BOX SCORE

https://bgsufalcons.com/documents/2022/12/26/32430.PDF

BGSU POSTGAME QUOTES

https://bgsufalcons.com/documents/2022/12/26/12.26.2022_BGSUPostgameQUOTES_54_.pdf

NEW MEXICO STATE POSTGAME QUOTES

https://bgsufalcons.com/documents/2022/12/26/12262022_NMSUPostgameQUOTES_82_.pdf

DETROIT  – The Bowling Green Falcons closed the 2022 season at the Quick Lane Bowl, falling to the New Mexico State Aggies by a score of 24-19. The Aggies jumped out to a 17-0 lead, but Ta’ron Keith’s electrifying 75-yard kickoff return put the Falcons on the board in the third quarter. BGSU trailed 24-7 entering the fourth quarter, but the special teams success continued as Mason Lawler kicked a career-long 49-yard field goal, then Davion Daniels blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety. Camden Orth threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Broden to make it 24-19, but New Mexico State was able to run out the clock to secure the victory.

The loss gives Bowling Green a 6-7 record to close the 2022 season, which featured a win in the Battle of I-75 and the program’s first bowl berth since 2015. New Mexico State concludes the year at 7-6.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bowling Green received the opening kickoff, with Jhaylin Embry returning it to the 25-yard line. The drive began with a 17-yard completion from Matt McDonald to Odieu Hiliare, then a nine-yard rush from Ta’ron Keith. An incompletion on second down gave the Falcons a third-and-one opportunity, but McDonald’s pass over the middle was intercepted at the NMSU 30.
• New Mexico State scored on an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Facing an early third-and-13, Diego Pavia completed a 42-yard pass down the right sideline to Justice Powers. A few plays later, Pavia scrambled for a 10-yard gain on third-and-nine, giving the Aggies another set of downs. Two plays later, Pavia connected with Star Thomas over the middle, who bounced into the end zone for the game’s first score. Ethan Albertson converted on the extra point.
• The Falcons began their ensuing drive with a 13-yard completion to Christian Sims, then two short rushes. McDonald scrambled to his left and gained 11 yards for the first down but was hit as he stepped out-of-bounds. A brief scrum led to an unsportsmanlike penalty call on a player from both teams, then Camden Orth entered the game for the Orange and Brown. His second play was a 10-yard completion to Austin Osborne, which was Osborne’s first reception of the season. The drive stalled at the NMSU 31-yard line, then Mason Lawler’s 48-yard field goal attempt fell just short.
• Darren Anders and Trent Simms stuffed the NMSU rush for a loss of one on their first play, but Pavia hit Kordell David for a 17-yard gain and first down. After Jordan Anderson fought through a block an made a tackle for loss on a swing pass, Karl Brooks swatted away a third-down pass attempt to force a punt. George Eberle’s punt rolled to the BG 15.
• Jaison Patterson gained 11 yards on a pair of carries to gain a first down, bringing the first quarter to a close. Patterson toted the rock for another four yards to start the second frame, then Orth connected with Sims on third-and-five for a 16-yard gain. After an incompletion, Jamal Johnson rushed twice, gaining nine and a half yards. A false start penalty on fourth down made it fourth-and-six, then Sami Sir punted to the NMSU 19.
• Ahmonte Watkins ran for a first down on NMSU’s first play, but Jordan Oladokun nearly intercepted the next pass. Pavia hit Jonathan Brady in stride for a 29-yard gain, then the Aggies ran for a pair of seven-yard gains. On the second rush, Chris Bacon was tagged with a personal foul for a late hit, but the initial call of targeting was overturned. This gave New Mexico State a  first down at the BG 12, then Pavia scrambled for a nine-yard gain on third down to make it first-and-goal from the two-yard line. Brock Horne and Adrian Wilson stood up Watkins at the line of scrimmage on first down, but Pavia rolled out to the right and hit Eric Marsh for the two-yard touchdown. Albertson’s kick was good, extending the NMSU lead to 14-0 nearly halfway through the second.
• Another solid return from Embry gave the Falcons the ball at their own 32, then Johnson ran for eight yards on first down. This was followed by a three-yard rush from Keith, then a 28-yard completion to Keith. Orth stood tall under pressure, finding Keith in the left flats, who broke tackle before being pushed out-of-bounds. Orth lowered his shoulder for a six-yard gain on second-and-10, then the Aggies took a timeout before third down. Patterson was stopped at the line of scrimmage, then Lawler’s 41-yard attempt was wide right.
• Star Thomas started the Aggie drive with a 13-yard gain, then Pavia laced a pass to David, who got a foot down before falling out-of-bounds for a 17-yard gain. Facing another third down, Pavia evaded a blitz and completed a pass to Powers, who was tackled less than a yard shy of the first down marker. The Aggies called their final timeout with 35 seconds remaining, then Bowling Green took their first timeout when the teams lined up. The Aggies attempted a quarterback sneak, but the play was blown dead after a false start. This backed NMSU up to the BG 40, then Pavia’s scrambling pass was intercepted by Bacon. He returned it to the Falcon 32-yard line, where Bowling Green took over with 22 seconds left in the half.
