One week after beating Miami 54-21, the Flashes fell back into their losing Mid-American Conference ways with a 45-30 loss to Bowling Green at Doyt Perry Stadium.

The Falcons opened the game with 28 consecutive points and the Flashes never climbed back into striking distance.

Senior quarterback Julian Edelman threw two interceptions, both coming in the first half, but also took part in all of the team’s scores with two rushing and two passing touchdowns.

Edelman said he blamed himself more than the defense for the team’s slow start against the Falcons.

“I made two huge turnovers that put us in a hole,” Edelman said. “They scored on both of those drives.”

Edelman led the team in rushing yards with 170 yards, in his fourth consecutive game with more than 100 yards. Edelman also passed the 2,000 yard career rushing mark with his effort today.

Bowling Green junior quarterback Tyler Sheehan played an almost perfect first half going 11-for-15 in the first half for 140 yards and 83 yards rushing. Sheehan finished with 159 yards passing and 109 yards rushing.

Sheehan’s 109 yards rushing were more than he had in his entire career prior to today’s game.

“I’m not surprised (Sheehan) was running the ball because they really don’t have a running back that’s a dynamic player,” Martin said. “They try to create things with formations.”

Sophomore Brian Lainhart capitalized on one of Sheehan’s few mistakes in the first half by intercepting him in the first quarter. Lainhart now leads the Football Bowl Subdivision with six interceptions.

The Falcons rushed for 261 yards overall, including 91 from freshman running back Jason Rice.

The Flashes out gained the Falcons in overall yards 478-462. The Flashes have lost three other games this season when out gaining their opponents.

Junior running back Eugene Jarvis ran 19 times for 89 total yards and caught six passes for 54 yards.

The Bowling Green defense shut out the Flashes for the first half, holding the Flashes without a point until Edelman threw a touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Sam Kirkland in the third quarter.

The Flashes had only three first downs compared to 18 for Bowling Green in the first half, something Martin said was unacceptable.

“When your defense is struggling, your offense has to keep you in the game,” Martin said. “We didn’t do that.”

Martin said it didn’t matter how well the Flashes played after falling behind by 28 points in the first half.

“We put ourselves in such a hole in the first half,” Martin said. “Against a good team you can’t do that and expect to come back and win.”