A week after facing the best of what the Mid-American Conference has to offer in rushing offense and shutting it down, the Ball State University defense will face one of the conference's worst in Akron.
The Zips' rushing offense is second to last in the MAC, having gained 770 yards and only 96.2 yards per game.
But that doesn't mean coach Brady Hoke and the defense will focus any less on stopping the Zips' run.
"You're always going to start there," Hoke said. "We have to start there. Even with these spread teams, you have to start there."
Zips running back Brett Biggs leads Akron with 707 yards and is averaging 88.4 yards per game. Hoke said Biggs killed the Cardinals last year in the Zips' 35-23 win with 195 yards and two touchdowns.
"That guy is very good, very strong, ends up north and south, big thighs," Hoke said. "He's a good running back."
Domenik Hixon is another offensive threat that the Cardinals' defense will have to contain, Hoke said. Hixon has 52 receptions for 822 yards and four touchdowns. He also leads The University of Akron in punting and kickoff returns.
"He's a guy that will keep me up late all week because he does so many good things in the return game, as a wide receiver," Hoke said.
After the disappointing loss to Ohio two weeks ago, Hoke said the team's seniors took accountability. The Cardinals experienced a week of practice that featured more hitting than normal for this late into the season, and as a result, both sides of the ball shocked Northern Illinois by both containing the run (on defense) and displaying it (on offense).
"After playing like we did, coach really challenged us," quarterback Joey Lynch said. "We just felt as a team we had a lot to prove. To be able to go up and play a team like they are, we had a great opportunity in front of us."
Offensively, Ball State was able to rush for 196 yards a week after gaining only 98.
"When you can run the football, that helps your passing game, and we were able to run the football better, and we got on track," Hoke said. "We were a little out of sync early in the game, and that's when I was proud our defense just kept fighting and holding in there."
A Ball State defense that had struggled through the first seven games suddenly came to life against the Huskies. The Cardinals allowed only 66 rushing yards and sacked quarterback Phil Horvath four times.
"We were really focused," senior cornerback Joshua Taylor said. "We went out there with emotion; we were just ready to go."
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