• Orth connected with Osborne for a nine-yard gain on the first play, then BGSU took a timeout. After a deep throw to Hiliare on the sideline fell incomplete, but Orth scrambled for eight yards and a first down with one second remaining. The Hail Mary attempt was batted away, closing the first half with the score 14-0 in favor of the Aggies.
• New Mexico State covered 50 yards on the first three plays of the second half’s opening drive, with the biggest gain coming on a rush by Brady. He lined up in the right slot, then received the ball on a reverse before scampering 37 yards. The Falcons held the Aggies to a field goal, which Albertson knocked through from 35 yards out.
• The Falcons responded immediately, with Ta’ron Keith returning the kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. He weaved through traffic at midfield, then won the footrace down the right sideline to put Bowling Green on the board. Lawler converted on the extra point to make it a 17-7 contest.
• NMSU faced third-and-five early on the next drive, which was converted on an eight-yard jet sweep rush by Thomas. The Aggies were successful on the next third down, with Pavia completing an 11-yard pass to Brady. Facing yet another third down, NMSU looked to complete a pass down the seam to Powers. It was broken up by Deshawn Jones Jr., making it fourth-and-two at the BG 46. New Mexico State elected to punt, with Eberle’s boot coming to a stop at the BG 5.
• The Falcons went three-and-out, then Sir punted from the back of the end zone. His kick was caught by Lawrence Dixon, who was immediately tackled by PaSean Wimberly at the NMSU 47. On the second play of the ensuing drive, Watkins ran up the middle for a 45-yard touchdown. Albertson’s kick was good, making it 24-7 with 3:26 left in the third.
• The Aggie kickoff sailed out-of-bounds, allowing the BGSU offense to set up shop at the 35. A second-down strike to Hiliare gave the Falcons a first down just shy of midfield. Orth hit an open Keith on the next play, with the running back eluding a tackle before going down for a 17-yard gain. A nifty catch-and-run from Andrew Bench was nullified by a holding penalty, but Bowling Green got a first down on a screen to Sims, who gained 21 yards. Two plays later, Keith was tackled after a three-yard carry, but the Falcons were pushed back by another unsportsmanlike penalty. Orth escaped pressure and ran for four yards, closing the third quarter. Lawler’s 49-yard field goal was good, making it a 24-10 game five seconds into the fourth quarter.
• A pair of rushes from Jamoni Jones netted three yards for NMSU, then Pavia’s 25-yard rush on third down was negated by a holding penalty. Following a delay of game penalty, the Aggies faced third-and-22, then Bryce Childress caught a swing pass and was tackled for a loss of three by Jordan Anderson. Eberle’s punt took a Bowling Green bounce, traveling 14 yards and putting the Falcons at the NMSU 41.
• On the opening play, Orth connected with Keith for a 24-yard gain. Two plays later, Hiliare caught a pass and appeared to gain a first down, but the ball was ripped out and recovered by the Aggies at their own 3-yard line. Pavia gave the offense some room with a nine-yard gain on first down, but the drive stalled there as he was tackled in the backfield by Horne on third down. Eberle’s punt was blocked by Davion Daniels, who broke through the middle of the protection unit. The ball rebounded through the back of the end zone for a safety that brought the score to 24-12.
• Embry returned the free kick across midfield, giving BGSU favorable field position with 7:03 to play. Orth began the drive with a 14-yard completion to Tyrone Broden, then nearly connected with Hiliare in the red zone. Pass interference was called on the Aggies, putting the Falcons at the 19. Orth and Broden connected again on the next play, with Broden fighting through a tackle and stretching the ball across the plane for a touchdown. Lawler sent the extra point through the uprights, making it 24-19 with 6:27 remaining.
• NMSU started the next drive with a screen pass, but Anders tripped Jones for a gain of just one. Walter Haire got a hand on the second down pass attempt, then the Aggies called timeout before running their third-and-nine play. Pavia scrambled for the first down and fumbled, but recovered it to maintain NMSU’s possession. Haire brought down Jones in the backfield on first down, but Thomas gained seven yards on a rush up the middle. On third-and-five, the play was blown dead for a false start on the Aggies. Pavia scrambled yet again on third-and-10, diving out-of-bounds and picking up the first down. Two short rushes and a pair of BGSU timeouts put the ball at midfield with 2:58 remaining, then Pavia completed a slant to David to pick up the first down. The Aggies called their final timeout with 2:20 to play and a fresh set of downs. A first down jet sweep to Watkins was thwarted by Simms, then Jones rushed for a seven-yard gain to bring on a third-and-two. Pavia kept it and gained three yards, then took a knee to run out the clock.

