The 2014 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons played their home games at Doyt Perry Stadium. They were led by first year head coach Dino Babers and were members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 8–6, 5–3 in MAC play be champions of the East Division and qualify for the MAC Championship Game where they lost to West Division champion Northern Illinois. They were invited to the inaugural Camellia Bowl where they defeated South Alabama.
Schedule
Game summaries At Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Statistics Bowling GreenWestern Kentucky First downs 26 40 Plays–yards 71–465 96–708 Rushes–yards 35–142 40–139 Passing yards 313 569 Passing: comp–att–int 25–36–0 46–56–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:01 35:59 Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green PassingMatt Johnson 25–36, 313 yards, TD RushingTravis Greene18 carries, 91 yards, TD ReceivingRoger Lewis 8 receptions, 77 yards Western Kentucky PassingBrandon Doughty46–56, 569 yards, 6 TDs RushingLeon Allen27 carries, 99 yards, TD ReceivingTaywan Taylor 12 receptions, 185 yards, TD
Dino Babers and Jeff Brohm both made their coaching debut for their respective programs. Bowling Green Quarterback Matt Johnson suffered a broken hip and missed the remainder of the season.
vs VMI Keydets
Statistics VMI Bowling Green First downs 24 26 Plays–yards 90–418 71–526 Rushes–yards 35–97 37–260 Passing yards 321 266 Passing: comp–att–int 30–55–1 25–34–1 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 39:07 20:53 Team Category Player Statistics VMI PassingAl Cobb 26–43, 224 yards, INT RushingJabari Turner13 carries, 43 yards ReceivingDoug Burton 5 receptions, 86 yards Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 22–31, 237 yards, TD, INT RushingTravis Greene 18 carries, 129 yards, 2 TDs ReceivingRoger Lewis 6 receptions, 140 yards, TD
vs Indiana Hoosiers
Statistics Indiana Bowling Green First downs 30 39 Plays–yards 78–582 113–571 Rushes–yards 37–235 40–176 Passing yards 347 395 Passing: comp–att–int 31–41–0 46–73–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 28:40 31:20 Team Category Player Statistics Indiana PassingNate Sudfeld 31–41, 347 yards, TD RushingTevin Coleman24 carries, 190 yards, 3 TDs ReceivingShane Wynn 10 receptions, 139 yards Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 46–73, 395 yards, 3 TDs, INT RushingTravis Greene 24 carries, 123 yards, TD ReceivingRoger Lewis 16 receptions, 149 yards, TD
Bowling Green had not hosted a Big Ten team at Doyt Perry Stadium since 2008. The Falcons set a school record 113 plays from scrimmage in front of 23,717 fans. Quarterback James Knapke threw for 46 completions in 73 attempts. Both marks were also school records in just his second collegiate start. The victory against Indiana was Bowling Green's first against a Power Five conference team since 2008 at Pittsburgh.
At Wisconsin Badgers
Statistics Bowling GreenWisconsin First downs 11 29 Plays–yards 62–271 78–756 Rushes–yards 29–93 60–644 Passing yards 178 112 Passing: comp–att–int 15–33–1 9–18–1 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 23:24 36:36 Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 13–28, 163 yards, INT RushingAndre Givens5 carries, 67 yards, TD ReceivingRoger Lewis 5 receptions, 68 yards Wisconsin PassingTanner McEvoy9–16, 112 yards, TD, INT RushingMelvin Gordon13 carries, 253 yards, 5 TDs ReceivingSam Arneson 3 receptions, 63 yards, TD
At Massachusetts
Statistics Bowling GreenUMass First downs 30 29 Plays–yards 108–668 92–589 Rushes–yards 48–225 31–49 Passing yards 178 112 Passing: comp–att–int 38–60–3 36–61–1 Turnovers 3 4 Time of possession 31:11 28:49 Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 38–59, 443 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs RushingTravis Greene20 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs ReceivingRoger Lewis 9 receptions, 148 yards, TD UMass PassingBlake Frohnapfel36–61, 589 yards, 5 TDs, INT RushingShadrach Abrokwah14 carries, 37 yards, TD ReceivingTajae Sharpe13 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TDs
vs Buffalo Bulls
Statistics Buffalo Bowling Green First downs 23 26 Plays–yards 71–368 76–321 Rushes–yards 47–234 37–187 Passing yards 134 321 Passing: comp–att–int 16–24–1 20–39–1 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 38:08 21:52 Team Category Player Statistics Buffalo PassingJoe Licata 16–24, 134 yards, TD, INT RushingAnthone Taylor36 carries, 219 yards, 3 TDs ReceivingMarcus McGill 3 receptions, 41 yards Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 20–39, 321 yards, TD, INT RushingTravis Greene 14 carries, 74 yards, TD ReceivingRonnie Moore 9 receptions, 178 yards, TD
At Ohio Bobcats
Statistics Bowling GreenOhio First downs 19 29 Plays–yards 66–355 110–513 Rushes–yards 27–95 46–127 Passing yards 260 386 Passing: comp–att–int 20–39–1 34–64–0 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 20:39 39:21 Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 20–39, 260 yards, 2 TD, INT RushingTravis Greene10 carries, 50 yards, TD ReceivingRoger Lewis 6 receptions, 100 yards Ohio PassingJD Sprague27–56, 325 yards RushingJD Sprague16 carries, 49 yards ReceivingSebastian Smith9 receptions, 86 yards
vs Western Michigan Broncos
Statistics Western Michigan Bowling Green First downs 20 14 Plays–yards 74–361 64–274 Rushes–yards 50–195 31–135 Passing yards 166 139 Passing: comp–att–int 15–24–0 20–33–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 39:26 20:34 Team Category Player Statistics Western Michigan PassingZach Terrell 15–24, 166 yards, 2 TDs RushingJarvion Franklin37 carries, 149 yards, TD ReceivingDarius Phillips 3 receptions, 94 yards, TD Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 20–33, 139 yards, INT RushingTravis Greene 14 carries, 46 yards ReceivingRyan Burbrink 5 receptions, 42 yards
At Akron Zips
Statistics Bowling GreenAkron First downs 21 26 Plays–yards 85–389 90–398 Rushes–yards 51–219 27–94 Passing yards 170 304 Passing: comp–att–int 17–34–0 31–63–3 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 33:26 26:34 Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 17–34, 170 yards, TD RushingFred Coppet18 carries, 113 yards ReceivingGehrig Dieter3 receptions, 61 yards Akron PassingKyle Pohl31–62, 304 yards, 3 INTs RushingJawon Chisholm10 carries, 65 yards, TD ReceivingAndrew Pratt6 receptions, 85 yards
vs Kent State Golden Flashes
Statistics Kent State Bowling Green First downs 21 27 Plays–yards 61–328 96–527 Rushes–yards 14–22 59–212 Passing yards 306 315 Passing: comp–att–int 27–47–4 22–37–1 Turnovers 5 2 Time of possession 25:46 34:14 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State PassingColin Reardon 24–37, 284 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs RushingNick Holley11 carries, 21 yards ReceivingChris Humphrey8 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TDs Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 22–36, 315 yards, TD, INT RushingAndre Givens 38 carries, 157 yards, 2 TDs ReceivingRoger Lewis 3 receptions, 116 yards, TD
The Falcons earned a berth to the 2014 MAC Championship Game by clinching the MAC Eastern Division regular season crown with a 30–20 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes. Starting running back Travis Greene was held out of the contest due to an injury he sustained a week prior. Running back Andre Givens answered the call, rushing for a career-high 157 yards on 38 carries and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Ryan Burbrink caught eight passes for 111 yards. Bowling Green became the first team since the Miami RedHawks in 2003–2004 to win the East Division in back-to-back seasons.
