Pete Lembo called it the best half he'd seen in more than 100 games as a coach. Sean Baker said it was the best half of his Ball State career, the 2008 dream season included. Everyone could agree it was the most complete half of football the Cardinals have played through four games this season.
Ball State's first 30 minutes against Army on Saturday resulted in a 31-point lead for the Cardinals. Ball State leveraged it into a 48-21 victory, its third of the season. Four games into the season, Ball State is halfway to bowl eligibility, a feat few, if any, predicted during the summer.
"It turned out to be a pretty good month of September," Lembo said.
The month's final game began well for Ball State, which took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards downfield to the end zone in less than five minutes. Jahwan Edwards found the end zone on a three-yard run, the first of his three rushing touchdowns in the game. It was the first time all season Ball State had scored first, which is especially important against Army because it relies so heavily on the possession-oriented triple-option.
But Lembo said he didn't think the early deficit forced the Black Knights to change their game plan. Not until the Cardinals had a three-touchdown lead did Lembo feel a difference in the game.
"I think once you get up three scores on these guys, that's when you start changing the complexion," Lembo said. "When they start worrying about how much time they have, how many possessions they're going to get."
Ball State's three-touchdown lead came with 4:39 remaining in the first half when Keith Wenning found Jamill Smith in the back corner of the end zone for Smith's first career touchdown.
At that point, Army quarterback Trent Steelman had attempted just one pass. The first play of the ensuing drive, however, was a pass play. Steelman dropped back and threw over the middle. But instead of finding one of his receivers, Steelman's pass went straight to Baker, who collected his first interception of the season.
Baker, who owns Ball State's career interception record, has been hampered this season by a cast on his right hand, which protects a chip fracture in his thumb. He was happy his interception drought was over.
"It was kind of a relief to get one under my belt this year," he said. "It seemed like a long time coming."
Ball State took advantage of the short field and took a 28-0 lead on a 21-yard pass from Wenning to Snead. The Cardinals extended their lead to 31-0 by halftime with a 21-yard field goal by Steven Schott.
The first half stat sheet was as one-sided as possible. Ball State already had 333 yards of offense and its highest point total of the year. Army had 101 rushing yards, which is much less impressive when you consider the Black Knights ran the ball on all but two plays in the half.
"I think the biggest thing was getting them behind early in the sticks," Baker said. "Second-and-long, third-and-long. Their offense isn't built for stuff like that."
With the game all but over at halftime, the second half was almost just for show. And the Cardinals made sure it was a good one. Wenning crossed the 300-yard mark, on his way to 324 passing yards and three touchdowns. He is just the 11th Ball State quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in a game and the first since Nate Davis in 2008.
"I try to throw the ball as accurate as I can," Wenning said. "Whatever happens, happens."
Edwards scored his third touchdown of the day, becoming the fourth player in program history to rush for at least three touchdowns in a game. Freshman wide receiver Snead increased his receiving total to 10 catches and 180 yards, the most since Dante Love's 214-yard game in 2007 at Nebraska.
Army ruined the shutout late in the third quarter, and scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter with the game well out of reach.
Ball State's dominance in the first half had made sure the fourth quarter was simply a formality, played mostly by backups as the afternoon began to turn to evening. It was the first half that had defined the game, and redefined the Cardinals.
"Thirty points and 100 yards rushing to a team that runs the ball every play," Baker said. "That's a lofty goal, but we've got to keep getting better."
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