BGSU was then gifted a miracle by Kade Kostus, who punched the ball out for a fumble, and JoJo Johnson, who jumped atop it to force an offensive touchback.
Presented with a final opportunity to right this match's many wrongs, the Falcons marched all the way to the Tarleton State end zone again, but came up agonizingly short on the last play of the game.
Now, it would be unfair to sit here and pretend that this should've been a cakewalk of a game. Tarleton State is very, very good– better than a solid chunk of FBS programs. The Texans have beaten teams from conferences considered the MAC's better in the recent past. That being said, there are significant concerns to be had about Bowling Green's offense here.
Despite the Falcons never leading, it felt like they bottled this game from the start. It really did look like an engine misfiring. Every promising stint was followed up by a turnover, or a scheme just not aligning properly.
The defense needs a substantial amount of work, too. They kept this game close, especially after the half, but allowing over 450 total yards of offense, including 258 rushing yards, is a major concern.
However, there are positives... if you can believe it. Jay Kastantin looked quite good in his BGSU debut, going 24-of-30 for 262 yards and showing all of those unmeasurables you like in a quarterback– grit, cut of the jib, poise, et al– alleviating a good amount of concern about his readiness or qualifications going into the season.
EDGE rusher Kade Kostus also did a lot of good work in getting into the TSU backfield, with a TFL, a sack and a forced fumble on the afternoon, while Dorian Pringle led all defenders with 16 tackles.
It was not enough on this day, however, as Tarleton State would be the ones to cash in on their collective talents to win.
Tarleton State's non-conference schedule continues with McNeese State on the road next weekend, while Bowling Green heads off to Ames to play Iowa State.
