The 2013 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Through the 2013 MAC Championship Game, the Falcons were led by fifth-year head coach Dave Clawson. On December 10, Clawson left to become the new head coach at Wake Forest; the school named special teams coordinator Adam Scheier as interim head coach for the 2013 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.
The Falcons played their home games at Doyt Perry Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.
Schedule
Game summaries
Tulsa
Bowling Green opened its season with a 34-7 victory on August 29 against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane who were the reigning Conference USA champions in front of a crowd of 18,142 at Doyt Perry Stadium. After just 26 yards gained on the first two drives, Bowling Green starting quarterback Matt Schilz was replaced by Matt Johnson who led the Falcons on an eight play 41 yard drive which resulted in a Tyler Tate 34 yard field goal. Late in the first quarter, the Golden Hurricane's were in Bowling Green's territory where Gabe Martin would deflect a would-be third down completion in the end zone. Tulsa's kicker Carl Salazar would miss a 37 yard field goal attempt the next play wide right.
In the second quarter, Tulsa's Dwight Dobbins would intercept quarterback Matt Johnson's pass resulting in the first turnover of the game. With Tulsa driving inside the 20 yard line, Cody Green completed a pass to Derek Patterson for 16 yards, who fumbled, and recovered by Aaron Foster at the BwGrn 2 yard line. After a Bowling Green punt, Tulsa started their drive at the BwGrn 33 yard line. However, Tulsa could not turn the drive into points as kicker Carl Salazar would miss a 34 yard field goal, once again wide right. Bowling Green would then drive 70 yards on 15 plays, resulting in a Tyler Tate 28 yard field goal to make the score 6-0 at halftime.
Bowling Green received the second half kickoff and marched right down the field for the first touchdown of the game. A six play, 75 yard drive was sparked by a 37 yard Ronnie Moore rush, followed by a 12 yard Travis Greene rush who was tackled at the 1 yard line. Former preferred Ohio State walk-on William Houston would score a 1 yard touchdown the following play. Both teams would punt their next two possessions. With nine seconds remaining in the third quarter, Tulsa was lining up to punt on their own 16 yard line facing a 4th and one but decided to run a fake punt with their punter Cole Way who was stopped by Cameron Truss for no gain. Houston would score his second one yard touchdown of the game giving Bowling Green a 20-0 lead with 13:52 remaining in the game. After a Tulsa turnover on downs, Bowling Green was forced to punt, but the punt was fumbled by Tulsa's Trey Watts inside their own 10 yard line and recovered by BwGrn. Two plays later, Houston would score his third one yard rushing touchdown. The following drive, Dane Evans came in at quarterback for Tulsa. After a three and out, returner Ryan Burbrink would score on a 67 yard punt return. Evans would throw a 27 yard touchdown pass to Derek Patterson to get Tulsa on the scoreboard with 5:56 remaining. Bowling Green would run out the remainder of the clock, to earn their first victory of the season.
At Kent State
In the 81st career meeting, Bowling Green led the series 55-19-6 all-time vs Kent State, despite dropping the last three. The Golden Flashes would be without Heisman hopeful running back Dri Archer who sustained a leg injury the previous week vs Liberty. Quarterback Matt Johnson would start his first career game for Bowling Green. Johnson took the Orange and Brown right down the field on the first drive of the game. The nine play 77 yard drive was capped off by a Travis Greene 1 yard touchdown run. On Kent State's first drive, quarterback Colin Reardon connected with wide receiver Chris Humphrey on a 42 yard play-action touchdown pass. Humphrey then took a direct snap and converted the two-point conversion to give the Golden Flashes an 8-7 lead.
After both teams traded punts, Bowling Green kicker Tyler Tate connected on a 30 yard field goal, giving BG the lead 10-8. Kent State followed with a 12 yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 8 when Colin Reardon connected with tight end Casey Pierce. The play originally seemed to be a speed option to the right out of shotgun formation, but Reardon then dropped back to pass finding Pierce on the left seem. Bowling Green responded with a 6 play 75 yard touchdown drive which ended in a 3 yard Andre Givens touchdown run. The following Kent State drive, Reardon had a 42 yard scamper on a read-option down to the BG 21 yard line. Two plays later, running back Trayion Durham would score on a two yard rushing touchdown. With just 54 seconds left in the half, Johnson would find wide receiver Jared Cohen on the front right pylon for a 7 yard touchdown. The play was originally called down at the one yard line, but was overturned to a touchdown after video review, giving the Falcons a 24-22 lead entering the break.
After Kent State's opening drive stalled in the second half, Bowling Green kicker Tyler Tate would make a 41 yard field increasing the lead to five. After another Golden Flashes punt, the Falcons were facing a 3rd and 15 from their own eight yard line when Johnson connected with Ryan Burbrink on a 92 yard touchdown pass extending the lead to a two possession game. BGSU William Houston scored a 1 yard touchdown to cap of the scoring in the 4th quarter, making the score 41-22. The Falcons defense shutout Kent State's offense in the second half. Bowling Green advanced to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in MAC play.
