ANNAPOLIS, Md. - With two seconds remaining in Saturday's game at the Naval Academy it looked as though Ball State University would lose its second game of the season by a last-second field goal.
Then Navy's victory was snatched away by a former Marine.
Ball State defensive lineman Brandon Crawford, a 31-year-old who spent four years in the Marine Corps, broke through the left side of the line and blocked a potential game-winning field goal kick. The block forced the sixth overtime in Ball State history and sparked the Cardinals to a 34-31 victory.
"The morale was down, and I just wanted to go out there and give it my all," Crawford said of the Cardinals' second blocked field goal of the day. "Once I saw the ball come off [the kicker's] foot, I just took a leap in the air and swung for the ball. When I hit the ball I was like, 'I've got it. I've got the ball.'"
On the first play of the overtime period, senior captain Chris Allen forced a fumble from Midshipmen quarterback Jarod Bryant. Cardinals' linebacker Bryant Haines recovered the fumble.
It took Ball State four plays, each a handoff to running back MiQuale Lewis, for the Cardinals to move the ball 18 yards to the Midshipmen seven-yard line. The drive set up a 24-yard field goal for freshman kicker Jake Hogue, the first game-winning kick of his career, including high school.
Hogue, who is five of nine on field-goal attempts this season and missed a 43-yarder earlier in the game, said after Crawford's block it was apparent it would come down to his leg.
"I was warming up on the sidelines, and I knew I just had to keep my head down and have confidence in myself," Hogue said. "They tried to ice me ... but I was solely concentrating on making that kick. I had my confidence and did everything right."
After dropping the first game of the season, Ball State's victory kept the team from going 1-2 to start the year and locked up a winning record for the Cardinals' first road trip of the season. The win was also Ball State's first against a Division I team from outside the Mid-American Conference since the Cardinals' defeated the University of Connecticut in 2002. Ball State now needs four wins to reach the minimum of six to be bowl eligible.
Hoke said getting a victory at a storied place such as Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was a big confidence boost for his team.
"I'm proud of the guys," Hoke said. "Teams don't like playing Navy because they're a good football team. And the pageantry and tradition of being here, the kids loved it. But I think our guys understand the big picture. The biggest thing we had to do here was win a football game."
After taking a 21-14 lead into halftime, the Cardinals were outscored 17-3 through the first 23 minutes of the second half. Navy fullback Eric Kettani rumbled 71-yard run to put the Midshipmen up
31-24 with 7:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.
However, Ball State quarterback Nate Davis marched the Cardinals' down the field for 69 yards, responding with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Lewis. The score pulled Ball State to a tie at 31 with 3:53 remaining in regulation.
Though it was Davis who orchestrated the nine-play drive, the quarterback got considerable help from his tight end, Darius Hill. On third and nine from Ball State's 43, Davis was flushed out of the pocket and decided to throw the ball down the field to Hill, who was blanketed by two defenders. Initially, it looked as though the ball would be intercepted. However, Hill jumped into the air and outfought both defenders, coming down with a 30-yard reception.
"I have a ton of faith in Darius," Davis said. "As soon as I let go of the ball I said, 'OK, there's a first down.' When it's time to play, he's going come out and play. He might make little mistakes, but when the game's on the line he's going do what he's supposed to do."
The Cardinals will travel to Lincoln, Neb., Saturday to play nationally-ranked University of Nebraska, which is fresh off a 49-31 to USC. With the game against the Cornhuskers looming in the near future, Hoke said the Cardinals will immediately focus on its upcoming opponent.
"We have a plane ride home and then it starts all over," he said.
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
