Ball State's defense let too many chances for stops slip by, theoffense saw one giant opportunity fall to the turf and theCardinals couldn't keep Eastern Michigan from taking away theirsorely needed victory Saturday.
The Eagles' no-huddle offense, directed by junior Matt Bohnet,carved up the Cards for 537 yards -- 390 through the air -- andcame from behind in the fourth quarter. Eastern won a battle of 1-4(1-1 Mid-American Conference) teams, 31-24, at Ball StateStadium.
"We didn't play very well today, that's the bottom line," saidsenior safety Justin Beriault, who led BSU with 13 tackles. "Wedidn't make plays when we needed to. The offense gave us everyopportunity to win the game. I feel like we let them down."
The final letdown came with 2:22 remaining in the game, whenAnthony Sherrell busted through with ease for a 26-yard, go-aheadtouchdown.
Before that play, the Cards had limited Sherrell to 59 yards on20 carries.
"We had two guys run right by him," head coach Brady Hoke said."I thought we did a good job a majority of the game, after thefirst drive, against the run game."
Ball State had one last chance after returning the kickoff tothe 19. Freshman Cole Stinson passed to Dante Ridgeway for 11, 9and 12 yards on the first three plays.
After throwing the ball away on first down, Stinson scrambledand found Ryan Hahaj behind his defender down the right sideline.The throw was there, but the Hahaj couldn't cradle the ball and itbounced away inside the 5.
Kevin Howe then sacked Stinson, leaving Ball State with fourthand 19, and Stinson's final attempt sailed over BryanWilliamson.
"That one play didn't lose the football game, believe me," Hokesaid of Hahaj's drop. "We need to make plays, and we didn't on thedefensive side of the ball."
The way Ball State thought, the game should have never come tothat point.
Eastern Michigan converted nine of 16 third downs, and receiverEric Deslauriers was a painful thorn in the Cards' side, catching10 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
On the game's first drive, Bohnet hooked up with Deslauriers for33 yards to set up EMU's first score, a 10-yard reverse by A.J.Bennett. The duo's 51-yard flea flicker later in the period went towaste when Beriault recovered Sherrell's fumble in the endzone.
Deslauriers' touchdowns were a 38-yarder in the second periodand a fade pattern from 18 yards out in the third.
Ball State freshman Adell Givens rushed 26 times for 152 yards-- just the school's second 100-yard rushing performance sinceMarcus Merriweather in 2002 -- and a pair of 1-yard touchdowndives.
"The offensive line did a hell of a job blocking," Givens said."That's what made it easy, finding holes and doing what I did."
The first score made it 14-10 in the second quarter. Ridgewaypreceeded that score by diving between two defenders for a 32-yardreception to the EMU 6. The second put the Cards ahead 17-14 in thethird.
A 45-yard touchdown from Stinson to Ridgeway not only put BallState up 24-21 with 5:41 left in the third, but it made Ridgewaythe school's all-time leader in receiving yards.
The junior needed 105 yards coming in and finished with 185 on acareer-high 13 receptions. Ridgeway now has 2,337 career yards, butwas obviously distraught at the tallies on the scoreboard.
"If we want to win ballgames, we have to make plays and finish,"he said. "We didn't finish today."
They didn't get any pressure on the quarterback, either. Bohnetcould usually name the time he needed to throw, as the Cardinalshad no sacks, and only linebacker Donta Smith was credited with aquarterback hurry.
"I can't give you a specific reason, but it has to change,"junior end Blair Kramer said. "We're not going to win if we don'tget any pressure. They executed well and we have to come up with astop."
Andrew Wellock's 32-yard field goal tied the game at 24 with6:16 remaining. Eastern's defense followed with a three-and-out,and the Eagles regained possession at their own 45. Bohnet rushedfor four yards on third and 2, then passed to Deslauriers for 17more before Sherrell's big run.
"When (Bohnet) has time -- and we gave him too much time toomany times -- he's going to put it where it needs to go," Hokesaid.
"We've got to score more points and play better defense; it's assimple as that."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
