Bowling Green’s starting quarterback Omar Jacobs should present quite a challenge for a Ball State University defense that allowed 56 points last weekend.Jacobs ranked among the best in college football last season in a couple of categories, including second-best in the nation in total offense (358.5 yards). Despite an unorthodox throwing style, Ball State coach Brady Hoke said Jacobs has an “unbelievable ability” to throw the ball exactly where he wants it to go.“He’s a big, physical, great-looking cat,” Hoke said. “He does have a unique delivery, but the ball gets from point A to point B, and you just go, ‘Man, that was an ugly throw.’ But it gets there.”Jacobs isn’t the only offensive threat on Bowling Green’s roster. The Falcons averaged 44.3 points a game last year, best in the Mid-American Conference and fourth-best in the country. Although three starters on the offensive line from last year are gone, the Falcons do return four skill players who started, including Jacobs.Two of those returnees are wide receivers Charles Sharon and Steve Sanders. Both had 66 receptions last season and combined for 23 touchdowns.“They’re awfully, awfully good at what they do, and they understand what they do,” Hoke said. “They’ve got good skill, and they [the offensive line] keep them out of trouble.”The Falcons also return running backs P.J. Pope and B.J. Lane, Pope’s back-up. Hoke said both were quality running backs. Pope was among conference leaders in rushing yards per game and total yards last year.Last weekend, the Falcons hung in against Wisconsin until late into the third quarter. Bowling Green lost, 56-42.Ball State was missing 13 players — including seven starters — last weekend against Iowa. There will be eight suspensions served this weekend, none of whom are starters.“We just have to take it as a learning experience,” senior safety Erik Keys said of last weekend’s loss. “We had a lot of young people who had the chance to step up and get some experience and get their feet wet.”The eight, announced late Thursday, were defensive tackle Scott Bradtmiller, safety Eddie Burk, linebacker David Denham, tailback Breton Martin, offensive guard Ryan McKee, tight end Todd Racine, wide receiver Jordon Trask and cornerback Lavell Mosley.“We’re going to get some players returning, and the young players had a chance to go out there (last weekend),” Keys said.The contest with Bowling Green is Ball State’s first MAC game of the season.“You’re at home, and its the opening of the MAC schedule,” Hoke said. “I like this team. They’ve gone through some adversity the past week and a half, but they’ve stayed positive and stayed with it.”Several starters last week were injured, and some are still questionable to play. Hoke said he wasn’t sure if fullback Brad Sayler and linemen Andre Ramsey and Jake Jordan will be able to play. Freshman running back B.J. Hill “tweaked an ankle” against Iowa, Hoke said, but should be available against Bowling Green.Hoke said the team — especially freshmen — were overwhelmed after falling behind so quickly.“I think we got shell-shocked a little bit,” he said. “We couldn’t get any rhythm back. We didn’t play fast offensively. Some of it is youth. Some of it is guys not finishing blocks like you’d like to see them finish.”
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