| Bowling Green wide receiver Ryan Burbrink (17) carries the ball as Massachusetts linebacker John Robinson (43) defends in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) |
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Dwayne Woods had to watch his defensive teammates have all the
fun on Oct. 13 in a 37-12 win over Miami.
After making 30 straight starts for Bowling Green, Woods missed the Miami game with a
back problem.
A first-team All-Mid-American Conference performer last season, Woods returned to the
lineup Saturday and his 48-yard interception return for a touchdown helped spark
the Falcons’ 24-0 win over UMass.
“I’m still pushing through pain a little bit, but I had to play,” Woods said.
“Dwayne’s pick six was a huge play. It really put the game out of reach,” BG head
coach Dave Clawson said.
After Clawson joked that Woods have taken the last three weeks off he said: ‘‘He’s a
good player and we’re a better defense when we have him.’’
Woods said it was frustrating to watch the Miami game from the sidelines.
“It hurt watching my teammates, my brothers out there without me,” Woods said. ‘‘They
did a good job and I’m proud of them.
“It made me even more excited to be out here with them this week,’’ Woods added.
Woods’ interception was the fourth of his career, and the second time he has scored.
SHUTOUTS: Saturday’s shutout victory was BG’s first in almost eight years. The last
one was a 52-0 win over Western Michigan on Nov. 6, 2004.
BG’s last shutout on the road was 17-0 at Ohio in Nov. 10, 2001.
INTERCEPTIONS: BG’s defense had only four interceptions through the first seven games
of the season.
Against UMass, the Falcons doubled that total.
In addition to Woods’ interception, Jude Adjei-Barimah had two interceptions, and
Jerry ‘BooBoo’ Gates had one.
Both Adjei-Barimah and Gates had interceptions in the win over Miami.
The last time BG had four interceptions in a game was against Buffalo on Oct. 2,
2010.
SAMUEL: BG’s Anthon Samuel rushed for 60 yards on 22 carries and was the team’s
leading receiver with 58 yards on five receptions
With the 60 yards, Samuel moved into a tie for 18th on BG’s career rushing list with
Anthony Turner (2005-07) with 1,569 yards.
TATE: Tyler Tate’s 42-yard field goal was the longest for BG since Jerry Phillips
kicked a 44-yarder against Ball State on Oct. 17, 2009.
“It’s nice to see him bang that. He hit it strong,” Clawson said about Tate’s effort.
“It was great to see him hit that kick. At some point, we may need to win a game
on a kick like that.’’
PENALTIES: BG had a myriad of penalties against UMass with 15 being accepted for a
total of 130 yards.
The Falcons were hit three times for blocking in the back on punt returns, bringing
back good returns by Ryan Burbrink.
“We’re trying to get guys playing as freshman, trying to get them involved,” Clawson
said. “We lost, I would imagine, 75 or 80 yards of field position, because of
those three blocks in the back.
“They were well-blocked plays that one guy was trying to knock somebody out, rather
than just do his job. It killed us,’’ Clawson added.
Burbrink did finish with 63 yards on four returns.
ATTENDANCE: The announced crowd was 10,846 at Gillette Stadium, the home of the New
England Patriots. It was UMass’ Homecoming game.
NEXT: BG hosts Eastern Michigan Saturday with kickoff at 3:30 p.m.
