Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - Matt Schilz threw for 188 yards and two
touchdowns and the Bowling Green defense did the rest, as the Falcons blanked
the Massachusetts Minutemen, 24-0, in Mid-American Conference play at Gillette
Stadium.
The Falcons (5-3, 3-1 MAC) earned their fourth straight win thanks to a stingy
defensive effort, as they notched four interceptions and allowed only 118
total yards. It also marked the fourth straight game they held an opponent
below 100 yards rushing.
It was an offensive performance to forget for the Minutemen (0-7, 0-4), who
own the longest active losing skid in the FBS at 10 in a row. Eleven of their
15 possessions resulted in either a three-and-out or a turnover, while they
converted just 1-of-16 third downs.
Bowling Green scored the only points of the first half, as Schilz threw a 16-
yard touchdown pass to Shaun Joplin at the 5:12 mark of the opening quarter,
capping a seven-play, 35-yard drive.
Schilz made it a 14-0 game on a two-yard TD pass to Alex Bayer with 3:42 to
play in the third quarter.
On the ensuing possession, UMass quarterback Mike Wegzyn was intercepted by
Dwayne Woods, who returned it 48 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to
21-0. Falcons kicker Tyler Tate tacked on three more points with a 42-yard
field goal in the fourth quarter to account for the final score.
The shutout was the first by Bowling Green since a 52-0 win over Western
Michigan in 2004.
GAME NOTES:
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