Eastern Michigan University’s 65 total yards was 495 short of Bowling Green State University’s total on Saturday.
Only four of those yards came from the Eagles’ passing game in a 58-7 loss to BGSU on Senior Day at Rynearson Stadium.
“We tried about everything we had,” interim coach Stan Parrish said. “We couldn’t protect, we dropped balls and we didn’t throw balls well. It’s a group effort.”
EMU quarterbacks Brogan Roback, Tyler Benz and Mark Iannotti went a combined 1-for-18. Roback (1-for-12) threw the team’s only completion on its first offensive play of the game – a four-yard pass to wide receiver Quincy Jones.
Roback and Benz each tossed an interception, as well.
Running back Ryan Brumfield started in the backfield for the Eagles, having nine carries for 29 yards. Senior Javonti Greene also hauled nine carries, but went for 23 yards.
As the Eagles fall to 2-9 (1-6 Mid-American Conference), BGSU’s third-straight win by 42 points moves it up to 8-3 and 6-1 in the MAC, keeping its name at the top of the East Division.
“You don’t get there by accident. I’ll be surprised if they’re not in the MAC Championship game after seeing them in person,” Parrish said.
True freshman wide receiver Ronnie Moore lit the Falcons’ offense on fire with a breakout performance. He had seven catches for 161 yards and three touchdowns, all of which made way for a season-best.
Behind those passes was quarterback Matt Johnson who threw for 264 yards, an interception and three TD passes all to Moore, going 13-for-23.
“They protected [him] well and he threw well. He’s a good athlete,” Parrish said.
The 51-point difference was a close game early on.
After BGSU kicker Tyler Tate posted a 30-yard field goal on the first drive of the game, linebacker Sean Kurtz enjoyed his Senior Day with a 10-yard pick-six that gave the Eagles a 7-3 lead after the PAT with 6:36 left in the first quarter.
Twenty-six seconds later, Johnson hit Moore on a short pass and ran it up the right sideline for 74 yards to put the Falcons back ahead 10-7 after the PAT.
That was the beginning of a 55-0 run for BGSU.
“We just kind of got overwhelmed. We don’t have that kind of wiggle room. You just have to call it like it is,” Parrish said. “We got dominated in every phase. They’re a good team and we did not play well.”
Towards the end of the first quarter, Johnson and Moore connected again on a 22-yard TD pass with seven seconds left to put the Falcons up 17-7.
While all EMU could muster was four three-and-outs and an interception in the second quarter, the Falcons put up another 17 points with a 28-yard touchdown run by Travis Greene and Moore’s third TD reception of the day from 34-yards out on fourth-and-eight after Johnson spun away from pressure in the pocket.
The Falcons led 34-7 at halftime.
Greene ran in his second and final TD 5:19 into the third quarter as he scampered into the end zone untouched from two yards out, putting BGSU ahead 41-7. He had 15 touches for 126 yards.
The Falcons kept tacking on their lead late in the third quarter and into the fourth.
Cornerback Will Watson scooped up a loose ball and took it 34 yards the other way for a touchdown after it slipped out of Roback’s hand when he got crushed in the pocket. BGSU led 51-7 after the third quarter.
Freshman back William Houston finished off the Falcons’ scoring frenzy with a 44-yard rushing touchdown with 5:59 remaining in the game. That would be the only scoring play in the fourth quarter.
Game Notes:
BGSU had the ball for 39:23 compared to EMU’s 20:37.
BGSU had 24 first downs to EMU’s four.
The Eagles had 11 three-and-outs on 14 total drives.
No EMU drive lasted more than four plays or longer than 2:04.
EMU running back Bronson Hill had five rushes for seven yards, his lowest in both categories this season.
Kurtz’s interception was his second of the season and the team’s first interception for a TD this season.
BGSU’s William Houston ran for 84 yards on seven carries. He had 79 yards on 35 carries prior to the game.
Attendance: 1751 – a season low at Rynearson Stadium.
