Nation: Bowling Green gets rematch vs. Miami (Ohio) in MAC title game
By Wire services
Published November 30, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Josh Harris did not care if he was running, throwing or receiving. All he wanted was another shot at Miami of Ohio.
Harris threw three touchdowns and caught another Saturday, leading Bowling Green to a 31-23 win over Toledo and a spot in the MAC title game.
The Falcons scored on their first four possessions in the second half after trailing 14-7. Harris did it all, accounting for 379 of Bowling Green's 433 offensive yards.
"The offense is always in my hands. I get the ball every snap, and that's the way I like it," Harris said.
Bowling Green hosts No.15 Miami of Ohio on Thursday. It will be the first time the Falcons have played for a conference title since the MAC split into two divisions in 1997. The RedHawks beat Bowling Green 33-10 four weeks ago.
"Ever since that game, we talked about the opportunity to play them again," Harris said. "I can't even celebrate this win. We want to win the MAC."
Harris flawlessly directed two time-consuming fourth-quarter drives that sealed it. He finished with 256 yards on 21-of-26 passing, 75 yards running and also caught a 48-yard touchdown.
His third touchdown came with a little luck. The throw was tipped high at the line but Charles Sharon grabbed the ball and ran 12 yards into the end zone, putting Bowling Green ahead 24-17 with 10:40 left. Sharon finished with three touchdown receptions.
"I got a hand on it," defensive end Frank Ofili said. "I was hoping one of the guys would get the interception."
The Falcons got the ball back four plays later and Harris drove them again, lofting a pass into the corner of the end zone where Sharon made a diving catch for the touchdown with 3:29 left.
"He could be an acrobat if he wasn't a receiver," Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon said.
Toledo still had a shot.
Bruce Gradkowski threw a 58-yard touchdown to Lance Moore that pulled Toledo within 31-23 and the Rockets recovered an onside kick. But the Falcons defense held, giving them the MAC West title in front of 29,724 - the fifth sellout in 38 years at Doyt Perry Stadium.
"Harris is an excellent quarterback," Ofili said. "He just came out in the second half and took the game over."
Gradkowski finished with three TD passes, but he was far from sharp.
He entered sixth in the nation in passing efficiency. He completed 13-of-23 for 184 yards.
It was the first time in 68 meetings there was a championship at stake for the longtime rivals, who are separated by just 20 miles.
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BOISE STATE 56, NEVADA 3: Ryan Dinwiddie threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns and ran for two TDs as the Broncos clinched their second straight WAC championship. Boise State took a 42-0 halftime lead on its way to its 17th straight conference victory and 18th win overall at home.
Dinwiddie, playing in his final regular-season home game, became Boise State's all-time leading passer with 9,165 yards, surpassing Bart Hendricks (9,020 yards from 1997 to 2000). His 3,702 yards this season broke Hendricks' single-season mark of 3,364 in 2000.
Dinwiddie threw four touchdowns in the first half, including a 46-yarder to Lawrence Bady with 42 seconds remaining in the half to make it 42-0. Dinwiddie, who can add to his totals with Saturday's regular-season finale at Hawaii and a bowl game, also ran for two 1-yard TDs.
Dinwiddie connected with Tony McPherson on a 76-yard touchdown on the second play of the game and added an 8-yard TD to David Mikell and a 44-yard TD to T.J. Acree. Mikell rushed for 48 yards on 13 carries, giving him 1,024 for the year.
Nevada averted a shutout when Damon Fine kicked a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter.
