Ball State had struggled mightily to stop the run all season,but after three quarters, the Cardinals had limited the league'stop rushing attack to just 99 yards.
Things became more normal in the fourth quarter, though, asBowling Green scored the game's last 20 points and finished with295 rushing yards to pull away for a 41-14 road win.
Ball State (4-8, 3-5 Mid-American Conference), which finishedthe season with four straight losses, pulled within a touchdown onScott Blair's second touchdown run with 11:35 remaining in thegame.
But the Falcons' P.J. Pope popped through for a 39-yard scoringrun. After BG forced a quick three-and-out, B.J. Lane turned asimilar play into a 78-yard run to the 2-yard line. QuarterbackJosh Harris kept for his second rushing TD on the next play toclinch the Falcons (9-2, 6-1) win.
Both long runs came against the same blitz, and the Falcons hadsuccess against blitzes all game long, Ball State coach Brady Hokesaid.
"The two trap plays, the 78-yarder and the one they ran againstthe same defense, same call earlier, those were the plays thatreally broke our back," Hoke said. "You've got to make sure you hityour gaps (defensively). We had used (that blitz) effectivelyearlier in the game. I'm sure at halftime (Bowling Green coach)Gregg (Brandon) and his staff did a good job of adjusting."
Blair's second TD run capped a 13-play, 84-yard drive. AndyRoesch had passed to Bryan Williamson for 42 yards to the BG 31,then kept the drive alive with a 12-yard strike to Dante Ridgewayon fourth-and-10.
Blair rushed for 84 yards on 10 tries, including a 42-yard jauntthat tied the game at 7-7 with 4:18 left in the first period. Thejunior tailback, who also caught seven passes for 65 yards, ran offleft tackle on third-and-one play then found a free ride to the endzone when he bounced to the outside.�
"I thought, in spurts, we had some momentum and were doing somegood things," Hoke said. "I did think Scott played well."
However, Harris (142 yards passing, 73 rushing) was thedifference-maker with a performance that was more effective than itwas flashy. His first touchdown pass came the play after Roesch wasintercepted by Keon Newson at the Ball State 36. In the secondquarter he ran for two fourth-down conversions before lofting a19-yard scoring pass to Cole Magner.
Later in the period, Harris fired an 11-yarder to Pope onfourth-and-eight, putting BG at the Ball State 15. Four playslater, he trotted around end for an easy 1-yard TD and atwo-touchdown lead.
"To me, (Harris) is a running back," said senior linebackerLorenzo Scott, who notched 13 tackles in his final collegiate game."They really didn't too much where he's outside running. They ranhim, quarterback trap is what we call it, which is just the same asa running back trap. Like our coaches said all week, when they haveone back in the backfield, they really have two. When they goempty, they still have one back. Right now, that's the best styleof offense you can have, when your quarterback has the ability torun the ball."
Harris played two offensive series in the third quarter beforetaking a rest. (Bowling Green plays Toledo Saturday for the WestDivision title.) But with Ball State slicing the lead and backupOmar Jacobs struggling, Harris came back under center. He rushedfor two first downs and passed for another before Pope'sbackbreaking run.
"We withstood that (rally)," Brandon said. "Josh came back inand led us down the field. Pretty much after that we turned out thelights. We wanted to play Omar when the game was in doubt and seehim handle a pressure situation. At times, he did some nice things,but at times, he didn't do very good.
"Josh Harris is a gamer; he's a winner. When our backs areagainst the wall and he needs to respond, he's answered everychallenge. He's a pretty valuable guy."
Ball State totaled just 327 yards of offense. Roesch and fellowfifth-year senior Talmadge Hill passed for 211 of that figure, butagain the Cardinals had problems running the ball. On the season,BSU averaged just 114.8 rushing.
"Offensively, we did some good things and all of a sudden wewouldn't make a play," Hoke said. "We're in position to make a playand we didn't. We had the ball down to the 2-yard line and we get aholding penalty (nullifying a 39-yard pass to Ridgeway). You couldcall holding on every daggone play. That just happened that's theone they called, and it was a big play.
The offensive struggles, mostly early in the game, plagued theCardinals in every contest after rolling up 505 yards in their lastwin, a 38-14 defeat of Toledo on Oct. 25.
"It took us awhile to get going," Roesch said. "I'd say that'sbeen the story of our last four weeks. I don't know, we just didn'tseem in sync after the Toledo game. I don't know if it was thescheme or us or what. We just couldn't seem to find it."
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