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Miami looks to rein in BG wide receivers

Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes, left, drops a pass in front of Kent State's B.G. Walters during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Kent, Ohio.

AP Photo Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes, left, drops a pass in front of Kent State's B.G. Walters during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Kent, Ohio.

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Robert Leifheit/The Miami Redhawks battle the Toledo Rockets, at Yager Stadium, Halloween, Saturday, October 31st, 2009

Falcons’ Freddie Barnes leads the country in catches with 107 for 1,176 yards.

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 8:21 AM Thursday, November 12, 2009

OXFORD — The Bowling Green Falcons are on a roll, having won three of their last four games, and they have a wide receiver who has 32 more catches than anyone else in Division I football.

But Miami University coach Michael Haywood does have an edge, in a way, over Bowling Green’s Dave Clawson as the two teams prepare to take the field for their Mid-American Conference clash tonight, Nov. 12, at Yager Stadium.

At least Haywood knows what his defense has to do.

“We always have to be aware of where No. 7 is,” he said, referring to Freddie Barnes, a 6-foot, 206-pound senior who leads the world with 107 receptions for 1,176 yards.

Falcons quarterback Tyler Sheehan has completed 277 passes for 2,990 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, and 10 of those TDs have gone to Barnes.

“It’s a totally different game plan,” said Haywood, whose game plan last week revolved around Temple’s blockbuster running back, Bernard Pierce.

“Checks and communication is really a key for us,” Haywood said, referring to his defenders keeping track of not only Barnes, but also receivers Adrian Hodges and former Middletown Middie standout Chris Wright, who have 854 yards between them.

Haywood noted that the Falcons also call their plays “at a rapid pace” but said, “We’ve been practicing (against) that for weeks.”

Clawson, on the other hand, said, “It’s a challenge to get ready” for the RedHawks offense.

That might sound surprising since just about everything Miami does on offense involves quarterback Zac Dysert throwing the ball or Dysert running the ball. All of Miami’s tailbacks put together don’t have 500 yards this season.

Clawson is nervous because just about everybody has been able to run against his defense, which has allowed 216.3 yards per game on the ground.

“It’s tough, because they’ve kind of adjusted their philosophy,” Clawson said of the RedHawks. “Early in the year, they really wanted to be a running football team, and the past couple of weeks, they’re just winging it all over the place.

“Because of how we’ve defended the run, we certainly have to prepare for them trying to run more,” he added. “But when you see a quarterback throw the ball for 400 yards or more than 300 yards in (three) consecutive weeks, it’s a real challenge.”

Miami has enjoyed spectacular success over Bowling Green in recent years, winning nine of the last 10 meetings.