———End of Game, 42-28 Bowling Green———

1:01:  UB attempts the obligatory onside kick, but the ball bounces harmlessly out of bounds.  Bowling Green takes possesion at UB’s 44-yard line.  Bowling Green kneels on the ball to run out the clock, ending the game.  Final score, Bowling Green 42-28.

1:01:  From the BGSU seven-yard line, Anderson shakes a would-be tackler, runs toward the endzone and forces the ball across the goal line.  After instant replay confirms the touchdown, UB converts a two-point attempt, bringing the score to 42-28, Bowling Green.

2:02:  Via check-down passes, Anderson has moved UB to the BGSU 20-yard line.  The progress down the field is encouraging for the Bulls, but the Falcon defenders are letting everything go on underneath them - they don’t want to get beat over the top for a big play. 

4:15:  Bowling Green has appropriately adjusted their offensive game-plan.  With a sizable lead, the Falcons have turned to their running game to wind down the clock.  The Bulls, not surprisingly, have started using their timeouts to stop the clock and extend the game.  In a lopsided game, this strategy from UB has its detractors - why bother?  However, I respect the attitude that head coach Jeff Quinn is putting forward by extending the game in whatever way possible; to not call timeouts in this situation would be to indicate to everyone that you have, in fact, given up.

7:10:  Buffalo is able to take advantage of a roughing the passer penalty, moving the ball up near midfield.  After Oliver turns a short pass from Anderson into a 23-yard gain, the Bulls have the ball on the Bowling Green 25-yard line.  A holding penalty puts the Bulls in an awkward spot, however, and BGSU is able to stifle the drive.  After a fourth down pass falls harmlessly to the ground, BGSU takes possession of the ball with just over five minutes to go.

9:25:  UB is now caught between a rock and a hard place: The Bulls are a run-reliant team, not a passing powerhouse.  But with the score 42-20, Buffalo must take to the air - an offensive scheme for which the Bulls are not well-prepared.  The lack of passing prowess is showing as almost every attempt results in Anderson getting flushed out of the pocket and having to throw the ball away.  The only type of success in the passing game is coming on short routes.

10:25: Bowling Green seems to have taken its foot off the gas pedal.  The pass-heavy attack that BGSU usually runs has taken a backseat to Pettigrew, who is getting the majority of touches for the Falcon offense.  On a third down attempt with seven yards to go for a new set of downs, BGSU mercifully keeps the ball on the ground, picking up two yards.  The Bowling Green punt rolls into the endzone and UB tkaes over at their 20-yard line.

13:27: Apologies for some personal technical difficulties.  Don’t worry too much, though, Bulls fans.  Like a broken record, Buffalo cannot move the ball past their own 40-yard line and is forced to punt.  After the punt rolls into the endzone (the Bulls are playing with the wind at their backs again), BGSU takes over at their 20-yard line. 

———End of Third Quarter, 42-20, Bowling Green———

45:  On the first play of the Falcons drive, Schilz rolls out of the pocket and finds Kamar Jordan for the receiver’s second touchdown of the day.  The 64-yard pass brings the score 42-20.  After a strong start to the contest, the Bulls have let this game slip out of their hands

1:42:  The Bulls offense, which has struggled mightily in the second half, trots back onto the field.  Quarterback Chazz Anderson continues to miss his spots, he has only six completions on the day so far.  UB has little chance of coming back if Anderson can’t find his stride (and his accuracy).  Three straight passes fall incomplete, however, and UB punts again.  The ball sits at BGSU’s 35-yard line as the Falcon offense comes onto the field.

4:20:  Another poor punt from the Bulls puts Bowling green at UB’s 37-yard line.  The strong winds seem to be playing mental games with kickers for both teams.  BGSU converts a key third down attempt on another crossing route, a marked weak spot in the Bulls’ pass defense.  After a couple running plays from Pettigrew moves the ball to the Buffalo three-yard line, freshman Jamel Martin gets into the endzone for BGSU, making the score 35-20, Bowling Green

5:30:  Murie receives the kick for UB and returns it to the 29-yard line.  On third down, Oliver breaks off a 70-yard touchdown run, but the score is called back on a holding penalty - a crucial mistake for the Bulls.  After the penalty, Anderson’s third down screen pass falls incomplete, and UB is forced to punt…again.

8:30:  On a rare running play for Bowling Green, junior running back John Pettigrew bounces outside and carries the ball down to the Buffalo 16-yard line.  On the next play, linebacker Khalil Mack finally makes an impact on the game, tacking Pettigrew for a five-yard loss.  Despite the loss, Bowling Green sticks to the ground attack and it pays dividends as Pettigrew punches the ball into the endzone, making the score 28-20, Bowling Green.

