Falcons Hold Off Colonels for First Win of the Year, 42-35

The host Bowling Green Falcons got a last-minute defensive stand to preserve a hard-fought victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Saturday, 42-35.

The Falcons did much of their damage through the air, as sophomore quarterback Jarret Doege threw for 258 yards on 28 of 39 passing and four touchdowns. Falcon receivers senior Deric Phouthavong and sophomore Quintin Morris each caught two touchdowns. Morris finished with eight receptions for 93 yards, while Phouthavong had seven catches for 82 yards.

The Colonels were just the opposite of the Falcons in that they gained 80 percent of their total yardage on the ground. For the game, the Colonels amassed an amazing 439 yards on 60 carries for a 7.3 per attempt average. It’s not surprising Eastern Kentucky stuck to the ground game since the Falcons have given up an incredible 1,095 yards on the ground through 12 quarters of football this season.

Daryl McCleskey had 168 yards rushing and three touchdowns for the Colonels. However, the Colonels weren’t much of a threat throwing the ball as quarterback Dakota Allen was just six of 14 for 109 yards in the game.

The Falcons took the lead for good on a Doege to Morris seven-yard touchdown play with just 6:47 to go in the fourth quarter. Then, Doege threw a two-point conversion pass to Jordan Wayne-Prather to give the Falcons the seven-point cushion.

The Colonels did get the ball back at their own 33-yard line with three minutes to play. Despite being out of timeouts, Eastern Kentucky kept pounding the ball on the ground and did get to the Falcon 15-yard line before a final pass attempt fell incomplete in the endzone as time expired.

Sophomore running back Andrew Clair led the Falcons with 90 yards on 25 carries and scored a touchdown. The Colonels were hurt by committing three turnovers in the game, all fumbles. The Falcons only had one turnover, a Doege interception.

The Falcons are now 1-2 and will stay at home next week to face the Miami Redhawks.