STAT LEADERS

• Camden Orth, 14-of-22, 191 yards, one touchdown
• Jaison Patterson, six rushes, 23 yards
• Christian Sims, four receptions, 56 yards
• Ta’ron Keith, 152 all-purpose yards (75 KOR, 69 receiving, 19 rushing), kickoff return touchdown
• Darren Anders, eight tackles, 0.5 TFLs
• Chris Bacon, seven tackles, one interception
• Jordan Anderson, five tackles, 3.0 TFLs

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
“Our objective in this game was to win this game for the seniors. It’s very disappointing in terms of falling short because these guys have been through a lot. We – they helped us move the needle of our program. It’s the first time we’ve been to a bowl game in a while and obviously, we wanted to win this game to spring board into ’23. And we had some adversity strike by losing the quarterback early. There’s some things with discipline that we need to get better at. I said it to our staff when bowl prep began, we’re number two in the conference in passing the football, but we’re 11^thin rushing. And I can promise you this – this is the one thing I can promise you is that we’re going to run the football next year. Our back is back [Terion Stewart], we’ve got another freshman that is exceptional and I promise you because that’s toughness. And – just look at the stats, we lost this football game because of turnovers and we couldn’t run the ball. And I can assure you this that’s one thing that’s going to happen come hell or high water we are going to run the football.” – Scot Loeffler, BGSU football head coach

FALCON NOTES

• BGSU returned a kickoff for touchdown for the first time since 2014 (vs. Ball State) and for the first time in a bowl game since the 2013 Little Caesars Bowl vs. Pitt. The 75-yard kick return was the third kick return for a touchdown by a Falcon in BGSU bowl history.
• BGSU blocked its fifth punt of the season in the fourth quarter. That ranks them currently No. 2 in the nation.
• RB Ta’ron Keith returned a kick 75 yards for a touchdown during BGSU’s first opportunity in the third quarter. It is the first kick return for a touchdown by Keith in his career. It is BGSU’s first kick return for a touchdown in a bowl game since BooBoo Gates returned one for 94 yards in the 2013 Little Caesars Bowl, a game also played at Ford Field. It is the first kick return for a touchdown by a Falcon since Clint Stephens (96 yards) vs. Ball State in 2014.
• With four receptions, WR Odieu Hiliare extends his active game streak with at least one reception to 35 games. He entered Bowl Season with the 14th-best active streak in the nation.
• PK Mason Lawler connected on a career-long 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
• S Davion Daniels blocked a punt for a safety in the fourth quarter. It was the first blocked punt of his career.

UP NEXT

• Bowling Green kicks off the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at Liberty.

BOWLING GREEN POSTGAME NOTES

Bowling Green Postgame Notes
Dec. 26, 2022, vs New Mexico State (Quick Lane Bowl)
Ford Field (Detroit, Mich.)
Team Notes
• BGSU is 5-9 all-time in bowl games.
• BGSU is 3-3 all-time at Ford Field
• BGSU returned a kickoff for touchdown for the first time since 2014 (vs. Ball State) and for the
first time in a bowl game since the 2013 Little Caesars Bowl vs. Pitt. The 75-yard kick return was
the third kick return for a touchdown by a Falcon in BGSU bowl history.
• BGSU blocked its fifth punt of the season in the fourth quarter. That ranks them currently No.
2 in the nation.
Player Notes
• RB Ta’ron Keith returned a kick 75 yards for a touchdown during BGSU’s first opportunity in
the third quarter. It is the first kick return for a touchdown by Keith in his career. It is BGSU’s
first kick return for a touchdown in a bowl game since BooBoo Gates returned one for 94 yards
in the 2013 Little Caesars Bowl, a game also played at Ford Field. It is the first kick return for a
touchown by a Falcon since Clint Stephens (96 yards) vs. Ball State in 2014.
• With four receptions, WR Odieu Hiliare extends his active game streak with at least one
reception to 35 games. He entered Bowl Season with the 14th-best active streak in the nation.
• PK Mason Lawler connected on a career-long 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
• S Davion Daniels blocked a punt for a safety in the fourth quarter. It was the first blocked punt
of his career.
• S Chris Bacon notched his second interception of the season and fourth of his career.
• Before exiting with an injury early in the game, QB Matt McDonald threw for 30 yards,
pushing him to No. 9 all-time at BGSU in career passing. He concludes his BG career with 5,936
passing yards. For his college career, including time at BGSU, McDonald finishes his college
career with 6,054 career passing yards.

COURTESY BOWLING GREEN STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS