IOWA CITY, Iowa – Playing with a makeshift offensive line Saturday, Ball State will have to contend with a defense coach Stan Parrish called the best he has faced since 2006.
Left tackle Cam Lowry and center Kreg Hunter will miss Ball State's final nonconference game of the season at No. 18 Iowa at noon Saturday. Lowry is out for the season after tearing his left ACL in last Saturday's 24-13 loss at Purdue. Hunter is not on the Cardinals' traveling roster this week after getting arrested early Sunday morning.
Their absences will make facing the Hawkeyes, which are led by defensive end Adrian Clayborn, even more difficult for the Cardinals.
Iowa was ranked No. 9 for the first three weeks of the season, but a loss at then-No. 24 Arizona dropped the Hawkeyes out of the top-10. But coach Stan Parrish remains concerned after watching the film from Iowa's 34-27 loss last weekend.
"It's scary watching that film," Parrish said. "Iowa, defensively, is the best team we've played since Michigan [in 2006]."
Facing another Big Ten team just a week after playing Purdue has Parrish concerned about the mounting injuries on Ball State's roster. Last week, running back Cory Sykes sat out the game with a knee injury, but he is expected to play at Iowa.
Sykes' return is important for Ball State's offense because of his role in its running attack. With the junior out of the lineup last week, the Cardinals were forced to abandon the wildcat formation, though Parrish said the package may not be a big part of the game plan again.
"Running sideways against Iowa, nobody has yet," Parrish said. "The better they are, the more you need to run at them."
Parrish was able to largely neutralize Purdue's best player, defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, by calling for running plays on the other side of the line. He won't have that luxury this week because of the overall strength of the Hawkeyes' defensive line.
Captain and guard Mike Switzer said he thinks the offensive line can take some lessons it learned against Kerrigan and Purdue and apply them against Iowa.
"We're facing a similar guy with Clayborn, who's an All-American-type guy," Switzer said. "But their whole D-line across the board is tough also."
While facing two Big Ten opponents in a row, including a top-25 team, isn't an easy assignment, the Cardinals are excited about the challenge.
"The atmosphere is great," cornerback Jason Pinkston said. "It's a loud crowd. You have to stay focused and everything, don't get rattled."
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