BG vs. EKU: Will the Falcons finally win a non-MAC game?

9/14/2018

Bowling Green head coach Mike Jinks walks off the field after the Falcons hosted Maryland at Doyt Perry Stadium on Sept. 8.

Blade

Two years.

That’s how long it’s been since Bowling Green won a non-league football game, dating back to a 27-26 win over North Dakota in September, 2016. Since then, the Falcons have lost eight games outside of the Mid-American Conference by an average of 31 points while giving up more than 45 points per game.

That could all change Saturday, though, when Eastern Kentucky visits Doyt Perry Stadium at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Colonels (1-1) are members of the Ohio Valley Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision. In other words, if the Falcons (0-2) aren’t celebrating a win Saturday, seats might be getting a little hotter around the football offices.

Bowling Green's 2018 football schedule

COMING BACK TO OHIO: The Colonels feature 21 players from Ohio, although none are from northwest Ohio. EKU coach Mark Elder is also a native Ohioan, hailing from Cincinnati before going to Case Western in Cleveland. His coaching stops have included time at Akron, University of Michigan as a defensive graduate assistant in 2005 and ‘06, and linebackers coach at Central Michigan, when the Chippewas won two MAC titles.

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CLOSE TO HOME: EKU assistant coach Kevin Koger is a Whitmer graduate in his third year with the Colonels, coaching wide receivers while also serving as the special teams coordinator.

Koger’s name is still well known around Toledo. He amassed 1,190 career receiving yards and 16 touchdowns for the Panthers before accepting a scholarship to play at the University of Michigan. 

OUTSIDE THE RANKS: This is the third time in three seasons under coach Mike Jinks that the Falcons have hosted a team from outside the Football Bowl Subdivision. They’re 1-1 in their previous two games, beating North Dakota in 2016 and losing 35-37 to South Dakota last year.

This is the fifth time BGSU and EKU will meet on the field, but the second time since 1950. EKU owns a 3-1 record in the series, but BGSU won the last time, 63-13 to open the 2003 season.

STREAKS AND SUCH: The Falcons have lost six straight home games, not winning at Doyt Perry since beating Buffalo to close out the 2016 season.

Meanwhile, senior receiver Scott Miller has a catch in 27 straight games, tied for the eighth longest active streak in the NCAA.