SPANKED

Offensive turnovers overcome Cardinals at Homecoming

Whatever Homecoming magic Ball State had two years ago in an upset against Toledo, it was nowhere to be found Saturday.

Miami intercepted Cardinal quarterbacks four times, returning two of them for touchdowns, and yielded just 182 yards to BSU in a 49-3 pasting, Ball State?s worst home defeat in 46 years.

St. Joseph?s beat the Cards 55-7 in 1957. The margin of defeat was also Ball State?s largest ever in Mid-American Conference play.

?They?re a great team, no doubt,? Ball State head coach Brady Hoke said of the RedHawks (6-1, 3-0 MAC). ?But we embarrassed ourselves as coaches and players and this university with the way we played.?

Ben Roethlisberger, Miami?s All-America-candidate quarterback was an efficient 23-of-31 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns. But it was a swarming RedHawk defense that really shined; the Cardinals (3-4, 2-1) could muster just 29 yards against the MAC?s top rush defense.

?I look forward to watching them play,? Roethlisberger said of his teammates on the other side of the ball. ?I go against them every day in practice, so I know how talented and good they are."

According to Roethlisberger, facing such tough teammates makes it easier when facing an opponent's defense, including Ball State's unit that came in ranked No. 1 in the MAC against the pass.

"We knew going in that (Ball State) had some tough linebackers and defensive backs," he said. "We knew we had to come in and execute. We try not to look too much into what a defense does to us. We want to make them adjust to us."

As for the home team's quarterback, Hoke's decision to start Andy Roesch, who had missed the previous four games with a shoulder injury, over Talmadge Hill brought unfavorable returns from the beginning.

Lorenzo Scott forced and Greg Pagnard recovered a fumble by Miami's Cal Murray on the game's first play from scrimmage. But Roesch's third-down pass went right to RedHawk safety John Busing, who returned the pick 65 yards for a touchdown just 1:32 into the game.

"We gave the offense an opportunity, they didn't caplitalize, that happens," said Scott, whose 16 tackles were 10 more than any other Cards defender. "Overall, it all comes down to turnovers. If they have more turnovers than us (on defense), we're not going to be able to do anything against them."

Six minutes later it was 14-0, as Miami forced a three-and-out and Mike Smith capped an 82-yard drive with a 7-yard scoring burst. Murray added a 2-yard touchdown run before the end of the quarter, and Roethlisberger fired a 21-yard TD to tight end Matt Brandt midway through the second quarter.

The real backbreaker came with three minutes remaining in the first half. Roesch, back in after a brief hiatus on the sideline, tried to find Bryan Williamson along the left sideline. Miami's Darrell Hunter, who was running with the receiver stride for stride, wrestled the ball away, circled around and utilized his makeshift blockers for a 64-yard return to the end zone.

"I heard everybody on the sidelines saying 'Ball, Ball, Ball!'" Hunter said. "I just squeezed and tucked around and there it was. It felt like it was a punt return, there was just a wall right there."

Hill drove Ball State to its only score of the game to start the third quarter, completing a 41-yard pass to Williamson to set up Brian Jackson's 27-yard field goal.

Roethlisberger and backup Josh Betts each threw a 5-yard TD in the fourth as the RedHawks totaled 403 yards offensively.

"I think the plan (defensively) was good," Hoke said. "But it doesn't take much room for (Roethlisberger) to complete something or slide out of the pocket."

While Roesch completed just 1 of 10 passes, Hill was 11 of 20 for 147 yards. Dante Ridgeway (five catches, 69 yards) and Williamson (four for 72) were his top targets.

"It's a team game," Hoke said, "and this was a team loss, starting at the top with the head coach and all the way down. I did a poor job of preparing and coaching, and we did a poor job of playing the game.",,2(-¬+â-Ç+â-û+âGamejump 10/20DNEditorial,,2SORT"+â-ä2AUDT


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