BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Spotty first-half rain and a cold,blustering wind weren't enough to keep Bowling Green quarterbackOmar Jacobs from having an outstanding game Saturday -- not againstthe Mid-American Conference's worst defense.
Jacobs threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns on 19-of-25passing, all in just three quarters, as the Falcons trounced BallState, 51-13.
Bowling Green (4-2, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) ran up a 21-0lead in about nine minutes, and rolled to 437 yards of offensebefore the final whistle.
Ball State (1-6, 1-3) didn't score until the end of the firsthalf and allowed a season-high eight sacks. Throw in a blockedpunt, a safety from a poor punt snap and allowing a kick returntouchdown, and the Cardinals' third-straight loss was about as uglyas the weather conditions.
"We didn't do anything right," dejected head coach Brady Hokesaid. " We couldn't stop them on third down, couldn't convert it.We didn't do a damn thing, and when you're playing a good footballteam, you can't do that."
The Falcons wasted little time, taking just 2:10 to put up thefirst score by moving 80 yards in just six plays. Jacobs' 2-yardscoring run came three plays after a 42-yard pass to SteveSanders.
A quick three-and-out later BG was on the move again, withJacobs lofting a 29-yard score to P.J. Pope.
Ball State failed to move again, and Keon Newson broke throughto block Reggie Hodges' punt, and James Hawkins recovered at the19. Jacobs' 4-yard pass to Cole Magner made it 21-0 with 5:55 stillto go in the first.
"It puts you behind the eight ball to begin with," Hoke said ofthe early deficit. "We haven't been an offense that scores a lot ofpoints, so it doesn't help us."
The second quarter wasn't much better.
Pope's 1-yard trot at the 7:06 mark in the second quarter cappeda 10-play, 80-yard drive.
After another BSU three-and-out, the Falcons took over at the48. Jacobs threw 11 yards to Charles Sharon for the TD four playslater.
The Falcons, who came in with just five sacks on the season, gotto Cole Stinson eight times. Ball State, which gave up 21 sacks alllast season, has yielded 28 so far in 2004.
"All week we knew they would blitz a lot and twist," center NickTabacca said. "They were doing a lot of that. They definitely gotto our quarterback way too much today."
Stinson, who struggled all day and never looked comfortable,completing just 18 of 42 for 193 yards, blamed himself for many ofthe sacks.
"Our did had no problem run blocking; they did a good job passblocking," the freshman said. "I just wasn't mentally focused,wasn't playing with poise, was afraid to step up in thepocket."
Hoke added that it was a combination of that and the line"getting physically whipped."
Brian Jackson booted two field goals, a 39-yarder in the finalminute of the second and a 33-yarder in the third.
Ball State advanced to the BG 8-yard line early in the fourthbut couldn't crack the goal line in four plays. After forcing athree-and-out, the Cards regained possession at the BG 37. Wynnfound his way over the goal line from a yard out with 8:13remaining, but the Cards allowed Bowling Green's B.J. Lane toreturn the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
"We had a hell of a week of practice, and they were excited thewhole trip here," Hoke said of his team. "I feel for those kidsbecause they work too damn hard. Our guys have a lot ofpride."�
While the number of losses is obviously disheartening, Tabaccadoesn't see any teammate giving up on the season.
"Hopefully I don't have to say a whole lot," the seniorco-captain said. "If you're like me and a lot of the guys, love ofthe game should be enough to motivate you.
"Obviously we'd like to win a championship, but regardless, wehave to keep practicing our butts off and playing our butts off andget this ship righted. We've got to get it done."
BIG DAY RUSHING ... WELL, NOT REALLY
Ball State's rushing attack punctured Bowling Green's defenseall day, but the Cardinals still finished with just 92 yards inthat department.
Thanks to eight sacks, Cole Stinson had -61. A snap from MichaelHay sailed over punter Reggie Hodges' head, causing Hodges to kickthe ball out of the end zone for a safety. That play went down as-33 for the team.
Still, freshman Adell Givens put up 123 yards on 28 tries, hissecond 100-yard game in a row. Junior Charles Wynn, a product ofnearby Sylvania Northview, added 60 yards on seven carries.
"Adell's been doing a good job running the ball," center NickTabacca said. "A couple times he got around the corner and got somegood yardage."
Givens, who took over the starting duties when Larry Bostic torea knee ligament in the second game, has 540 yards this season. TheBall State freshman rushing record is 1,064, set by BernieParmalee. Givens is the first true freshman to start at tailbacksince Parmalee.
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