11:00: The Falcon defense jumps all over the Bulls’ poor field position, and Buffalo punter Jake Schum is forced to kick the ball away with his heels on the out-of bounds endline.  Schum cannot keep his punt below the strong winds and the ball gets held up in midair, putting the BGSU offense in business at UB’s 40-yard line.

11:45:  After three quick incompletions, BGSU is forced to punt.  As noted earlier, the wind is playing a huge factor in today’s game and the Falcon punter Brian Schmiedebusch is able to boom 76-yard punt (with a favorable roll) - UB’s offense gets their second chance of the half with a drive starting at their own four-yard line. 

15:00:  UB receives to start the second half.  They will be attempting to drive the ball into the wind in the third quarter.  Sophomore Brandon Murie returns the ball to the 33-yard line and the UB offense jogs onto the field.  Via an Oliver run, UB moves the ball up to the 47-yard line.  However, Anderson misses two throws and UB is forced to punt.  Bowling Green takes over at their 20-yard line.

Halftime:  Bowling Green’s offense, and spefically Matt Schilz, has overcome a slow start and seems to be hitting their stride in the passing game.  BGSU is doing well to expose the Bulls’ defense in the middle of the field as Buffalo is getting burnt by slants and crossing routes.  The safeties, Isaac Baugh and Josh Copeland, need to step up their play in the second half if the Bulls want to succeed.

Halftime: Congrats to Branden Oliver for setting the new single season rushing mark for the Bulls.  Not surprisingly, he is the sole bright spot for the otherwise struggling UB offense.  In fact, without the two interceptions by UB’s defense, the Bulls would probably be facing a much bigger second half deficit. 

———Halftime, 21-20, Bowling Green———

1:57:  The Bulls offense, which has struggled to move the ball today, goes three-and-out again.  Bowling Green takes over at their own 25-yard line with three timeouts and 1:17 showing on the clock.  UB’s defense catches a tough break after an unsporstsmanlike, “high-hit” penalty moves the ball to the Bulls’ 30-yard line.  According to the rules, the ref made the right call, but the rule itself is the problem - the hit was a solid football tackle that most defensive coaches would encourage.  With the ball now on the 19-yard line and thirty seconds left in the first half, Schilz finds Cooper on a crossing route and the extra point clanks off the upright and then goes through, pushing Bowling Green ahead of UB, 21-20.

3:45: After a poor kickoff, Bowling Green takes over at their own 45-yard line.  A well-thrown ball moves the Falcons into Buffalo territory as the clock winds down towards the two-minute warning.  On fourth down, Bowling Green completes a pass, but cornerback Najja Johnson makes a huge tackle, stopping the Falcons short of the first down marker.  UB takes over with two minutes left.

7:30:  On a third down carry, Oliver gains eight yards, bringing him to 1339 yards on the year - a new single season rushing record for UB (he will, of course, add to this record throughout the game).  The Bulls’ drive continues down the field, the ball is inside the 10-yard line.  Bowling Green defense stands tall, however, and Patrick Clarke jogs onto the field to try his first field goal with the wind in his face.  Like last time, he splits the uprights and the score is now 20-14, Bulls.

10:06: UB takes the BGSU kick-off back to their own 30-yard line, 1st and 10 for Buffalo.  On third down, Oliver takes a swing pass in the backfield and makes a pair of Falcon defenders miss.  He moves the ball to Buffalo’s 42-yard line, keeping the Bulls drive alive.  In typical fashion, Oliver is running hard, always falling forward - he needs only seven more yards to eclipse Starks’ record.

10:45:  The Bulls go three-and-out after an uneventful drive that featured two running plays and an incomplete pass.  Bowling Green is able to get one hand on UB’s fourth down punt, but not a full block.  Off the deflected punt, the Falcons take over at UB’s 28-yard line.  On the first play of the ensuing BGSU possession, Schilz finds senior Eugene Cooper for a 28-yard touchdown pass, making the score 17-14, UB.

13:59:  With the teams switching ends of the field, Bowling Green now has the wind at their back.  The advantage is clear immediately, as the Falcons start their drive at the 40-yard line, their best starting field position of the day.  However, they cannot take advantage of this favorable starting position, three and out for the Falcons.  The strong wind drives the BGSU punt through the endzone for a touchback, UB will take over at the 20-yard line.

