Falcons’ new identity: Winning in the trenches

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Spread offenses may be dominating the college football landscape, but coaches will tell you the game is still won in the trenches.

Bowling Green State University proved that Saturday, running for 176 yards in a 17-13 Mid-American Conference win over Miami.

On the other side of the ball, the BGSU defense held the RedHawks to just 189 total yards, including 98 rushing and 91 passing. The Mid-American Conference win kept the Falcons (3-4 overall, 2-1 MAC) in the race for a potential championship

“It was a good win for the program,” said BGSU 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior defensive tackle Walter Haire.

“We needed that win to get back on track in the MAC. We have to keep on with the momentum that we had against Miami. We showed what four quarter football can look like and we’ve got to keep it going.

“Especially the guys, up front — the O-line really showed up and it gave them that confidence,” Haire continued.

“That’s what I like to see in the guys, up front, especially with the D-line and the O-line. Everybody was flowing and humming, and everybody was on the same task.”

BGSU coach Scot Loeffler said winning in the trenches should become part of the Falcons’ identity as a football team.

“It’s been a work in progress for sure. I think our defensive line is very good and our offensive line played to their potential,” Loeffler said. “I thought the running backs ran well, thought the game plan was exceptional, and we found a way to beat a very good team.”

BGSU 6-3, 285-pound left guard Jalen Grant said much of the line has been rebuilt through the transfer portal, and it is finally paying off.

“We were just going out there with a different type of energy and a different type of focus, you know what I mean?” Grant said.

“Just going out there and playing for each other and giving it you’re all on every single play, which allowed us to open holes for our running backs and run the ball efficiently.

Grant said there are many new faces due to the transfer portal.

“We’re just building a bond and chemistry with those people, which allows us to play more together on game day,” he said. “We are able to execute better just having more chemistry and we’re being a good teammate.”

As a result, BGSU sophomore running back Jaison Patterson ran for a game-high 94 yards and two sophomore running backs, Jamal Johnson (31 yards on six carries) and Ta’ron Keith (21 yards, four carries, one touchdown) were instrumental.

“They were put in a tough situation coming into the season,” Loeffler said. “We knew that each of them was going to play a part, but not to the extent that they all are now because of Terion (Stewart out with an injury).

“I thought they really played well as a unit. All of them did. They ran the ball hard. I thought Jaison Patterson played his best game. I thought he was very good.

“They did their job and Coach (Brian) White’s a really good running backs coach, and they responded to last week’s challenge.”

Grant said that when someone like Keith finds a hole, breaks a tackle and scores the winning touchdown on a 19-yard run, it brings satisfaction to the offensive line.

“It’s great. I love seeing guys skyrocket and take off and have good games and score touchdowns. It makes our job easier and more fun,” Haire said.

“You see how excited they are, and it makes our job easier. It also intimidates the defense when you see guys out there having fun and playing for each other, just having a great time playing football.”

Defensive philosophy the same

The same philosophy goes on the defensive side of the trenches, says Haire.

“(Senior defensive end) Karl (Brooks), Hawk (junior nose guard Anthony Hawkins) and I — the whole D-line is really a connected group. We have a standard in our room,” Haire said.

“It doesn’t matter who is out there in the starting lineup, we are going to give the same effort — you know what I mean? It its cold outside, hot outside, it doesn’t matter, our standards don’t change at all.”

One man in the trenches, 6-4, 235-pound senior linebacker Demetrius Hardamon, had five tackles, including four solo, but also including three tackles for a loss, two sacks, and strip sack that BGSU recovered.

This is the kind of stuff that Haire really loves to see. It earned Hardamon MAC East Defensive Player of the Week honors.

“I’m proud of it, from what he became to see him really shine under the bright lights,” Haire said. “It was really a blessing to see him do what he does. I’ve seen him work countless hours, just by himself.”

Loeffler confirmed that Hardamon has put in the work on his own time to become the linebacker he was during Saturday’s win.

“It’s not just watching him progress this year. He is a guy that totally is self-made,” Loeffler said. “He wasn’t big enough, wasn’t strong enough.

“He literally sat at the Oaks Dining and ate all day and studied all day, and when he wasn’t doing that, he was down here lifting weights and working on his trade.

“He’s a guy, last year, that I look out and after a game, he’s out there working on his technique. He’s infatuated with football, he’s a very good student, so we’re happy that he was able to help our team win last week.”

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