For the second consecutive week, Buffalo allowed its opponent to hang around. But unlike Temple, Bowling Green capitalized on the Bulls' inability to finish.
On the final play of the game, the Bulls faced converting fourth and one in order to keep its hopes of winning alive. Senior running back Steven King, who led the team with 61 yards rushing, took the ball and dove into a pile of defenders. King was immediately stuffed behind the line of scrimmage where he continued to fight for yardage. In the process of this scuffle King fumbled the ball, which was promptly picked up by sophomore quarterback Drew Willy. Willy proceeded to take the ball to the end zone for what seemed to be the game-tying touchdown.
However, in another twist to a game in which the Bulls blocked four field goals and punts and scored 14 points on special teams, the play was ruled dead on a technicality. As Bulls head coach Turner Gill explained after the game, on a fourth down play, a fumble may not be advanced by any player except for the player who fumbled. This rule pertained to Willy's scamper, and Bowling Green escaped with a victory.
"They did a good job defending us," King said. "I fought for extra yards and the ball just popped loose."
The game did not start off on a high not for the Bulls, as the Falcons took the first drive of the game 71-yards on six rushing plays for a touchdown. This was followed immediately by the first of two weather delays due to lightning.
"I told them relax, to go ahead take their shoes off," Gill said about the weather suspensions. "We needed them to relax their minds, and their bodies."
After waiting over an hour to resume the game, freshman wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt took the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to pay-dirt. This was Roosevelt's first touchdown of his collegiate career. It was the Bulls first kick-off return for a touchdown since October of 1989, a span of 178 games. Roosevelt also added a 55-yard punt return later in the game, totaling 158 yards in punt and kick returns for the game.
"I thought we could get some things done on punt and kick returns," Gill said. "We went into this game thinking we had an edge there."
With four minutes remaining in the game, The Bulls were backed into a corner. Though the team was ahead by seven, Bowling Green had driven the ball inside the Bulls 10 yard line and was on the verge of scoring the game-tying touchdown. However, much like its defensive stand against Temple one week prior, the defense held strong and stopped the Falcons on two straight attempts from inside the five. The key play was a fourth down stop from inside the five-yard line to regain possession of the ball.
With the ball and only 3:58 remaining in the game, it looked as if the Bulls could run out the clock to end the game. However, the Bulls went three and out and allowed the Falcons one more shot at tying the game. The Falcons would not squander this opportunity as they sent the game into overtime with less then two minutes remaining in regulation.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the first round of overtime, inducing a second overtime. The Bulls started with possession of the ball, and took it to the one-yard line where King plunged into the end zone. However the ensuing extra point was blocked by Falcons nose tackle Nick Davis. On Bowling Green's first play of second overtime, it took advantage of a blown coverage and quarterback Anthony Turner found Brandon Jones for a 25-yard touchdown. The Falcons were now an extra point away from winning the game, yet junior defensive end James Judges put his paw out and tipped a low line drive kick, bringing the game to its third and final overtime session.
Starting with the ball in the third overtime, the Falcons drove to the six-yard line where on third down, Turner found wide receiver Ruben Ruiz for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.
"No one wants to enjoy losing and we won't," Gill said. "I'm proud of what they did. As long as they compete and play hard, then whatever the outcome is, it is."
King seconded Gill's thoughts that the team won't be happy with losing.
"This is no time to get down, we have the rest of the season left," King said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