At Kent State
The undefeated Bowling Green Falcons traveled into Memorial Stadium where they would play he Indiana Hoosiers in front of 41,869. Indiana went right down the field their first drive, but were stopped at the goal line by BGSU's defense. Following a BG punt in their own territory, IU running back Tevin Coleman scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season from one yard out. A promising second drive by the Falcons resulted in no points when kicker Tyler Tate missed a 47 yard field goal. Following a Hoosier's three and out, Bowling Green's Paul Senn blocked and returned a 56 yard punt in the same motion, making the score 7-7 with 4:36 in the first quarter. Indiana was once again stopped on the goal line when they substituted starting quarterback Nate Sudfeld for Tre Roberson on fourth and goal from the one yard line when he fumbled the snap. Bowling Green would then go on an 11 play 72 yard drive which resulted in a Tate 45 yard field goal to make the score 10-7 BG. Indiana would fumble the ensuing kick off, however Bowling Green was stopped on a fourth and one from the 21 yard line when quarterback Matt Johnson was stopped on a draw from shotgun formation. Indiana would take advantage of the turnover when Coleman scored on a 43 yard option pitch. The Falcons next drive stalled at midfield where they would punt to Indiana. Sudfeld would connect with Kofi Hughes on an eight yard fade right to the back right pylon making the score 21-10 with 2:44 in the second quarter. Johnson led the Falcons down the field with under a minute until the break where Tate would miss a 32 yard field goal attempt off the left upright.
Indiana would attempt an onside kick to start the second half, but the ball went out of bounces untouched giving BGSU the ball at IU's 42 yard line. Threatening inside the 20 yard line, Johnson's pass was intercepted after hitting the hands of wide receiver Chris Gallon. Indiana would take advantage of the turnover when Sudfeld connected with wide receiver Cody Latimer on a 33 yard touchdown pass, increasing IU's lead to 28-10. With three minutes to go in the third quarter, Bowling Green was stopped on another fourth and one on IU's 19 yard line. Indiana would then go on a nine play 80 yard drive capped off by a 1 yard read option keeper by Sudfeld. Bowling Green did not have an answer as wide receiver Shaun Joplin would fumble a catch on their second play of the drive. Roberson would end the scoring with a three yard touchdown. Indiana would surpass over 600 yards of total offense. Running back Tevin Coleman had 19 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Stephen Houston had 155 yards on just 13 carries.
Murray State
The Bowling Green Falcons hosted the Murray State Racers in their fourth game of the season at Doyt Perry Stadium. Both teams punted on their first possession of the game. The Falcons started the scoring off on a four yard touchdown catch by Chris Gallon from quarterback Matt Johnson on third and goal. Kicker Tyler Tate missed the extra point, leaving the score at 6-0 with 7:40 remaining. The first turnover of the game came on a Matt Johnson interception. Following the turnover, the Racers would return the favor when quarterback Maikhail Miller fumbled the ball at Bowling Green's one yard line. Bowling Green would capitalize off of the turnover driving 99 yards on an 11 play drive, capped off by a Travis Greene eight yard run touchdown run. After a Racers three and out, Bowling Green scored a touchdown on their second consecutive drive. Matt Johnson scored on a seven yard touchdown run out of the pistol formation. After another Racers punt, Bowling Green would start their next drive from their own three yard line. The orange and brown would drive 97 yards on 16 plays scoring a touchdown with just seven seconds remaining in the half. Gallon caught a one yard touchdown pass from Johnson, his second of the game.
Bowling Green started the second half with 376 total yards of offense and 20 first downs. After a Racers punt, the Falcons would score a touchdown on their fourth consecutive drive. The drive was highlighted with an Alex Bayer 37 yard catch. On the following play, Andre Givens would score on a 9 yard touchdown run. Murray State would respond with an 83 yard 13 play touchdown drive of their own, which was capped off by Ohio State transfer Jaamal Berry's two yard touchdown run. The Falcons would go on to score two more touchdowns on the day. The first came on a William Houston one yard touchdown run, making it five consecutive drives with a touchdown. After Bowling Green's Jude Adjei-Barimah sack on third down, Racers kicker Jeremy Brackett missed 33 yard field goal attempt. BG Backup quarterback James Knapke would throw his first collegiate touchdown pass to Ronnie Moore late in the fourth quarter to end the scoring. Murray State's star receiver Walt Powell was held to just 17 yards on three catches.
Akron
The Akron Zips came into Doyt Perry Stadium trailing the Bowling Green Falcons 7-12 all time. After a Falcons three and out, the Zips' connected on a 51 yard touchdown pass from Kyle Pohl to L.T. Smith to start the scoring. Running back Travis Greene started the Falcons next drive with two carries for 46 yards with a long of 32. The drive would result in a Tyler Tate 29 yard field goal, making the score 7-3. Akron responded with a 12 play 72 yard touchdown drive which resulted with a three yard touchdown run from Pohl on a keeper. After six consecutive punts, three from each team, the Falcons would respond with a 22 yard juggling touchdown catch to receiver Shaun Joplin to make the score 14-10 heading into the half.