BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green’s 34-31 overtime win over Marshall could’ve plausibly been over after the first quarter.
The Falcons could’ve folded, as they had in past seasons with younger, less experienced teams. The Thundering Herd had rushed for 71 yards, while Bowling Green picked up four. The imbalance in passing yardage was similar: 138 yards for Marshall and 17 for the Falcons. Nothing seemed to be going right offensively for Bowling Green, which picked up its initial first down of the afternoon in the final minute of the quarter.
This time, the result was different — an outcome that started and ended with senior quarterback Matt McDonald, whose three-touchdown second quarter changed the complexion of the contest and forced the Thundering Herd to afford him new respect through the air and on the ground.