Bowling Green still jinxed after coaching change, obliterated 49-14 by Ohio

Bowling Green decided to shake things up last Sunday, firing head coach Mike Jinks after a 1-6 start and 7-24 record in his third year at the helm. While Bowling Green altered its personnel, it didn’t alter the on-field product.

The same issues still lingered with the Falcons in a 49-14 annihilation at Peden Stadium versus Ohio. With defensive coordinator Carl Pelini assuming the interim head coaching role this week, shades of the Mike Jinks era continued for Bowling Green. The Falcons clinched bowl ineligibility for the third-straight year after reaching the MAC Championship each of the prior three years.

Bowling Green’s last ranked rushing defense performed below the horrific season average, yielding 392 yards to Maleek Irons, Nathan Rourke, and the Bobcats strong ground game. Rourke, 101 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, recorded 193 yards through the air, posting four passing touchdowns on a lifeless Bowling Green defense.

Ohio’s rushing attack was so dominant that the Bobcats only elected to throw 13 times in the five-touchdown victory. Seven ball carriers received carries for Ohio, and all seven finished with yards per carry averages of 5.8 or greater.

Offensively for Bowling Green, Jarret Doege didn’t have a bad passing day. The sophomore quarterback completed 19-of-24 passes and was responsible for both of the Falcons’ two touchdowns. He threw just one interception, and Bowling Green committed one other first half turnover with a fumble in the second quarter.

The Falcons didn’t receive too many opportunities as Ohio’s long, rushing-oriented drives ate up loads of clock. Not counting the final possession where Ohio knelt the ball within Bowling Green’s 10-yard line, the Bobcats scored on seven of their eight possessions — including all five in the opening half.

The much-needed win for Ohio allows the Bobcats to improve to 4-3, sporting a 2-1 record in the conference after a heartbreaking loss to Northern Illinois last week. Bowling Green loses its seventh-straight and its 10th-straight against FBS teams in the blowout loss.

Ohio continues to control its own destiny despite Buffalo’s runaway success, and the Bobcats resume play against Ball State on Thursday night. Bowling Green will have some hope going forward into its upcoming game against Kent State on October 30. Kent State, also a 1-win program, is the last FBS and MAC team beaten by the Falcons, in a 44-16 result last Halloween.