Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
3-8 , 2-4
Bowling Green
6-4 , 4-2
Eagles Fall Short in 39-32 Loss to Falcons
11/9/2007 11:46:00 PM | Football
Walker runs for career-best 155 yards
Box score.
YPSILANTI, Mich. — It was a cold and windy night in Ypsilanti as Eastern Michigan University dropped a 39-32 decision to Bowling Green State University in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional game here Friday in Rynearson Stadium.
The loss drops EMU to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in MAC play while Bowling Green moves to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in league play.
It was a career day for senior tailback Pierre Walker (Detroit, Mich.-Central), who had 31 rushes for a career-best 155 yards, eclipsing the mark of 151 yards he set earlier this season versus Western Michigan University. He also scored one touchdown to give him seven on the season.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) gave the Eagles a 32-31 lead with an eight-yard touchdown run on a fake handoff with 6:22 left in the game. A two-point conversion run was just short. Schmitt went 12-for-18 for 134 yards on the day.
The visitors then came back to regain the lead, 39-32, with 3:54 left when quarterback Tyler Sheehan rushed for a one-yard score followed by a two-point conversion.
Eastern had one final shot at the win, driving to the BGSU 46-yard line but a fourth-and-three pass was broken up, giving the Falcons the ball with just 1:48 left and they held the ball the rest of the game to claim the seven-point win.
Eastern's offense was on target most of the game, running for 269 yards while passing for 134. The Falcons also managed some big offensive numbers, with 419 yards in total offense.
The Falcons struck for two quick scores at the start of the second half to take a 28-20 lead with 4:17 remaining. The first score came on a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown and the second was a seven-yard run.
Eastern bounced back to pull within two, 28-26, on a five-yard touchdown pass from Schmitt to senior tight end Ken Bohnet (Grand Ledge, Mich.-Grand Ledge) at the start of the fourth quarter. A two-point conversion pass to tie the game was incomplete, leaving the Eagles trailing by two. BGSU added a 41-yard field goal with 11:07 left in the game for a 31-26 advantage.
Both teams opened the game with scoring drives on their first offensive possessions. The Falcons took just five plays to go 52 yards for a score when quarterback Tyler Sheehan found Freddie Barnes for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Vrvilo added the PAT.
The Eagles came right back to knot the game at 7-7, driving 72 yards on 13 plays with Schmitt capping the drive with a three-yard rush up the middle. Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) added the PAT.
EMU true freshman cornerback Arrington Hicks (Orlando, Fla.-Edgewater), earning his first collegiate start, came up with an interception on the BGSU 40-yard line to set up EMU's second scoring drive. The Eagles took advantage of
that turnover immediately, traveling 81 yards on five plays with Walker scoring on a five-yard run with Johnson adding the PAT to make it 14-7 in favor of the Eagles at the four-minute mark of the first quarter.
The Falcons tied the game at 14 after taking advantage of an EMU personal foul penalty with eight minutes left in the second quarter. Eastern had stopped BGSU on a third-and-long situation near midfield, forcing a Falcon punt situation from the EMU 39-yard line. The Eagles received the 15-yard penalty, giving BG an automatic first down. The Falcons made that penalty hurt, scoring on a four-yard run by Anthony Turner two plays later, at the 7:09 mark.
Eastern fought right back on its next offensive drive, rolling 80 yards in eight plays with junior wide receiver Tyler Jones (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) hauling in a 29-yard Schmitt aerial for the touchdown at the 3:11 mark of the second quarter. Johnson's PAT clanged off the right upright, leaving the Eagles with a six-point lead, 20-14.
The Green and White close out the 2007 campaign Friday, Nov. 16, in Mount Pleasant, Mich. versus instate rival Central Michigan University. The battle for the Michigan MAC trophy is set for 7 p.m. on Comcast Local television.
Team Stats
BGSU 7, EMU 0
BGSU - BARNES, Freddie 20 yd pass from SHEEHAN,Tyler (VRVILO, Sinisa kick) 5 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:42
BGSU 7, EMU 7
EMU - SCHMITT, Andy 3 yd run (JOHNSON, Zach kick), 13 plays, 72 yards, TOP 6:28
BGSU 7, EMU 14
EMU - WALKER, Pierre 5 yd run (JOHNSON, Zach kick), 5 plays, 81 yards, TOP 2:25
BGSU 14, EMU 14
BGSU - TURNER, Anthony 4 yd run (VRVILO, Sinisa kick), 6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:04
BGSU 14, EMU 20
EMU - JONES, Tyler 29 yd pass from SCHMITT, Andy (JOHNSON, Zach kickfailed) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:58
BGSU 21, EMU 20
BGSU - STEFFY, Shane 0 yd fumble recovery (VRVILO, Sinisa kick)
BGSU 28, EMU 20
BGSU - TURNER, Anthony 7 yd run (VRVILO, Sinisa kick), 6 plays, 49 yards, TOP 2:13
BGSU 28, EMU 26
EMU - BOHNET, Ken 5 yd pass from SCHMITT, Andy (SCHMITT, Andy passfailed) 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:59
BGSU 31, EMU 26
BGSU - VRVILO, Sinisa 41 yd field goal 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:57
BGSU 31, EMU 32
EMU - SCHMITT, Andy 8 yd run (WALKER, Pierre rushfailed), 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:37
BGSU 39, EMU 32
BGSU - SHEEHAN,Tyler 1 yd run (WINOVICH, Pete pass), 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:21
