Saturday’s Army game against Ball State flashback to 2011 offensive explosion

When Ball State takes the field against Army on Saturday, it will be an anniversary of sorts for three Cardinal players.

The Cardinals played against the Black Knights two years ago at Scheumann Stadium on Family Weekend.

The three main skill position players on Ball State’s offense, Jamill Smith, Willie Snead and Keith Wenning had career games against Army in 2011.

“Was that our coming out game, so-to-speak?” said Rich Skrosky, Ball State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. “It was pretty good. The biggest thing was we hit some big plays in that game.”

One of those big plays was Smith’s first career touchdown. It was in the north end zone by a two-yard pass from Wenning in the second quarter.

That was the first of Smith’s nine career touchdowns to date.

“It was a slant-and-go behind the corner for a touchdown,” Wenning said.

Since scoring on the slant-and-go, Smith has 97 receptions and 1,049 yards.

He has also showed promise in the return game.

Over the past four years, Smith has 1,523 kickoff yards returning and 385 punt yards returning.

Smith said he’ll always remember the first touchdown he scored, but played down its significance.

“I’ve scored many touchdowns in my life,“ Smith said.

As a freshman, Snead had a career high 10 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. It was also the first time Snead broke the 100-yard receiving yards mark.

“It just shows you you can do it again,” Snead said of his recollection of going over 100 yards. “If you can get one 100-yard game, you can get another one.”

The game showed signs of what Ball State fans would eventually see on a game-by-game basis in the 2012 season.

Snead’s junior year saw him catch 89 passes for 1,148 yards and nine touchdowns.

Two years later, Snead said he runs more routes than he did in his freshman season.

“My freshman year I only ran two or three routes,” Snead said. “This year I feel like I can run so many more routes. There’s so much more I can do just because of the work I’ve put in with Keith.“

Both receivers will attempt to replicate their performances in Saturday’s game against Army.

Army plays a double-eagle flex hybrid defense, with sometimes three down linemen and other times having five down linemen.

The coverages Army plays will be nothing different than what Ball State sees frequently ­­— a single high safety over the top.

“It’s more of a whole offensive thing,” Smith said. “They do a whole bunch of stunts, and a whole bunch of blitzes and our offense has to pick it up or it won’t matter what type of defense they’re in. We won’t be open.”

Wenning, then a sophomore in his 14th start, threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. That was the first 300-yard passing game of his career.

Since his performance against Army, Wenning has had five 300-yard passing games.

Skrosky said the offense has “added some wrinkles“ since the last time Army visited Scheumann Stadium.

All three players have become mainstays in the Ball State passing offense since then. The three will line up as starters against Army on Saturday.

If the game two years ago was a sign of things to come for Ball State, Saturday’s game is a reminder of what is.

“I feel like that was the breakout game I needed,“ Snead said. “I always look forward to playing Army. Army is always a good game for us.“