BOWLING GREEN: Since the University of Akron's amazing 39-38 win at Western Michigan on Oct. 6, on that wacky touchdown return off a lateral in the closing seconds, things have gone downhill fast.

That win against Western Michigan gave the Zips a 2-0 record in the Mid-American Conference.

Since then, UA has lost three in a row, including 44-20 on Friday night against Bowling Green at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.

It didn't help UA (3-6, 2-3) that its starting quarterback, sophomore Chris Jacquemain, was suspended for violating team rules. Jacquemain traveled with the team, and a release before the game stated that he would be used in an ''emergency or injury situation.'' He did not play.

Sophomore Carlton Jackson, who battled Jacquemain all preseason for the No. 1 job, started.

Jackson, known more for being a mobile quarterback than a drop-back passer, was 14-of-31 for 192 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He led the Zips in rushing with 133 yards on 24 carries.

The problem for UA was that Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who entered the game as the No. 2 passer in the MAC, averaging 269 yards, took advantage of what the Zips' defense gave him. Sheehan found open re
ceivers underneath coverage, and he picked the Zips' defense apart.

Sheehan finished with 268 yards and two touchdowns. He did most of his damage in the first half, when he completed 19-of-24 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown.

Anthony Turner, last year's starting quarterback who is now a starting wide receiver for the Falcons (5-4, 3-2), got a chance to throw the ball (a 33-yard completion), and he also scored on a 7-yard run out of a shotgun formation, taking the snap and racing into the end zone.

Bowling Green scored on four of its five first-half possessions, and nearly scored on the fifth: Sinisia Vrvilo's 52-yard field-goal attempt 42 seconds before halftime hit the middle of the crossbar and bounced back onto the field.

At that time, the Falcons were leading 24-6. Igor Iveljic kicked two field goals for UA: 20 and 32 yards.

UA did move the ball, and had a chance to score in the final seconds of the first half. With the ball at the Bowling Green 12, Jackson took the snap from the shotgun position and scrambled his way near the end zone. He got to the 3, and it appeared he was headed in for the score when linebacker Glen Stanley tackled him from behind. Jackson fumbled, and the ball went out of the end zone for a touchback.

Bowling Green put the game way when cornerback P.J. Mahone intercepted a Jackson pass on UA's first possession of the second half and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown and a 31-6 lead. It was the first of two interceptions by Mahone.

UA's touchdowns were a 42-yard reception by senior wide receiver Jabari Arthur from Jackson with 14:51 left in the fourth quarter and a 3-yard run by Alex Allen with 2:48 left.

Notes

Zips senior Matt Domonkos, who handled the kickoff duties and was the backup kicker, was suspended for the rest of the season for violating the athletic department's class-attendance policy. . . . UA senior linebacker Brion Stokes had two tackles for loss and is tied with former Zips and current Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor for most in school history (41).