After being forced to endure nine days of practice after its season-opening loss to Miami University Ball State University wasted no time jumping on top of Eastern Michigan Saturday.
The Cardinals scored a touchdown on their first possession and jumped out to a 24-9 lead on a Jake Hogue field goal at the end of the first half. Ball State used its first-half momentum to cruise to a 38-16 win, allowing the Cardinals to climb back to an even record.
"When you have a long week after a game when you see a lot of opportunities get by, you think about [those opportunities] a little more and you emphasize them a little more," coach Brady Hoke said. "It gives you a lot of confidence and a lot of momentum as a team when you start a game the way we did today."
Ball State received a short-field opportunity after the Eagles failed to convert a fake punt on fourth and three from their 25-yard line. Eastern Michigan punter Zach Johnson took the snap and ran two yards to his left.
Ball State's Kyle Kuntz stopped Johnson short of the first down mark, giving the Cardinals the ball at Eastern Michigan's 27-yard line. Five plays later Ball State scored its second of five touchdowns to take a 14-3 lead with 1:59 remaining in the opening quarter.
"We gave Johnson the option of punting to the left or running the ball if he saw an opening," Eagles' coach Jeff Genyk said. "I think that what he did was he pre-determine, 'I'm going to run for the first down,' instead of rolling out, taking a peak and reading the defense."
Eastern Michigan scored its first touchdown of the season on a 67-yard pass from quarterback Andy Schmitt that hung in the air long enough for DeAnthony White to run underneath and make the catch. The Eagles pulled within 14-9 with 4:45 remaining in the first half.
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