Several Bowling Green players were carried off the field during the game against Michigan.
ANN ARBOR, MI — Bowling Green was forced to use a walk-on quarterback who had not taken a single snap in practice this week and was on the travel roster for the first time against second-ranked Michigan on Saturday night.
Bowling Green, already a huge underdog, was put in an even more difficult situation, was outscored 17-0 in the second half, and fell 31-6.
Bowling Green suffered an injury to starting quarterback Connor Bazelak, a transfer from Indiana, on Thursday. He was clothed on the sidelines of Michigan Stadium and appeared to have a leg injury. Camden Orth took his place but was forced to exit the game in the second quarter.
Replacing Orth was Hayden Timosciek, a walk-on who arrived on campus in June after a freshman year at Purdue, where he never saw the field. He played the rest of the game, completing 6-of-10 passes for 33 yards with two interceptions.
“We were adapting and adjusting fast,” Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler said. “I never at the quarterback position — he was looking to the sideline and at times we were telling him where to throw. That’s a first for us.
“We take great pride in our quarterbacks knowing protection. We’re drawing plays on the sideline. How that kid handled that — I mean that is wild. To play against that defense in this type of environment, and not taking one snap all week long — he’s a tough kid.”
This week, Timosciek’s only practice repetitions were on the scout team, where he acted as Michigan starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Suddenly, he was thrown into action in front of 109,955 fans in the sport’s largest stadium, against a defense that had allowed just 10 points in the prior two games.
Bowling Green has only two additional quarterbacks, both of whom are true freshman. “Hayden was put in a really, really tough circumstance and he battled his tail off,” Loeffler went on to say.
It was a rough night for the Falcons, who fell to 1-2 on the season.
“Our kids love playing in these games and these games are awesome, trust me,” Loeffler said. “But at times there’s a price for ‘em too. Unfortunately, the football gods gave us some misfortune with some injuries.”
With 11:44 left in the second quarter, Bowling Green, down 7-3, faced a fourth-and-1 from Michigan’s 24-yard line. Orth, who’d just handed off on three straight plays, lined up under center before Loeffler called timeout. Orth walked off the field and through the tunnel, and Bowling Green ended up kicking a field goal.
“Our quarterback had some major, major issues going on,” Loeffler said when asked about the decision. “Any other time I’m going for it. No ifs, ands, or butts. All the players were yelling and then when they found out the reason why, they immediately said, ‘Kick the field goal.’
“It was the health and safety of our quarterback, most importantly. That was the right decision. Now, schematically, it was absolutely not. We should go for it. We’re in Michigan Stadium. Any other time we’re going for it, but that’s someone’s kid.”
Loeffler didn’t elaborate on Orth’s condition. He wasn’t sure who would play quarterback next Saturday.
Early in the third quarter, linebacker Demetrius Hardamon was placed on a stretcher and carted off the field after making a tackle. He flashed a quick thumbs up and gave a brief wave to his teammates before exiting the field. He was transferred to the University of Michigan hospital according the Big Ten Network television broadcast.
Loeffler was asked if he had an update on Hardamon’s status. “Not yet. The positive thing — and I’m not a doctor — is that at least his hands were moving. I saw the hit and I knew right then and there (that) there was something wrong. Let’s all put a prayer together, and hopefully he’s OK.”
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