It’s been a difficult season for Bowling Green.

The Falcons don’t normally lose games in their conference, and yet they lost twice to conference opponents, including a contentious 33-29 decision against Western Michigan, and a 51-29 loss to Cincinnati two weeks ago.

So going into this weekend’s semifinals and final, BGSU had some work to do to get back on top.

“What we wanted was for the guys to play more physical rugby,” said Bowling Green Coach Tony Mazzarella. “When we played Davenport [and lost] I thought we played pretty well, but we didn’t win the physical battle. When we lost to Cincinnati it was by far the worst performance we’d had in a long time. It was a big deal for them to beat us the way they did. So we went into this weekend looking to play at the right kind of pace, and to win the physical battle.”

Saturday’s defeat of Ohio was pivotal in that respect as the Falcons ramped up their physicality, and shocked OU early.

Centers Adam Regini and Griffen Palmer worked nicely on offense, switching from inside to outside and back again. On defense, Palmer set the tone at outside center, reading the attack of both OU and WMU, blitzing at the right time, and making some big hits.

Flanker Logan Battershell was a big hitter, too, but got hurt in the semi and did not play in the final.

And on to the final, where Western Michigan, having beaten Dayton handily, was waiting.

“Western Michigan worked their butts off,” said Mazzarella. “But we got into penalty trouble.”

It was a frustrating development for the Falcons, as they were hit with 21 penalties, and ended up having to sub off No. 8 Neil McNamara because he got a yellow card and a stern warning from the ref, implying that his next infraction would be his last. 

Somehow, though, while WMU kicked well and got points from those penalties, Bowling Green managed to stay ahead.

Up 20-11, Bowling Green saw WMU storm back with three tries to lead 26-20. Bowling Green replied to lead by a point, and then fell behind again 27-26 on a penalty kick.

The game was almost over at that point. Western Michigan won the restart and ran pick-and-drives down the field. But somehow, the Falcons stopped them and got a scrum. From that platform they ran a switch move that put Palmer upfield. Regini, having moved to fullback due to an injury, raced up in support and saw that WMU had no one deep. He called for Palmer to kick it, and that’s what Palmer did. The ball bonded twice and settled into Regini’s arms, and he ran in for the winner.

Finally, said Mazzarella, the Falcons had started to play the way they can play.

Oddly, though, this will be the final tilt for Bowling Green as they won’t pursue a bowl game. Instead, said Mazzarella, the Falcons will look at the possibility of a DIAA playoff spot in the spring.

That’s the future, and maybe the rough fall is the past. Right now, they can bask in this past weekend, and what went right.