The Falcons gambled on Matt Johnson, and it paid off in a big way.After a spirited battle in
spring practices and fall drills between Johnson and Matt Schilz, the Bowling Green State University
football coaching staff decided to use both quarterbacks in the season-opener against Tulsa.Johnson came in
for the third series against Tulsa and has started every game since, leading the Falcons to a 10-3 overall
record, a conference championship, and a bowl game. Bowling Green plays Pittsburgh in the Little Caesars
Pizza Bowl Thursday with kickoff at 6 p.m. in Detroit’s Ford Field.‘‘I think sometimes there is greater risk
in not making a move like that,’’ said former BG head coach Dave Clawson, who made the final decision to use
Johnson.‘‘We want to run a competitive program, and we tell our players every day that they are fighting for
a job, they’re fighting for playing time,’’ Clawson added. ‘‘If you are truly that way, I don’t think you
can protect anybody. You need internal competition.’’Clawson said that Johnson played well in the spring,
and Schilz had a good fall camp. Quarterbacks are not hit in practices or scrimmages, and that makes the
evaluation process tougher, thus the coaches wanted to see how Johnson would perform in live action, not in
a mop-up situation.‘‘I’m nervous before every game, but I was especially nervous before that game because it
was going to be my first meaningful reps,’’ Johnson said about the Tulsa game. ‘‘I had played before but it
was when we were getting killed, or we were killing someone else.’’Johnson did play in eight games in 2012,
but threw only 28 passes.With help from Schilz, who is third all-time on BG’s career passing list with 8,012
yards and fifth all-time with 51 touchdown passes, Johnson improved as the season progressed.He was
impressive in his first start going 19-of-25 for 357 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions against
Kent State.During BG’s current five-game winning streak, Johnson is 77-of-119 (64.7 percent) passing for
1,368 yards and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions. He’s also rushed 40 times for 154 yards and two
scores in the 5-0 run.Johnson capped off the five-game winning streak with his efforts in the 47-27 MAC
championship win over Northern Illinois. He was 21-of-27 for 393 yards with five touchdowns and no
interceptions. His five touchdowns went to five different receivers.‘‘He has a great feel of what we’re
trying to do offensively, and a great presence on the field,’’ said Adam Scheier, BG’s interim head coach
for the bowl game. ‘‘Our players, obviously, believe in him, and rally behind him. He’s one of the catalysts
that has helped spark this championship run, and this unbelievable season that we’ve had.‘‘He’s a gamer,
he’s a true student of the game. He’s got a great sense of humor,’’ Scheier added. ‘‘If it was basketball
you would call him a gym rat.’’Johnson said with the added practice time and game experience, he has a
better understanding of the offense, and has become a better player.‘‘I fully understand the offense, and I
fully understand why coach is calling the plays that he is. I understand why he’s checking to a play,’’
Johnson said. ‘‘I think in the early part of the year I wouldn’t have known that. I would have just said:
‘OK why is he calling this?’ and just went with it. Now I fully understand the ins and the outs of the
offense.‘‘My arm strength has gotten stronger just from throwing constantly,’’ he added. ‘‘When you’re a
backup you don’t necessarily throw as often as you want to.’’However, Johnson remains modest.‘‘Every game I
shout out to the offensive line; they are the reason that the offense moves,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘We could have
all the skilled guys in the world, and I could throw the best pass in the world, but if they don’t block
nothing is getting off.’’