The Bowling Green Falcons (2-3, 1-0) return to Doyt L. Perry Stadium on Saturday to face a potential upset team in the MAC. Northern Illinois Huskies (3-2, 0-1).
Series history:
Bowling Green and Northern Illinois have met a total of 23 times, with the Falcons outscoring the Huskies by a 12-11 advantage.
NIU is currently on a three-game winning streak in the series dating back to 2016.
Head coach Scott Loeffler has played for NIU just once, in 2021, when the Huskies defeated the Falcons 34-26.
However, with the new pod system in place, the Huskies and Falcons will meet on the court every year starting today.
separation:
The Falcons enter this game coming off a 27-20 win over the Akron Zips.
Like most cases, Loeffler has great respect for the other side and believes Thomas Hammock has built a great program at NIU.
“Thomas is a great guy, great coach. He’s built a great program. He’s built it on the right things, and it’s very similar to what we did.”
Winning time of possession is always essential when talking about Loeffler’s teams. NIU is first in the MAC when it comes to time of possession, so Loeffler knows how important it is to protect the ball.
“You’re not going to get the ball as much as you normally would just because of how they control the ball on offense. So every shot is going to be important, and it’s going to be a great game.”
Having Terion Stewart available at running back is a great way to protect the ball. Stewart was on and off all year battling injury.
According to Loeffler, he will play for the Falcons.
“He should play in this game. I was disappointed he didn’t play last week. But, hopefully he’ll have a great week of practice and we can get him into the mix, which will definitely help the running game.”
Junior Safety CJ Brown was a member of the NIU football team for four seasons. He is looking forward to the opportunity and has nothing but his time at NIU.
“It meant a lot. We won championships, and we were in a rebuilding phase as well when I was there, but it was a fun time there.”
For NIU, Thomas Hammock The Huskies achieved a 3-2 record, along with the biggest win in program history when they defeated No. 5 Notre Dame Week 2 16-14.
Like Loeffler, Hammock has a mutual respect for BG and is excited for the matchup.
“I have a lot of respect for what Coach Loeffler does. I think he’s an offensive wizard. We played him in ’21, and we were all week ready to sweep the off-balance Jets, and then he bought an off-balance counter for the Jets,” Hammock said. You see it on tape, they’ll do the opposite. I think he does a great job of putting these guys in a position to succeed offensively.
NIU is a surprise team competing for the MAC. But they’ve made the most of this year, as they have the fifth-best offense and second-best defense in the MAC.
“They’re 35th in scoring, they’re stopping the run, and they’re averaging less than 100 yards per game. They’re stopping the pass, 23rd in passing, and they’re great on third down. They get off the field. On offense, they’re going to control the ball. It’s organized.” “She runs first and has a great pass game. I think the offensive line has a very physical football management mentality.”
Loeffler also believes they have a relentless pass rush and knows how difficult it is to line up against them in the trenches.
“They play great defense. Their defensive front is as good as we played. It reminds me of Texas A&M. I think they’re great. They’re 10th in the nation in total defense.”
You can’t have a BG preview without mentioning star tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Fannin is just 26 yards short of breaking receiving yards all-time for a tight end.
Hammock is happy for Fannin to stay in the orange and brown and believes this is the right way to do it.
“I’m glad the kid stayed at Bowling Green. I’m sure people messed with the kid and offered him a bunch of money, but I’m glad he stayed at Bowling Green. I think some of our best players in the MAC need to stay at their respective schools.”
This is the first “big test” the Falcons will face in this challenge of the conference we call the MAC.
Is 2-0 in the MAC on the horizon?
Tune into Falcon Radio at 3:15 to hear from Falcon Media Sports Network’s Sean Connelly and Andrew Helkowski to find out.
