The opening night 20-10 loss to the University of North Texas has forced Ball State University back to the drawing board this week.
Quarterback Kelly Page practiced his touch passing. The defense practiced its tackling and coach Stan Parrish had to think of new ways to get running back MiQuale Lewis the ball.
"I've just got to give him the ball more," Parrish said. "We showed we can run. We had some good stuff going."
Ball State's ability to run the ball will be critical Saturday against the University of New Hampshire. The Wildcats play a 4-2-5 formation on defense, but often draw their extra safeties into the box in order to stop the run.
"That's been our M.O. for a long time," Wildcats coach Sean McDonnell said. "It starts with stopping MiQuale Lewis."
Lewis managed 103 yards on 15 carries against the Mean Green and was a First-Team All-Mid-American Conference selection last season.
"He might be the best back we've seen since Tim Hightower at [the University of] Richmond," McDonnell said. "He runs the ball, he catches the ball, he does everything for them."
Hightower was drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, which he is now starting for.
Parrish said to be able to effectively use Lewis against the Wildcats, Page will have to do a better job completing passes. In his debut against North Texas, Page completed 15-of-34 passes for 140 yards.
"Kelly's got to make the throws," Parrish said. "This offense is still built around the quarterback."
Page said he needed to be calmer against New Hampshire so he could improve.
"I have to play within my capabilities the whole game," he said. "I have to set my feet and throw the ball."
But Page agreed with the need to put the ball in the hands of his all-conference running back more.
"He's our go-to guy," Page said. "When he gets the ball he makes plays. He was an All-American candidate for a reason."
Making sure Lewis gets his touches will likely be more important now that senior tight end Madaris Grant is out for the season. The captain tore his ACL in the first quarter against North Texas, taking out 50 percent of the rushing offense, Parrish said.
The Cardinals don't have much depth at the position and will have to get by some of the time with wide receiver Dan Ifft as the tight end.
"He'll block," Parrish said. "We'll just have to design the plays so he isn't the main point of attack like Madaris was."
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