Through the hundreds of offensive plays called this season for Ball State University, there was one in particular quarterback Nate Davis had been waiting for. The play was finally called Saturday against Eastern Michigan University on Saturday.
With Ball State leading 3-0 and fewer than three minutes in the second quarter, the Cardinals had a prime opportunity to get a touchdown before halftime. After a 22-yard reception by wide receiver Louis Johnson and a defensive offside penalty the Cardinals had a first-and-goal on the 2-yard line.
The first play failed as running back MiQuale Lewis lost two yards. The second play resulted in an incomplete pass to tight end Darius Hill. It was third-and-goal on the 4, and the Cardinals needed a touchdown to push their lead to two possessions.
Davis got the play from offensive coordinator Stan Parrish. Upon the snap wide receiver Briggs Orsbon ran from the slot to the back field to take a handoff in an assumed reverse. However, a couple steps after getting the handoff, Orsbon stopped, turned and threw the ball back to the other side of the field where Davis had snuck out, left all alone. Davis caught the pass and had a 4-yard touchdown reception.
"I was like, 'It's about time we called this play,'" Davis said. "I had been waiting for it all year. [Parrish] called it at the right time."
Davis said as the ball was in the air he was just concentrating on catching the ball. If he had dropped the ball it would have been fourth down, and Ball State would have had to settle for a field goal.
After the touchdown, the offense came out in the third quarter and scored two touchdowns to push its lead to 24-0. In that third quarter Davis was 9-of-9 with both touchdowns.
In Saturday's 38-16 victory Davis threw for two touchdowns, received a touchdown and had two big scrambling runs to escape sacks. He had 241 yards passing in the game and a season-high 34 yards rushing.
Davis was under pressure often against Eastern Michigan yet he was sacked once. Eastern Michigan coach Jeff Woodruff attributed much of that to Davis and was impressed by Davis' ability to avoid the rush.
"A couple times when we really had him for sacks he really flicked the ball out there with his arm strength," Woodruff said. "A play that looks like it's going to be minus seven for Eastern Michigan turns into plus 15 for Ball State."
While fans are accustomed to Davis passing and rushing and the surprise play of the game was likely his touchdown reception, there was yet another play that demonstrated Davis' athleticism.
In the first half running back Cory Sykes took the ball on handoff running to the opposite side of the field on a reverse. Davis led the way on the other side of the field.
Davis said he enjoys blocking and was able to lay a hit on the defender.
Davis, who played linebacker some in high school, said he likes the role reversal of being able to lay the hit on someone rather than be the one getting hit.
"It feels good," he said. "The biggest thing I think about is back in the day when I was playing defense. ... I go out and protect my guys. Go out and do my job."