15:00: With the ball on the Bowling Green’s 13-yard line, UB looks to open the second quarter with another score.  On a remarkable third down play, Oliver, in typical workhorse fashion, pushes a pile of would be tacklers for an extra three yards, converting a third down attempt into a new set of downs.  On the next play, Oliver is rewarded for his effort as he runs the ball into the endzone from six yards out, making the score 17-7, Bulls.  Buffalo is doing well to take advantage of BGSU miscues (two interceptions, two touchdowns as a result).

———- End of 1st Quarter, 10-7 University at Buffalo—————

2:45:  Schilz gets the Bowling Green drive rolling with a nice pass on third down to sophomore Shaun Joplin.  The momentum created by the third down conversion is eliminated by another UB interception - freshman Courtney Lester picks off Schilz near midfield.  After a short return, UB offense jogs out on the field.  The Bulls’ defense is giving the offense great field position - UB needs to take advantage.

4:40: The Bulls take over at their own 42-yard line from the BGSU kick-off.  After two running plays, Anderson’s third down pass falls incomplete and UB is forced to punt after just three plays.  Like Schilz, Anderson seems to be struggling with the wind (this is odd, since the wind is still at UB’s back).  Bowling Green takes over at their own 19-yard line.

5:00:  On second down, quarterback Chazz Anderson throws an interception to Falcon linebacker BooBoo Gates, who returns the ball to UB’s 6-yard line.  On the first play, Schilz throws a fade to the endzone to wide receiver Kamar Jordan, who easily jumps up and grabs the ball.  The Jordan touchdown brings the score to 10-7 in favor of UB.

7:58:  After another long kick from UB, Bowling Green starts at the 20-yard line again.  The Falcons are sticking with the no-huddle offense and Schilz is doing well to keep his composure at the line of scrimmage as the play calls come in from the sideline.  That being said, the Bowling Green offense stalls again and the Falcons are forced to punt.  UB’s ball at their own 34-yard line. 

10:27:   UB’s kickoff goes through the back of the endzone and its Bowling Green’s ball at the 20-yard line.  The wind is definitely impacting the game, UB should try to take advantage of this while the wind is at their back.  BGSU moves the ball closer to midfield, relying on the legs of running back Anthon Samuel, a change of pace for the Falcons.  Near midfield, Schilz drops back to pass, but the pass is tipped at the line and intercepted by the Bulls’ Stephen Means.  Means sees nothing but green and returns the ball 42 yards for the UB touchdown, 10-0 Bulls!

13:30: After a poor punt, UB’s offense takes over at the 44-yard line.  Two runs from Oliver have the Bulls down to the 30-yard line.  Quite frankly, it is only a matter of time before Oliver eclipses Starks’ rushing record.  Another chunk of yards from Oliver has moved the Bulls into the redzone.  The UB drive stalls after an incomplete pass in the endzone - kicker Patrick Clark trots on to attempt a field goal.  Clark splits the uprights from 31 yards away, 3-0 in favor of the Bulls.

15:00:  BGSU takes the opening kickoff to the 18-yard line.  After a first down run, the Falcons go to a no-huddle offense, but the strong winds seem to be hampering BGSU’s passing attack.  Two incomplete passes from Schilz lead to a Bowling Green punt.

Pregame: After introducing and paying tribute to the 20 graduating seniors, UB elects to defer - they will kick off to BGSU to start the game.

Pregame: In the interest of full disclosure, the live-blog experience is new to me, but I learn from the best, so this blog will be no downgrade from Ben T.‘s usual contributions.  Also in the interest of full disclosure, I had to battle a turkey and stuffing hangover to make it out to Amherst for today’s noon kickoff - hopefully I slept off all of the tryptophan. 

Pregame: UB’s Branden Oliver is only 66 yards away from James Starks’ single-season rushing record.  Considering his strong performance last week, it is safe to say that the Bulls’ offensive scheme will rely heavily on Oliver’s legs.  For Bowling Green, quarterback Matt Schilz will look to continue his strong play; the sophomore has 24 touchdown passes this season.  Today, he will be looking for his favorite target, Kamar Jordan, who has 1,015 receiving yards this season.  Stopping the Schilz-Jordan connection will be vital to UB’s success

Pregame: The University at Buffalo Bulls (3-8, 2-5 MAC) and Bowling Green State University Falcons (4-7, 2-5 MAC) meet today to conclude each team’s regular season schedule.  Last week, UB handled Akron 51-10 while BGSU suffered a loss at the hands of Ohio University, 29-28.  With neither team in the MAC postseason picture, it will be interesting to see which squad carries more intensity into the game.