Ball State wins against Army with score of 40-14

UPDATE: Ball State wins its second game of the season with a score of 40-14 against Army.

THIRD QUARTER: A late hit penalty on the opening kickoff of the second half started Ball State at its own 46-yard line.

Ball State moved within the Army 5-yard line, but struggled to punch the ball into the end zone. Around the goal line is usually when Jahwan Edwards is at his best, but because he's out with concussion-like symptoms, Horactio Banks was used.

Banks couldn't get in the end zone after three straight runs from the Army 3, resulting in a 19-yard field goal by Scott Secor to put Ball State up 30-7.

Army fumbled the kickoff recovery for the second time in the game, this time the ball was recovered by Ball State at the 11-yard line.

The Cardinals didn't waste any time taking advantage of the field position as Keith Wenning found Zane Fakes for an 11-yard touchdown pass to put Ball State up 37-7 and turn the game into a rout.

Led by Nate Ollie, Ball State's defense has slowed Army's triple-option offense and forced the visitors to punt deep in its own territory. A face mask penalty on the punt let Ball State start at the Army 40-yard line. Ball State couldn't get any points, but Wenning did hit a 33-yard punt that was downed at the Army 3-yard line.

Ball State's first turnover of the season came on a fumble by Banks, which Army recovered at midfield.

Army converted the turnover into a touchdown after Larry Dixon scored his second touchdown of the game on a 9-yard run, cutting Ball State's lead to 37-14.

SECOND QUARTER: Ball State's offense was finally slowed in the opening minutes of the second quarter, forcing a field goal situation.

Scott Secor hit a 47-yard field goal, a career-long, to put Ball State up 17-7 early in the quarter.

Army's drive imploded after two plays when a fumble was recovered by Quinton Cooper at the Army 21-yard line. Ball State again had to settle for a field goal, this time from 34 yards to give Ball State a 20-7 lead.

Army's offense continued to struggle in the first half. Ball State's gang tackles helped put Army in several third and long situations against the triple-option offense. The Black Knights did benefit from a face mask penalty that resulted in a first down, but punted four plays later.

Ball State's offense also hit a rut with communication mishaps between Keith Wenning and Willie Snead.

The Black Knights missed a 33-yard field goal, setting up Ball State with a two-minute drive to score before halftime.

Starting at the Ball State 20, Wenning didn't waste any time moving the ball downfield, going 4-for-4 on the drive highlighted by a 39-yard pass to Jamill Smith to the Army 6-yard line. On the next play, Horactio Banks scored his second touchdown to put Ball State up 27-7.


FIRST QUARTER: Army needed only three plays to find the end zone on its first drive of the game.

After two runs that went for minimal yards, fullback Larry Dixon broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run that put Army ahead 7-0 just 56 seconds into the game.

Ball State responded by getting a touchdown on its first series. Keith Wenning went 3-for-4 on the drive with all three completions going to Willie Snead for 35 yards. The lone drop came from Zane Fakes that would have been a 10-yard touchdown pass.

On the very next play, Horactio Banks - who got the start because Jahwan Edwards is out - scored on a 10-yard run to tie the game.

The Cardinals got the ball back quickly after stopping the Black Knights on four plays the next series. Wenning took advantage of the Army secondary soft coverage to move the ball downfield.

An 8-yard pass from Wenning to Jamill Smith in the corner of the end zone put Ball State up 14-7.