In a wildly entertaining and tense Mid American Conference final, Bowling Green came back from 20 points down to defeat the Louisville Cardinals 34-33 and win the conference championship.
These teams have played twice this season, both Bowling Green victories, and both by a single point. The earlier match ended up 28-27 for the Falcons.
And this game may well have been the best that either team has played. Contested at Mazzarella Field at BGSU in front of the President of Bowling Green University, it was non-stop from the kickoff.
Bowling Green opened the game with a penalty goal from center Joey Apel. Louisville answered in a somewhat bizarre way. Three Bowling Green backs had held up the Louisville ballcarrier, looking to force a scrum. The ball then popped out of the top of these four players, landed in Louisville hands, and 50 meters later it was 5-3. The conversion was good and the Cardinals now led 7-3.
Bowling Green answered with a try from Colton Crabiel and that made it 8-7.
After that Louisville went on a tear. They scored quickly twice, both tries converted from the sideline by JB Meier, and at halftime the Cardinals were in control 21-8.
Louisville extended that lead with a try after halftime and now they led 28-8.
Bowling Green was in trouble.
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But No. 8 Phil Tracey powered over for a try to stop the bleeding. Freshman prop Evan Holderer broke through from long range. Apel converted both tries and with 10 minutes left it was 28-22; Louisville still in the lead.
Tracey’s second try of the day nudged Bowling Green to within a point, and Apel’s third conversion of the day put the Falcons ahead 29-28.
Bowling Green received the next restart but couldn’t hold onto it. The Cardinals swooped in to gather and score. No conversion, but Louisville now led 33-29 with time winding down.
