Week 1: Win, 30-10 vs. Colgate
Ball State started its season off with a bang against FCS opponent Colgate. Running backs Jahwan Edwards and Horactio Banks torched the Colgate defense for a combined 311 yards. New quarterback Ozzie Mann made his debut, replacing Keith Wenning. Mann played the role of game manager, but threw a 34-yard touchdown to wide receiver KeVonn Mabon late in the first quarter, then hit Aaron Hepp for another in the second quarter. Scott Secor added three field goals as Ball State cruised to a comfortable victory.
Key Player:
Horactio Banks: 13 rushes for 134 yards
Key Plays:
1:17 left in first quarter, Mann finds Mabon, who makes a tackler miss and races 34 yards for the touchdown.
0:45 left in second quarter, Mann drops a touch pass into the end zone to Hepp to extend Ball State’s lead to 20-7 heading into halftime.
1:14 left in third quarter, Edwards rumbles for a four-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 30-7, a play that would be the dagger for Colgate.
Standout quote:
“It felt good, it felt like he was in control of the offense,” Lembo said about Mann. “It felt like we were operating how Ball State operates."
Week 2: Loss, 17-13 at Iowa
With the game scoreless, Iowa’s offense had a bad handoff, and it was picked up by Ball State’s Blake Dueitt, returned 35 yards for the touchdown. Iowa missed three field goals, keeping Ball State in the lead throughout most of the game. With the Cardinals leading 13-3 and less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Hawkeyes quarterback Jake Rudock threw two touchdowns to stun Ball State. Mann lost a fumble on Ball State’s final drive, ending any hopes of an upset win.
Key Player:
Jake Rudock: 33-52, 322 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 46 rushing yards
Key Plays:
13:08 left in second quarter, Dueitt picks up fumble and returns it 35 yards for the touchdown.
2:52 left in fourth quarter, Rudock hits Willies for 12 yards and touchdown to cut Ball State’s lead to 13-10.
1:00 left in fourth quarter, Rudock hits Duzey for 12 yards and touchdown to give Iowa a 17-13 lead.
Standout quote:
“There were times at Ball State where this would have been a moral victory,” Lembo said. “That’s not going to happen. We’ve got to find a way to win these games.”
Week 3: Loss, 27-20 vs. Indiana State.
Ball State jumped out to a quick 14-3 lead off touchdowns from Edwards and receiver Jordan Hogue. Deep in its own territory, Indiana State punted and Aaron Hepp muffed the catch, Indiana State recovering. The turnover was a momentum changer, as the Sycamores marched downfield for a touchdown. One drive later, Indiana State punched it in again, giving itself a 17-14 halftime lead. Late in the fourth quarter with Indiana State leading 27-20, Mann took off and sprinted for the end zone, but was tackled on the Indiana State two-yard line. The clock expired, and Ball State lost a heartbreaker.
Key Player:
Mike Perish: 25-43, 317 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions
Key plays:
9:31 left in second quarter, Mann hits Hogue for 23-yard touchdown, Ball State leads 14-3.
00:04 left in second quarter, Perish hits Beverstock for two-yard touchdown, Indiana State leads 17-14.
3:50 left in fourth quarter, Perish hits Harris for 28-yard touchdown, Indiana State leads 27-20.
Standout quote:
“Nobody’s happy. Disappointed.” Lembo said. “This is where we’re at, there’s going to be very little margin for error, there’s going to be a lot of close games, and mistakes are going to get magnified.”
Week 4: Loss, 34-23 loss at Toledo.
It didn’t take long for Toledo to get on the board. Quarterback Logan Woodside ran the ball in for the score just 1:36 into the game, but the Rockets missed the extra point. After a nearly three-hour weather delay, Toledo marched downfield again and Woodside rushed for his second touchdown, this one from eight yards away. Ball State responded with three field goals, while Toledo’s Kareem Hunt rushed for a 13-yard touchdown in the first half. Both teams' running games excelled, both teams put up 14 points in the second half and Toledo walked away with the victory.
Key Player:
Kareem Hunt: 12 carries, 142 yards, one touchdown
Key plays:
7:15 left in first quarter, Woodside eight-yard rush for touchdown
1:58 left in third quarter, Mann hits Mabon for 43-yard touchdown
10:19 left in fourth quarter, Jones-Moore seven-yard rush for touchdown
Standout quote:
“I think we moved the ball very well tonight, but we settled for a lot of field goals,” Ball State head coach Pete Lembo said. “We have to improve our execution in the red zone.”
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