WATCH FOR PHOTOS POSTED ON THURSDAY
By Donald Traxler
Heath Jackson, Ada High School graduate and BGSU red-shirt junior wide receiver, started the Falcon fourth quarter drive with a seven-yard pass completion to Ronnie Moore to the BG 32 yard line.
The 75-yard drive took 9 plays and consumed 4:49 on the clock but resulted in the Falcons tying the score at 27 with the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. Jackson caught two key first down passes from Quarterback Matt Johnson for 15 and 21 yards.
But Pittsburgh took the ball at their own 28 yard line and moved it to the BGSU 21 yard line.
With a fourth and one situation, the Panthers kicked a 39 yard field goal to make the score 30-27. The 7 play, 51 yard drive took 3:25 off the clock and the Falcons ensuing drive began with 1:17 remaining in the game. BG was able to complete a 16 yard pass for a first down but a 10 yard holding call and two sacks of the quarterback for 11 and 9 yards left the Falcons at their own 1 yard line and a timeout with 31 ticks on the clock.
An 11 yard Jackson pass reception followed by three laterals and a fumble and recovery by BG left the ball at the 8 yard line and Pittsburgh only had to take one knee to end the game.
This final Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was enjoyed by 26,259 fans at Ford Field in Detroit, home of the NFL Detroit Lions who will sponsor their own bowl next year. It was originally known as the Motor City Bowl. Bowling Green defeated Northwestern in that bowl in 2003.
Jackson was the second leading receiver for the Falcons with five receptions for 78 yards with the longest one at 21 yards. He also completed the only pass he threw for seven yards. He had many key blocks on other running and passing plays. He literally had a defensive back draped on him like an overcoat on almost every play and at times had difficulty releasing himself from the grasp of the defender.
Jackson had the support of many Ada fans who were present in several sections of the large Falcon orange crowd.
Other BG Alumni from the Elmwood School district, many Bowling Green area villages and rural areas as well as Upper Sandusky were seen cheering the Falcons on as they came from behind to tie the game and then lose it at the end.
TRAX TIDBITS: While I was on the field taking pictures of the game, the outstanding halftime performance by the Falcon Marching Pride Band as well of dignitaries and fans, Ryan Miser, Volunteer Assistant Coach of the Elmwood Royals High School basketball teams, was witnessing the game from the Press Box as a contributor to the adaicon.com reporting staff.
Ryan, a junior BGSU student majoring in early and middle childhood education, was a three-sport athlete for the Montpelier Locomotives. He has been a volunteer assistant in the BGSU football office since January, 2013.
He expressed his thoughts on the play of Heath Jackson this year:
“Heath is an extremely hard worker in practice and has overcome a number of physical setbacks including knee surgery a year ago. But his diligent work had him prepared to step in when one of the starting wide receivers went down.
"The Falcons didn't miss a beat when he went in especially in the Toledo game when he was the leading receiver. He became a starter after that game and continued that role throughout the rest of the season. He has emerged as a great receiver. He runs great routes, has great hands to catch the ball and runs well after the catch. Besides, he throws many great blocks on both running and passing plays."
