For Ball State fans, Saturday's game against Northern Illinois is for the Bronze Stalk Trophy. For the football team, it's a game to get back at its Mid-American Conference West rival.
Last season, Northern Illinois beat Ball State on a last second field goal, and even had fireworks go off to celebrate the win before the game clock ran out. This season, Ball State is looking for revenge against the best team in the MAC in the last decade.
"We've got a little revenge for that team," wide receiver Willie Snead said. "They beat us last year in a close game."
The Huskies will be without perhaps their most decorated quarterback Chandler Harnish, who now plays in the NFL, but the offense is still running well under Jordan Lynch. The junior served as the back up to Harnish for two seasons and coach Pete Lembo said his understanding of the offense is what makes him dangerous.
In five games, Northern Illinois offense is averaging 444 total offensive yards per game. Of the near 450 yards of offense, the Huskies have an almost split balance of 232 rushing yards and 212 passing yards per game.
But Lembo said he's impressed with Northern Illinois defense, particularly its run defense. Outside of Army - a team that will run for at least 300 yards per game because of its option offense - Northern Illinois is holding its opponents to only 126 yards per game. With it's defense, Lembo said he believes this year's Northern Illinois team is better than last season's.
"They're not overly complicated, they're on the same page." Lembo said. "Their defensive ends are extremely athletic. They've got some guys in the secondary that can flat out cover you."
While the Huskies have been playing impressively on the defensive side of the ball this season, the Cardinals have been struggling. But Ball State's defense has shown bright spots in the season in coming up with a game sealing interception against South Florida. Before Kent State's game-winning drive, Ball State's defense forced a three-and-out and an interception.
Cornerback Armand Dehaney said from the beginning of the season he's seen the defense play more as a single unit than just 11 guys running out on the field. He said when the defense plays as a unit, it's evident on the field and it's when the team gets the needed stops. But he's also aware of the criticism the defense has received in recent weeks, but said it only fuels the defense to get better.
"It's great motivation for us," he said. "We have lots of room to improve. We're ready to accept the challenge."
Last season in Dekalb, Ill., Ball State had an interception returned for a touchdown overturned because of a roughing the passer penalty on linebacker Tony Martin's tackle on Harnish. Had the play stood, Ball State would have gone up three touchdowns and been in position to get the win and stay alive in the MAC Championship race.
A win over Northern Illinois could decide whether Ball State ends up playing for the MAC Championship in December. And the Ball State coaching staff knows the defense will have to play well if it wants to get its first win over Northern Illinois since 2008.
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