ANN ARBOR, Mich. - It was a scenario none of the 109,359 fans dressed in maize and blue at Michigan Stadium could have imagined.
This was supposed to be an easy victory for second-ranked Michigan [10-0, 6-0 Big Ten Conference]. No team, especially one from the Mid-American Conference, dare step in its way before the Wolverines' big showdown with Ohio State University on Nov. 18.
But there stood Ball State University quarterback Nate Davis, under center for surely the most important play of his young career. The Cardinals [3-7, 3-3 MAC] had battled back from a 31-12 deficit to close Michigan's lead to 34-26. With three minutes to go, Ball State faced fourth-and-goal from the Michigan 7-yard line. Seven yards away from an attempt to force a tie with No. 2 Michigan.
Michigan's All-American cornerback Leon Hall blanketed Davis' first option, tight end Darius Hill. Instead of using Hill's h ht to throw a jump ball, the freshman looked to his left for Dante Love. Love ran a fade-stop route and Davis launched the ball in Love's direction.
But the ball sailed wide of Love and Michigan held on for a 34-26 win on a play where it appeared Love was hit before the ball got there.
"I just rushed it," Davis said. "I thought I could hit Dante but it didn't quite work. I underthrew him."
Love said he recognized that Michigan's cornerback wasn't pressing him and told Davis he was going to run that route to take advantage of the space between him and the defender.
"I didn't know [the ball] was coming to me," Love said. "I just ran the route and turned back to look for the ball and the ball was coming. That's my strength too. I'm only 5-10. He's taller than me. I know I'm not going to be able to jump over him. So I tried to use my strength."
Love led all receivers with 107 yards.
The Cardinals took seven snaps inside the 10-yard line and failed to get the touchdown. Larry Bostic's 19-yard run set up the first-and-goal situation. After a four-yard loss by Bostic and an incomplete pass, Ball State faced third-and-goal from the 12. Davis was sacked on the play.
However, Michigan's Tim Jamison was called for a personal foul face mask penalty, giving the Cardinals new life at the 6-yard line. An incomplete pass, a four-yard run by Bostic, another incomplete pass just off the fingertips of Hill and an illegal procedure penalty against Madaris Grant preceded the fourth down play.
"Knowing they're number two in the country and seeing that we haven't played as well as we wanted to play this year, they thought it could've been an easy game and maybe they were on cruise control," Ball State linebacker Brad Seiss said. "It proves you have to play the game. If things could've gone a little different for us we could've shocked the world."
Ball State got the ball back with 16 seconds to go, but Davis' "Hail Mary" pass was intercepted in the end zone by Michigan's Ryan Mundy to end the game.
Davis finished the day 18-of-34 for 250 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception.
"I definitely believe that it was a wake-up call," Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley said. "If you disrespect a team, they're going to come out here and give their all."
Ball State climbed back into the game in the second half thanks to two big pass plays. Down 31-12 with less than five minutes left in the third quarter, Dante Love beat Michigan cornerback Johnny Sears on a go route and Davis hit him in stride for a 54-yard touchdown pass.
On first-and-ten from the Ball State 36-yard line and 9:23 to go, Terry Moss got behind the defender and hauled in an underthrown ball by Davis. Moss avoided a couple tackles and got to the 2-yard line before being tackled by Stevie Brown. Two plays later, Bostic scored from two yards out to close Michigan's lead to 34-26. Bostic finished with 46 yards rushing.
"Our kids played hard," Ball State coach Brady Hoke said. "They played well and they played together. We wanted to get the game to the fourth quarter. We wanted to put the pressure on [Michigan] to win the game."
Ball State's next game is Nov. 14 when the Cardinals travel to the University of Toledo for a night game being shown on ESPN2. Game time is 7 p.m.
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