BG Probable Starter - Turner

[Captain Kangaroo]

Few limits for Turner at QB

BGSU freshman likely starter

By MAUREEN FULTON

BLADE SPORTS WRITER

BOWLING GREEN - If Anthony Turner starts Saturday, Bowling Green State University's football team will scale back its offense, but not by much.

"Anthony's been in the program for a year, and he knows the system," BGSU coach Gregg Brandon said yesterday. "From the standpoint that he's limited experience-wise, that's why we limited the package a little bit, but not wholesale."

Turner's first lengthy playing time came in last weekend's loss against Western Michigan when starter Omar Jacobs was knocked out of the game with a separated non-throwing shoulder. Brandon reiterated yesterday Jacobs will be evaluated daily and his availability for the Falcons' game against Akron will be a game-day decision. Jacobs did not practice yesterday.

The Falcons will continue to emphasize the running game more with Turner in the game, Brandon said. Turner, a 6-feet-2, 226-pound redshirt freshman, threw 38 passes Saturday but also had 16 carries, the most of any Falcon.

"Omar can get those yards passing, so we didn't necessarily need to run them," Brandon said. "Anthony can do it, too, but I think he's a dynamic runner."

Running the ball more could give BGSU a clock advantage it has been lacking. The Falcons' time of possession is three minutes less than its opponents' this year.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Anthony run around Saturday. It will be fun," Brandon said.

Freshman Freddie Barnes would likely back up Turner, Brandon said.

SENSE OF URGENCY: Brandon said after the Boise State blowout on national television earlier this season the Falcons felt like they had time to fix the mistakes. But the aftertaste of the WMU loss is different.

"There's really more of a sense of urgency now," Brandon said. "After Boise, we had 10 days [before Temple], we already had a league win under our belt, and just needed to get back to some fundamental things. Now, it's like, 'Oh, man, our backs are to the wall.' We're coming off a tough home loss, and possibly playing with our backs against the wall. Guys are kind of, what's the saying, 'fish or cut bait?' Something like that."

Receiver Charles Sharon said the loss was worse because it was at home and a conference game.

"We really like to put on a show in front of the home crowd," Sharon said. "We're down one, but we still control our destiny so we just have to stay focused on the task at hand."

CATCH UP: Brandon pointed a finger at his receivers yesterday for dropping six passes during the WMU game.

"Some of those were by guys that have been here, and those guys need to help Anthony," Brandon said. "That's huge for his confidence - keeping drives alive, making plays."

EXTRA POINTS: Brandon said senior kicker Joe Timchenko's quadriceps is healed and he will be "back in the mix" in the kicking game. Timchenko has handled kickoffs intermittently the past two weeks when Nate Fry has been shaky. … BGSU expects senior Brandon Jones, a receiver and kick returner who did not play last week because of a leg bruise suffered in the Buffalo game, to play Saturday.