For the second consecutive season, Ball State is sitting at 3-1 after four weeks into the season. But unlike last season, the team moves into the bulk of Mid-American Conference play this season that begins with a road game against Kent State at noon Saturday.
When the team started 3-1 last season, Ball State lost its next two games to then-No. 1 Oklahoma and Temple by a combined score of 104-6. But quarterback Keith Wenning said a year of understanding the offense and coaching staff has made a difference on this season's team.
"Last year, we still had questions whether we were going to be good or not," Wenning said. "This year, we expect [to be good]. We come in every day to get better and not take anything for granted."
A fourth win won't come easy for Ball State; the team will be going up against a Kent State defense that is in the top half of the MAC. Kent State is only allowing 373.3 yards per game and held Buffalo to 152 yards of total offense in a 23-7 win.
Coach Pete Lembo said the size and speed of Kent State's defense is what impressed him, but its ability to create turnovers is what could cause problems for Ball State. In the win against Buffalo, the defense forced four turnovers (three interceptions and a fumble) and dominated the game. Of the 152 yards it allowed, 46 of those yards came on an outlier of a 46-yard pass.
The defense is led by Darius Polk, who had two picks against Buffalo, but Lembo noted that linemen Dana Brown Jr. and Roosevelt Nix are "active" players on the line.
"They're physical, and they're a good defense all around," wide receiver Jamill Smith said. "They're good up front and experienced. They play hard."
Smith does present a problem for Kent State's defense, it needs to figure out how to limit what Smith can do on the field. At the beginning of last season, he was used primarily as a special teams player. This season, he holds a bigger role in the offense from receiving, to rushing and even passing the ball.
But he shies away from saying he's difficult for opposing defenses to defend. He's just doing what his coaches want him to do.
The keys to Ball State's success so far this season has come from Ball State being efficient on offense and the balance it's been getting from running backs Jahwan Edwards and Horactio Banks. Wenning said the team will have to keep doing what it's been doing all season to get a road win Saturday.
"It's going to come down to execution," Wenning said. "Being physical up front, establish a running game and make plays. We got to be sound on the offense, and the defense has to make stops and get the ball back for us."
If Ball State can pick up the win, it returns home for two consecutive home games and could be looking at a 6-1 record and a 4-0 mark in the MAC. But that's probably the last thing the Cardinals are worried about as the focus now is on the Golden Flashes.
"I feel like that's too far in advance," Wenning said. "It'd be a great feeling, but we're taking it one game at a time."
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