Bowling Green Football 2025 Breakthrough: Game-Changing Wins, Standout Stars & How the Falcons Can Clinch the MAC

FIRST HALF MOMENTUM SWINGS SET TONE Bowling Green football fans packed Doyt L. Perry Stadium at noon Saturday hoping to watch the Falcons even their all-time series with arch-rival Toledo in the latest “Battle of I-75.” The Rockets entered at 3-2 (1-0 MAC), while Bowling Green stood 2-3 (0-1) and searching for a signature win that could energize first-year head coach Eddie George’s program. SPECIAL TEAMS SPARK EARLY The noon kickoff featured fireworks immediately. Sophomore returner Trevon Rayford took the opening kick 67 yards to set up a short field, and four plays later junior quarterback Camden Orth found tight end Ty Esterline on a nine-yard corner route for a 7-0 Falcons lead. It was Bowling Green’s first opening-drive touchdown since Week 1 and underscored George’s emphasis on aggressive special-teams play all week. DEFENSE BENDS BUT DOESN’T BREAK Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn responded with back-to-back 70-yard marches, but the Falcons’ red-zone defense stiffened, forcing two field goals. Senior linebacker Darren Anders posted nine first-half tackles, including a fourth-and-2 stop that kept Bowling Green in front 10-6 at the break. Through two quarters, the Rockets held a 242-to-158 edge in total yards, yet trailed because the Falcons won the turnover battle 2-0. THIRD-QUARTER TURNING POINT Momentum flipped midway through the third period when Finn hit Jaden Dottin on a 46-yard post to give Toledo its first lead, 13-10. Bowling Green appeared ready to answer, but an untimely holding call wiped out a 38-yard touchdown run from freshman tailback Ta’Ron Keith. Two plays later, Rockets cornerback Quinyon Mitchell jumped a hitch route and raced 34 yards to the house. The pick-six stretched the deficit to 10 points and silenced a crowd of 24,612. LATE FALCONS RALLY FALLS SHORT Orth kept Bowling Green alive with a six-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 27-yard scoring grab from Odieu Hiliare, pulling the Falcons within 20-17 with 5:18 left. However, Toledo milked the clock thanks to bruising runs by Peny Boone and an 11-yard scramble by Finn on third-and-9. A final Hail Mary from midfield was batted down as time expired, sealing a 23-17 Rockets victory. WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE MAC RACE The defeat drops Bowling Green to 0-2 in conference play, making next week’s road trip to Akron a virtual must-win if the Falcons hope to stay in the East Division hunt. Still, George praised his team’s fight. “We’re close—we just need to finish,” he said. The Rockets, meanwhile, move to 2-0 in league play and have now captured seven of the last eight meetings, extending their overall series lead to 44-42-4. KEY NUMBERS • Camden Orth: 19-for-32, 231 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT • Dequan Finn: 17-for-29, 268 yds, 1 TD passing; 63 yds rushing • Darren Anders: 14 tackles, 2 TFL • Time of possession: Toledo 33:47, Bowling Green 26:13 LOOKING AHEAD Bowling Green football returns to action Saturday at Akron, where the Falcons have won three straight. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, and another strong outing from Orth could reignite bowl hopes. For now, Falcons fans can take solace that the gap with their northern neighbor is narrowing—and the next chapter in this storied rivalry is already circled on the calendar.