2024 68 Ventures Bowl Falcons’ Mistakes Lead to 38-31 Loss Against Arkansas State

MOBILE, Ala. — A season that began with high expectations ended in a familiar fashion for Bowling Green State University’s football team on Thursday.

Despite amassing nearly 500 yards of offense, the Falcons were undone by numerous self-inflicted penalties and critical special teams mistakes, falling to Arkansas State 38-31 in the 68 Ventures Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

The fact of the matter is we beat ourselves, and that’s on me, said sixth-year BGSU head coach Scot Loeffler. We committed some very costly penalties. We should have been off the field on third down, but we weren’t due to a penalty that shouldn’t have happened.

He continued, There was no talent issue; we jumped offsides twice in the red zone. We didn’t execute well on special teams, missed assignments, and played completely outside of our identity. We need to evaluate this and figure it out.

Despite returning nearly all of their key players and fielding what many considered their most talented roster under Loeffler, BGSU finished the season 7-6 for the second consecutive year. The Falcons have now lost three straight bowl games, each by a single score (30-24 to Minnesota in the 2023 Quick Lane Bowl and 24-19 to New Mexico State in the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl).

Unfortunately, we got what we deserved today—too much undisciplined play, jawing at the other team, and mistakes that are uncharacteristic of us, said senior linebacker Brock Horne. It’s disappointing.

Arkansas State (8-5) led throughout the game. The Red Wolves closed the season with a 7-2 record in games decided by 10 points or fewer, while the Falcons finished 2-5 in such contests.

BGSU outgained Arkansas State 479-360 in total yards. Star tight end Harold Fannin, Jr. set two FBS records in a career performance, while quarterback Connor Bazelak threw for nearly 400 yards.

The Falcons’ mistakes, however, were costly.

A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Trent Simms, following a BGSU stop on third down, extended an Arkansas State drive that culminated in a 6-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jaylen Raynor late in the first quarter.

Midway through the first, Courtney Jackson returned a BGSU punt 60 yards for a touchdown, giving Arkansas State a 10-0 lead. Falcons kicker Zach Long made only 1 of 4 field goals, and punter John Henderson came up short on a fake punt attempt, gaining just 5 yards on a fourth-and-6 play in BGSU territory.

Very uncharacteristic of our team. We usually excel on special teams, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case tonight, Loeffler said. We had some no-talent issues that crept up, which hasn’t been a trend for us this year.

He added, We’ve been a disciplined team, but tonight we shot ourselves in the foot multiple times.

Fannin had a standout performance, finishing with 17 receptions for 213 yards, both career highs, and a 4-yard touchdown catch late in the second quarter. The touchdown came after a pass from Bazelak went through the hands of Arkansas State’s Justin Parks and landed in Fannin’s hands in the back corner of the end zone.

Fannin, named the game’s MVP, set two FBS records: he broke the single-season receiving yards record by a tight end with a 23-yard reception in the first quarter and later set the single-season receptions record for tight ends with a 7-yard catch in the third quarter.

Fannin needed 11 yards to surpass the previous record of 1,342 yards, held by Jace Amaro of Texas Tech in 2013, and 12 receptions to break the mark of 111 set by James Casey of Rice in 2008.

He's just a phenomenal person. We're so happy for him and proud of our staff, Horne said. We do a great job putting him in positions to succeed, but he’s done so much on his own too.

Bazelak threw for 390 yards and three touchdowns on 32-of-49 passing. Rahkeem Smith caught seven passes for 97 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown that brought the Falcons within 38-31 with 1:42 left. Jaison Patterson also added an 8-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

BGSU executed a trick play perfectly for their first score. On a fourth-and-20 from the Arkansas State 43, third-string quarterback Baron May, lined up as the punter, took the snap and threw a strike to Malcolm Johnson, Jr. down the left sideline for a touchdown.

Raynor finished 18 of 30 for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception for the Red Wolves. Zak Wallace added 99 rushing yards, including a 14-yard touchdown with 3:10 remaining to give Arkansas State a 14-point lead.

Corey Rucker caught four passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns.