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 heavy underdog, was put in an even more difficult situation, was outscored 17-0 in the second half, and lost 31-6.
Bowling Green suffered an injury to starting quarterback Connor Bazelak, a transfer from Indiana, on Thursday. He was dressed on the sidelines of Michigan Stadium and appeared to have a leg injury. Camden Orth took his place but was forced to leave the game in the second quarter.
Hayden Timosciek, a walk-on who arrived on campus in June after a freshman year at Purdue where he never saw the field, took Orth’s place. He finished the game by completing 6-of-10 passes for 33 yards and two interceptions.
“We were adapting and adjusting fast,” Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler said. “I was never at quarterback — he was looking to the sideline and we were telling him where to throw at times.” For us, this is a first.
“We take great pride in our quarterbacks’ ability to protect. On the sideline, we’re sketching plays. I mean, how that kid handled it is incredible. To play against that defense in this type of environment and not take a single snap all week — he’s exhausted.
Hayden Timosciek, a walk-on who arrived on campus in June after a freshman year at Purdue where he never saw the field, took Orth’s place. He finished the game by completing 6-of-10 passes for 33 yards and two interceptions.
“We were adapting and adjusting fast,” Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler said. “I was never at quarterback — he was looking to the sideline and we were telling him where to throw at times.” For us, this is a first.
“We take great pride in our quarterbacks’ ability to protect. On the sideline, we’re sketching plays. I mean, how that kid handled it is incredible. To play against that defense in this type of environment and not take a single snap all week — he’s exhausted.
Bowling Green faced a fourth-and-1 from Michigan’s 24-yard line with 11:44 remaining in the second quarter, trailing 7-3. Orth, who had just passed on three consecutive plays, lined up under center before Loeffler called a timeout. Bowling Green ended up kicking a field goal after Orth walked off the field and through the tunnel.
