INDIANAPOLIS – Two possessions into the 2011 season, things weren't looking good for Ball State.
On the opening drive of the game, Indiana marched down the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, capping a 15-play, 76-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run by Matt Perez. Ball State responded with a three-and-out, marred by two penalties and an early timeout.
By the night's end, however, the early moments of the Pete Lembo era were just a memory. Ball State had recovered to defeat Indiana 27-20, scoring its second ever victory against a Bowl Championship Series team and its second straight upset of the Hoosiers.
The poor start gave way to the best game of Keith Wenning's career. The sophomore quarterback thrived in Lembo's new West Coast offense, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another.
Wenning gave Ball State the lead with 3:38 left in the third quarter on a 20-yard fade route to wide receiver Connor Ryan. The sophomore barely stayed in bounds, but the touchdown was upheld by instant replay.
Ball State extended its lead to 10 points with 2:16 left in the game on a 22-yard field goal by Stephen Schott.
Indiana kicked a field goal to cut the deficit to a touchdown with 59 seconds to play. But the Hoosiers were unable to recover the onside kick, giving the Cardinals the opportunity to run out the clock.
With the victory, Lembo became the ninth Ball State coach to win the first game of his career.
Earlier: Ball State leads Indiana going into fourth quarter
INDIANAPOLIS – A 20-yard touchdown pass from Keith Wenning to wide receiver Connor Ryan gave Ball State its first lead of the season with 3:38 left in the third quarter. Going into the fourth quarter Ball State leads Indiana 24-17.
The Cardinals, who trailed by three after the first half, scored 10 unanswered points to start the quarter.
After Ball State drove into the Indiana red zone, a personal foul called on center Kreg Hunter stalled the Cardinals' drive. But kicker Stephen Schott was able to salvage the possession with a 38-yard field goal to tie the game.
A stop by the Cardinals' defense opened the door for the offense to give them a lead for the first time. Wenning directed a 70-yard drive culminating in his second touchdown pass of the season. The play was reviewed, but the call was quickly confirmed. The touchdown was the second of Ryan's career, the only other coming at Purdue last year.
As time expired in the third quarter, Indiana had driven to the Ball State nine-yard line, facing fourth down and three.
EARLIER: Cardinal offense heats up in the third quarter
INDIANAPOLIS – After a sloppy start to the game, the offense of both Ball State and Indiana broke out in the second quarter. While the Cardinals got on the scoreboard for the first time in the second quarter, the Hoosiers took a 17-14 lead into the locker room.
Ball State had driven deep into Indiana territory at the end of the first quarter, and it quickly found the end zone in the second quarter. Keith Wenning threw a one-yard touchdown to running back Barrington Scott for the first Cardinals' touchdown of the season. It was also the first career touchdown for Scott, a former walk on who is on scholarship for the first year.
The Hoosiers quickly countered, however. A play after linebacker Tony Martin dropped an interception with only 40 yards of open turf between him and a touchdown, Indiana quarterback Edward Wright-Baker found wide receiver Demarlo Belcher down the right sideline for a 65-yard touchdown. Belcher fought off cornerback Jeffery Garrett to get into the end zone.
Undeterred, Wenning led the Cardinals on a 15-play drive that ate up five minutes and 40 seconds of the second quarter. The drive ended in with Wenning sneaking into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run.
Kicker Mitch Ewald gave Indiana the lead late in the quarter, converting a 49-yard field goal attempt.
EARLIER: Ball State down 7-0 after first quarter
INDIANAPOLIS – The Pete Lembo era and Ball State's season got off to a rocky start Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium against Indiana. After the first quarter, Indiana leads Ball State 7-0.
The Hoosiers won the coin toss and ran the ball right through the Cardinals' defense on the opening drive. Indiana took the ball 76 yards in six minutes and 47 seconds, finishing it off with a nine-yard touchdown run by running back Matt Perez.
The redshirt freshman scampered around the right end on fourth-and-one, finding the end zone untouched.
The Cardinals' own first drive did not go so well. Ball State was called for two penalties, forced to use its first timeout and did not pick up a first down.
After the first possession, however, Ball State settled into a better rhythm. It forced an Indiana punt and drove into the Hoosiers' red zone as the quarter expired.
Ball State quarterback Keith Wenning finished the quarter 9 of 10 with 58 passing yards. Barrington Scott led the team in rushing with nine yards on three attempts.
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