Previewing Bowl Green – Camellia Bowl Edition
Photos: usajaguars.com
South Alabama and Bowling Green will tee it up at 8:15PM on Saturday at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery for the inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. Here is a short rundown on the Falcons.
Bowling Green plays in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), they enter the game with a 7-6 record overall and a 5-3 record in conference play. Head coach Dino Babers is in his first season as the Falcons’ head coach and has a 26-13 record in three seasons as a head coach overall.
The Falcons lead the nation in transitioning from their previous offensive play to the next. Quarterback Jame Knapke assumed the starting job after Matt Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the season. Knapke has thrown for 2,805 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season. He has rushed for 126 yards a two touchdowns.
South Alabama enters the game as a 3-point favorite. The Falcons enter the game on a three-game losing skid after being blown out in the MAC championship by Northern Illinois 51-17. The Jaguars enter the game after a heartbreaking loss at home to Navy 42-40 after the Jags had two successful 2-point conversions negated by penalties before failing the convert the third attempt.
Here is a breakdown of stats between the two teams:
| Stat | South Alabama | Bowling Green |
| Scoring Offense | 22.1 points per game | 29.8 points per game |
| Total Offense | 372.8 yards per game | 427.8 yards per game |
| Rushing Offense | 182.6 yards per game | 176.2 yards per game |
| Passing Offense | 190.2 yards per game | 251.5 yards per game |
| Scoring Defense | 25.8 points per game | 33.9 points per game |
| Total Defense | 390.5 yards per game | 499.6 yards per game |
| Rushing Defense | 190.7 yards per game | 207.2 yards per game |
| Passing Defense | 199.8 yards per game | 292.4 yards per game |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 36.8% | 38% |
The Falcon have a pair of running backs in Travis Greene and Fred Coppet that average over 5 yards per carry. Green has 10 touchdowns on the season and is 92 yards short of going over 1,000 yards rushing this season.
Roger Lewis is the Falcons leading receiver with 69 catches for 956 yards and five touchdowns. Ryan Burbrink is not far behind with 60 catches for 719 yards and three touchdowns. Ronnie Moore adds 51 catches for 629 yards and five touchdowns for BGSU. Burbrink also has a punt return for a touchdown this season.
The Bowling Green defense has picked off opposing quarterbacks 14 times this season. Nick Johnson leads that group with five picks while Clint Stephens is one behind with four. Stephens also had a kickoff return for a touchdown this season.