At Toledo Rockets
Statistics Bowling GreenToledo First downs 17 19 Plays–yards 75–271 73–388 Rushes–yards 38–104 53–325 Passing yards 167 63 Passing: comp–att–int 12–37–0 9–20–2 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 25:39 34:21 Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green PassingCody Callaway 5–13, 96 yards, TD RushingRonnie Moore12 carries, 64 yards, TD ReceivingGehrig Dieter5 receptions, 68 yards Toledo PassingLogan Woodside8–18, 53 yards, 2 INTs RushingKareem Hunt30 carries, 265 yards, 2 TDs ReceivingAlonzo Russell2 receptions, 19 yards
vs Ball State Cardinals
Statistics Ball State Bowling Green First downs 24 18 Plays–yards 68–485 66–454 Rushes–yards 39–199 39–314 Passing yards 286 140 Passing: comp–att–int 20–29–0 18–27–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 36:47 23:13 Team Category Player Statistics Ball State PassingOzzie Mann20–29, 286 yards, 3 TDs RushingJahwan Edwards28 carries, 165 yards, 2 TDs ReceivingKeVonn Mabon6 receptions, 119 yards, TD Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 18–27, 140 yards RushingTravis Greene14 carries, 159 yards, TD ReceivingRoger Lewis 4 receptions, 60 yards
vs Northern Illinois Huskies
Statistics Northern Illinois Bowling Green First downs 29 13 Plays–yards 100–552 60–287 Rushes–yards 51–334 35–124 Passing yards 218 163 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–49–1 13–25–3 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 37:59 22:01 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois PassingDrew Hare29–49, 218 yards, 2 TDs, INT RushingCameron Stingily15 carries, 116 yards, 2 TDs ReceivingJuwan Brescacin7 receptions, 83 yards, TDBowling Green PassingJames Knapke12–21, 151 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs RushingTravis Greene18 carries, 105 yards, TD ReceivingGehrig Dieter2 receptions, 56 yards, TD
vs South Alabama Jaguars
Statistics South Alabama Bowling Green First downs 23 24 Plays–yards 75–415 90–500 Rushes–yards 38–136 49–131 Passing yards 279 369 Passing: comp–att–int 20–37–2 26–41–0 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 25:35 34:25 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama PassingBrandon Bridge20–37, 279 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs RushingKendall Houston5 carries, 53 yards, TD ReceivingDanny Woodson6 receptions, 122 yards Bowling Green PassingJames Knapke 15–39, 368 yards, 2 TDs RushingFred Coppet16 carries, 70 yards ReceivingRoger Lewis 4 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TDs
Statistics Final Statistics through December 20, 2014
Individual Leaders
Passing Passing statistics NAME GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int Rtg James Knapke 14 13 8–5 280 483 58.0 3,173 15 12 118.4 Matt Johnson 1 1 0–1 25 36 69.4 314 1 0 151.9 Cody Callaway 6 0 0–0 12 26 46.2 153 1 1 100.6 Totals 14 14 8–6 317 547 58.0 3,639 17 13 119.3
Rushing Rushing statistics NAME GP Att Yds Avg Lng TD Travis Greene 12 180 949 5.3 75 12 Fred Coppet 13 141 764 3.4 69 6 Andre Givens 13 101 479 4.7 60 8 James Knapke 14 67 136 2.0 27 2 Ronnie Moore 14 21 129 6.1 31 2 James Knapke 14 67 136 2.0 27 2 Cody Callaway 6 12 -26 -2.2 4 0 Chris Pohlman 14 11 23 2.1 5 0 Matt Johnson 1 6 -21 -3.5 4 0 Brandon English 5 3 7 2.3 5 0 Ryan Burbrink 14 1 6 6.0 6 0 Roger Lewis 14 1 -3 -3.0 -3 0 Totals 14 556 2,422 4.4 75 30
Receiving Receiving statistics NAME GP Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Roger Lewis 14 73 1,093 15.0 82 7 Ryan Burbrink 14 64 758 11.8 45 3 Ronnie Moore 14 56 690 12.3 42 5 Gehrig Dieter 9 35 460 13.1 53 1 Heath Jackson 14 34 270 7.9 30 0 Travis Greene 12 27 175 6.5 27 1 Fred Coppet 13 8 27 3.4 18 0 Herve Coby 14 7 56 8.0 22 0 Teo Redding 7 5 59 11.8 43 0 Andre Givens 13 3 9 3.0 7 0 John Klingerman 3 2 21 10.5 11 0 Chris Pohlman 14 2 11 5.5 9 0 Trevor Roop 2 1 10 10.0 10 0 Totals 14 317 3,639 11.5 82 17
Defense