Despite the pleasant traditions Homecoming week features, the seniors on Ball State University's defense had a bitter taste in their mouths throughout the seven-day period.
The disgust they felt in the pit of their guts was the result of allowing 58 points and 658 yards to Central Michigan University, effectively dropping the ball in the race for the Mid-American Conference West Division title. Somewhere between that performance and Ball State's 35-12 triumph against Western Kentucky University, senior captain Cortlan Booker said his team was able to regroup.
"We had to swallow our disappointment and focus on winning games and building momentum for the rest of the season," Booker said.
Though the offense posted 35 points against the Hilltoppers, it struggled in the first half. Western Kentucky had 45 more yards offensively, and Ball State was plagued with four turnovers in the first 30 minutes.
During that time, starting strong safety Eddie Burk said the defense took the task of carrying the team. Two Western Kentucky drives started in Ball State territory, but they ended in an interception and field goal. The Cardinals also allowed a single touchdown and shut out the Hilltoppers' offense in the second half.
"I felt like the guys stepped up to the challenge and responded," Burk said. "Then I became more vocal and played with more energy so I felt like the guys were responding to me. Just to have the guys rally around and step up to the challenge for this team felt really good."
As a fifth-year senior, Burk said he made it his responsibility to fuel the Ball State defense after experiencing the let down the unit had the week before against the Chippewas.
"After the Central Michigan game, I think it just kind of over boiled and I just said, 'Forget this, I'm going to step up to the challenge,'" Burk said. "I thought the guys responded to me well and I appreciate that."
Now that the team has refocused, Booker said the players are concentrating on the details they need to attend to instead of looking at the bigger picture of the season.
"If we take care of what we need to take care of, we know the West Division race will figure itself out," Booker said.
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