Barnes Breaking Records in Redemption Win for Bowling Green
Freddie Barnes redeemed himself in a big way Saturday. Barnes, the national leader in pass receptions, set school records with 22 receptions for 278 receiving yards in Bowling Green State University's dramatic, come-from-behind 36-35 win over Kent State at Dix Stadium. Barnes' reception total was one shy of the NCAA record, held by three different players, and it helped him erase a key fourth-quarter bobble and drop in a painful home defeat last week to Ohio University. "It was very hard, everybody was sending me emails and my mom was texting me everyday and asking me what she could do and what she could say to help me out," Barnes said following the dramatic win at Kent State. "I just been praying all week, just asking to give me the confidence that I need to have in myself to help my teammates win, just because I know they need me and I need them. I didn't have time to think about last week. I made a mistake and everyone makes mistakes and I had to get better." Barnes, a senior from Chicago, got better in record-setting fashion. It was the third time this season Barnes has broken the school record for catches in a game. He posted 15 catches versus Troy in the season opener on Sept. 3 and added 17 catches at Marshall on Sept. 19. Barnes has an NCAA-leading 75 receptions in six games. Barnes also added a career-high three touchdowns, second-most in school history, as Bowling Green rallied from a 35-23 deficit with just under five minutes remaining to stun Kent State and snap a four-game losing streak. Quarterback Tyler Sheehan shared the stage with Barnes, setting his own school marks by completing 44-of-63 passes for 505 yards. Barnes' 45-yard touchdown reception -- he broke four tackles and weaved through Kent State's defense -- from Sheehan pulled Bowling Green within 35-30 with 4:29 left. After Kent State went three-and-out and punted back to Bowling Green. Willie Geter fumbled the punt return but the ball bounced right to Barnes, who recovered to give the Falcons possession at the Bowling Green 26-yard line. "That's really what it's all about, just letting everyone know that you have to have fun. Have fun through the good and the bad and you will deal with the rest later." -- Freddie Barnes Sheehan methodically drove the Falcons down the field but it appeared that the drive might stall when Bowling Green faced third-and-goal from the nine-yard line with 11 seconds left. That's when head coach Dave Clawson called a quarterback sneak, and Sheehan powered his way the final two yards into the end zone to give the Falcons the win. "I knew it would work -- it was a great decision," Barnes said. "Tyler, he's a strong runner, he's a big kid, he has those big legs that don't look like they fit him. He used them and got the touchdown for us." Barnes had the opportunity to score a potential game-tying touchdown against Ohio University last weekend. Trailing 44-37, Barnes' 54-yard punt return -- a career long -- put the Falcons at the Ohio 14-yard line with 1:40 remaining. On fourth-and-2 from the Bobcats' 6, Sheehan looked for Barnes on a quick slant. The pass was bobbled by Barnes, then was batted by an Ohio defender. Barnes, still in stride, nearly made the catch as he headed into the end zone, but the ball fell to the turf. In all, the pass was deflected four or five times before hitting the ground. Barnes put the drop behind him and recovered nicely against Kent State. "On the field, in that type of environment on the road there's no time for you to allow doubt to creep in if you want to win," Barnes said. "We've been in this position before for a couple weeks now, and last week I let us down, so this week I felt like I had to step it up. That's really what it's all about, just letting everyone know that you have to have fun. Have fun through the good and the bad and you will deal with the rest later." Barnes' 75 receptions rank fifth in the school record books for catches in a season -- Cole Magner is the current record holder with 99 grabs in 2003. The NCAA single-season record holder for receptions is Manny Hazard, who had a 142 for Houston in 1989. Barnes' 75 catches have resulted in 722 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Barnes is averaging 12.5 receptions per game and, with six regular-season contests remaining, he would surpass Hazard in the NCAA record book in Bowling Green's finale against Toledo if he continues his pace. Barnes also made another leap in the all-time reception list in school history. The Chicago Heights, Ill., native who began the day with 195 career receptions, fourth-best in school history, passed Robert Redd (211) and Cole Magner (215) and now sits second in school history with 217 receptions. Charles Sharon is first in BGSU history with 232 catches. "Freddie is a ball-player. If I was playing pick-up hoops he's the first guy I would pick. If it was backyard football, I would want Freddie on my team," Clawson told the Bowling Green (Ohio) Sun-Sentinel. "He's just got ball skills. He's got instincts. He knows how to set people up." .fanhouseButton {margin:2em 0;} .fanhouseButton a:link, .fanhouseButton a:visited, .fanhouseButton a:hover, .fanhouseButton a:active {background-color:#dd2829;color:#FFFFFF;font-size:18px;padding:0.3em 0.6em;text-decoration:none;} .fanhouseButton a:hover {background-color:#000000;}
Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on FacebookBarnes Breaking Records in Redemption Win for Bowling Green originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST . .
This was to be the year that Pitt and head coach Dave Wannstedt got over the hump. Many, including me, had them in or near the top 25 and contending for the Big East title. It was a pretty picture that was easy to believe in after the upset of West Virginia last December. But the 2008 campaign got off to a bad start as the Panthers dropped their home opener to Bowling Green 27-17.Pitt dominated the stat sheets, outgaining Bowling Green 393-254 in total yards. But the Panthers also led in turnovers 4-1. Turnovers are correctable in most cases, but the pressure that Pitt quarterback Bill Stull was under all day is something that might not be avoidable. He was sacked four times in the game. LeSean McCoy had a hard time getting on track today as well. He only averaged 3.1 yards per run on 23 carries and one touchdown. The Pitt defense played well enough, but the turnovers by the offense gave Bowling Green a short field to work with too many times. The offensive line needs to get better quick, because this was supposed to be the easy game on the schedule for the Panthers.Turnovers Kill Pitt originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:01:00 EST . .