Behind Rahkeem Smith’s three touchdowns, Bowling Green extends win streak to five, keeping their hopes alive for MAC Championship.
In a late season Saturday matchup, Bowling Green (7-4, 6-1 MAC) defeated a gritty Ball State (3-8, 2-5 MAC) squad on the road to give themselves a shot at a championship berth.
The game started about as well as the Falcons wanted. They forced a three-and-out on Ball State’s first possession, and then marched 93 yards for the opening touchdown. After exchanging punts, the quarter ended with the Falcons up 7-0 on a pass from Connor Bazelak to Harold Fannin Jr. to take the early advantage. Ball State cooked up some momentum on the ensuing drive, but ultimately failed their fourth down conversion early in the second quarter.
Most of the second quarter played out like the first quarter ended, with each team going back-and-forth with possessions, but a key swing in the game occurred with 5:12 left in the first half.
On third-and-one inside their 29-yard line, the Falcons opted to run with Terion Stewart up the middle. He collected the first down, but the ball was punched out bu a Cardinal defender and BSU defensive back DD Snyder collected the loose ball to gift the offense possession deep in Falcons territory. Cardinals forced a turnover on a fumble by Terion Stewart. In an attmept to seize momentum and catch the defense off-guard, Ball State opted to go for a trick play, with wide receiver Cam Pickett getting the ball for a pass attempt. The wobbling ball floated right into the hands of BGSU defensive back Jordan Oladokun, who made the pick and returned it to the BG 43-yard line.
Zach Long kicked a 43-yard field goal to convert the heads-up pick to points and put the lead at 10-0. Ball State had one final drive of the half, with Kadin Semonza finding Vaughn Pemberton for the 51-yard touchdown. The score would be 10-7 after the PAT at the break.
The Cardinals effort would fall apart from there, as the Falcons would score 18-straight points in the third quarter to really put the game out of reach.
After a big play in the middle of the third quarter, Harold Fannin Jr. left the game under his own power after being shaken up, and would not return to the game after eclipsing the 100-yard receiving mark on a 37-yard catch-and-run to set up the first of Rahkeem Smith’s touchdowns on a short run. The Falcons would successfully complete the two-point conversion to make it 21-7 with 4:01 left in the third. After Ball State punted, Connor Bazelak found Rahkeem Smith for a 66-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead out to 28, then tack on another field goal from Zach Long to put the score at 31-7 with 12:25 left in the game.
Ball State would get back on the board after Semonza found Qian Magwood in the back of the end zone on a circus catch to put the score at 31-13 after the failed two-point conversion. After the Falcons subbed in their backups, Lucian Anderson III found Rahkeem Smith for another touchdown, this time from four yards out, to put the score at 38-13.
The Cardinals had one final drive in the game, but wouldn’t get anything out of it. The Falcons would kneel out and set themselves up for the MAC’s potential game of the year on Black Friday vs. Miami, winning 38-13.
The Falcons won this game on the back of their defense once again, holding Ball State to 254 yards of offense, and only 43 rushing yards. Racking up four sacks and one interception, the Falcons have held an opponent to 13 points for the second-straight game.
Rahkeem Smith, the former Delaware State Hornet, made himself known with two receiving and one rushing touchdown. Smith has speed that when utilized, it’s very hard to combat.
Harold Fannin, Jr. had nine catches for 125 yards and one touchdown. Although he was shaken up, he was seen on the sideline still dressed. The Falcons will need him against Miami, as he is 57 yards away from breaking Jace Amaro’s record of 1,352 yards for single-season receiving yards by a tight end.
Colin Johnson’s debut as interim head coach was a tough day for Ball State. His Cardinals were outgained 362 yards to 254 yards. The Cardinals struggled to move the ball for a lot of the game.
Kadin Semonza had two touchdown passes on 19/37 passing and 211 yards. Vaughn Pemberton had 70 of those yards with one touchdown.
Both teams struggled with penalties. Bowling Green had nine for 79 yards, and Ball State had nine for 87 yards.
Play of the Game
The play of the game goes to Rahkeem Smith. Bazelak found Smith on a nifty screen, and Smith could not be caught.
.@smith_rahkeem = TO THE HOUSE! @BG_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/56mJImgjGd
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 23, 2024
Up Next
Bowling Green hosts Miami on Friday, November 29th at 12:00 pm ET on ESPNU. A valid cable subscription is required for viewing.
Ball State travels to Athens to play the Ohio Bobcats on Friday, November 29th. Time and network to be decided.