BG-Buffalo notebook: Running game big plus for Falcons

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BUFFALO — One of many adages in athletics is that you have to be ready when your number is called.
That held true Friday afternoon in the Bowling Green-Buffalo game as the Falcons were down to running
backs three, four, and five on the depth chart.
Anthon Samuel, BG’s leading rusher with 844 yards this season, was unable to play because of a shoulder
injury.
So the rushing duties fell to John Pettigrew, Jamel Martin and Erique Geiger. The trio responded with 102
yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries to help the Falcons down the Bulls, 42-28.
“It’s a real credit to John Pettigrew and Erique Geiger, guys who have been here three years and haven’t
played much … Those guys stepped up and played,” BG head coach Dave Clawson said. “It’s so easy for
guys in that position to feel sorry for themselves and not learn the game plan or know the offense and
when they get their shot they are not ready.
“We needed them and they were ready to go,” Clawson added. “They helped us win today in a big way.”
Clawson said that Martin was only about 50 to 60 percent healthy.
Pettigrew, a junior, scored the first touchdown of his college career on a 2-yard run in the third
quarter.
“The running backs did a great job,” BG quarterback Matt Schilz said. “They came in, in the 12th game and
John, Erique and Jamel were ready to play. That shows a lot of character.”
JORDEN: Kamar Jorden had three receptions for 74 yards and two TDs against Buffalo. He finished this
season with 78 catches for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In his two-year career at Bowling Green, Jorden had 174 receptions, eighth on the career list for the
Falcons.
He is the only player in school history to have more than one season with over 1,000 receiving yards.
His 12 touchdowns this season are second on the single-season career list.
Jorden said his last game for the Falcons was emotional.
“When you see the clock going all zeros that’s when it really sets in; dang it’s really over,” said
Jorden. “I was just trying to savor the moment and enjoy it.
“That was the most important thing, play with energy and have fun so I can remember this moment for the
rest of my life no matter what happens in the future.”
SCHILZ: Schilz was 14-of-31 passing for 236 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I didn’t start off too well. I threw two picks,” Schilz said. “I wanted to come back and we did and we
sent the seniors out right.”
Schilz finished the season with 3,024 passing yards to become the fifth different BG quarterback to throw
for over 3,000 yards in a season.
Schilz also finished with 28 touchdown passes and only 13 interceptions. The 28 TD passes are the
second-most in school history.
Last season he had only eight TD passes and 14 interceptions.
GATES: Jerry ‘BooBoo’ Gates had three kickoff returns for 42 yards against the Bulls and finished the
year with 38 returns for 981 yards.
His returns are third most in BG history while his yards are the most-ever by a Falcon in a single
season.
WOODS: Junior linebacker Dwayne Woods Jr. had 15 tackles against Buffalo and finished the season with 111
tackles, his second straight season with more than 110 tackles for the Falcons.
He has 269 tackles in his three years at Bowling Green.
HODGES: Fifth-year senior Adrian Hodges, a wide receiver, quit the team after the game with Ohio on Nov.
16.

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