After 13 productive spring practices, Bowling Green’s football coaches already had a strong idea of how
players have developed since the end of last season.
Saturday’s spring game marked the Falcons’ 14th practice, seemingly serving as more of a show for the
fans than anything.
Deep pass plays, long runs and a few hard hits excited the crowd on the sun-filled morning in Doyt Perry
Stadium.
No injuries is what had head coach Mike Jinks excited as the Orange team beat the White team 13-7.
“We’ve done a much better job as a coaching staff of using these 15 workouts to get a true evaluation,”
Jinks said. “We’ve got a great idea of who can tackle and who can’t, who can make a play on a ball and
who needs to work, so we’re excited about it.”
Bowling Green practiced in full pads and went full contact in almost every practice over the last month
as Jinks has tried to implement a tougher identity within his teams. The Falcons scrimmaged for at least
one period every workout and used the entirety of their Saturday workouts as scrimmages as well. Both
lasted around 90 plays each.
“We got out of it healthy, and that’s always a big key. I’m excited about the physical nature in which we
were able to compete throughout the spring,” Jinks said.
The teams in Saturday’s game were more or less split squads of the starters and reserves. Wide receiver
Scott Miller caught five passes for 140 yards, while his quarterback, true freshman Jarret Doege,
finished 5-for-7 for 130 yards passing.
Presumed starter James Morgan, who was on the opposite side of Doege, was 4-for-5 for 31 yards and an
interception.
“I think we did some really good things in the spring,” Morgan said. “We came out today and competed. We
just have to keep the momentum going.
“This year everybody is on the same page. It’s a deeper level of understanding in the offense, just the
little details that everybody can see happening.”
Running backs Donovan Wilson and Josh Cleveland combined for 11 carries for 110 yards. Cleveland snapped
off a 75-yard touchdown run early in the game to give the White team a 7-3 lead.
Brian Jennings and Terence Stephens carried the ball 12 times for 36 yards. They are battling for the No.
3 running back spot.
“You saw our base offense and our base defense,” Jinks said. “You’re going to see a lot of 20 personnel
(two running backs) as opposed to four wide or even empty. … We want to kind of control the clock and
control the chains to help protect that defense a little bit.
When you keep them off the field, it’s amazing how they’re able to play a little bit faster. … I liked
what I saw.”
The defensive lines of both teams got pressure on numerous occasions, albeit against mixed offensive line
combinations that never put Bowling Green’s projected starting five together.
Jerry McBride intercepted Morgan on a floating ball down the sideline as he was pressured on the game’s
second drive.
Yet, the defense still saw a few struggles, particularly in the secondary and on third down.
“We gave up too many explosive plays,” Jinks said. “That’s what comes with youth. We’ve got some guys
that have played a few ball games but they’re still 18 and 19 years old. We’re going to continue to
address those things.
“Where I thought we did a better job was tackling, especially on the second level. Too often last year,
if someone got to the second level you just put your head down because it was six.”
Bowling Green will hold its final spring practice today before fall camp opens in August. The Falcons
open the season Sept. 2 at Michigan State.