A second week of NFL play brought a second big milestone for a former Ball State football player. Former receiver Willie Snead caught his first NFL touchdown for the Saints, while cornerback Eric Patterson was promoted to the Colts' active roster.
In a situation similar to last year, Ball State's backup quarterback has provided a needed spark to the offense. Trailing 17-0 to Eastern Michigan, freshman Riley Neal entered the game for Jack Milas. Neal finished the game 24-28 for 194 yards and a touchdown and added 93 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Freshman Riley Neal got the Ball State offense going, and the Cardinals used a run-heavy attack to earn a come-from-behind 28-17 victory Sept. 19 at Eastern Michigan.
Gilbert managed to punch it in for the Cardinals from 5 yards out bringing an end to the 20 play, 85 yard 9:49 second drive.
Ball State will travel to Eastern Michigan Sept. 19 to kick off the first game of conference play. Eastern Michigan is coming off a dominating 48-29 win over Wyoming while Ball State is trying to move past its lopsided loss against Texas A&M. During Eastern Michigan's game against Wyoming, starting quarterback Brogan Roback went down with an injury. Back-up Reginald Bell immediately stepped up in a big way throwing 12-18 for 117 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Head coach Pete Lembo is impressed with what he saw and thinks it will be a difficult match, nonetheless. “I think [Bell] did a great job running their offense last week,” Lembo said.
Coming into the season, the Ball State football team had its quarterback position secured by redshirt sophomore Jack Milas.
In the midst of a 1-1 start to the season, one glaring issue has stood out for the Ball State football team. It hasn't been able to stop the pass.
Ball State and Indiana haven't laced it up against each other on a football field since 2012. Beginning next season, the Cardinals and Hoosiers will meet four times over the next five years. Ball State will travel to Bloomington in 2018 and 2020, and the teams will meet at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2019.
Indiana University has finalized its non-conference football schedule through 2023, and that will include three meetings with Ball State.
What's better than catching your first pass in the NFL from Drew Brees? Having that catch and run go for 63 yards. In Willie Snead's first game as a pro for the New Orleans Saints, Brees found Snead over the middle on the first play of the second half.
Ball State outscored Texas A&M 20-7 in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Aggies opened the newly-renovated Kyle Field in style with a 56-23 win over the Cardinals. Ball State coach Pete Lembo acknowledged that it was a lopsided loss. He believes his team can use it as a learning experience, however.
To begin the game, the Cardinals attempted to catch the Aggies off guard by opening with an onside kickoff attempt. Texas A&M recovered, and went 62 yards in eight plays capped off by a one-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
In preparation for a road matchup with No. 16 Texas A&M, the Ball State football coaches have been blasting crowd noise at practice all week. In a 2014 survey among 99 FBS coaches, the Aggies' Kyle Field finished second behind LSU as the toughest place in the country to play.
Ball State's all-time leading rusher has his next shot in the NFL. Jahwan Edwards signed a deal to join the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad. He was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers after going undrafted this year.
Former Ball State football stars Keith Wenning and Eric Patterson have signed to their teams' practice squads following final roster cuts.
With NFL rosters cutting down to their opening-day rosters this afternoon, the Indianapolis Colts cut former Ball State football players Eric Patterson and Kitt O'Brien.
For just the third time in the last two seasons, Scheumann Stadium's attendance reached 10 thousand for a home football game. Ball State defeated Virginia Military Institute 48-36 in the season opener in front of 10,473 spectators. Athletic Director Mark Sandy said attendance was about where he expected, but it could have been better.
Sophomore Darian Green tied a Ball State record with four touchdowns, and the Ball State offense exploded for 567 yards as the Cardinals defeated the Virginia Military Institute Keydets 48-36 to begin the season.
In its first game of the season, the Ball State football team gained 567 total yards and put up 48 points. Head coach Pete Lembo was able to utilize his fast-paced, short-yardage-based offense thanks to the time his veteran offensive line provided for the quarterback and running backs.
Seniors Jacob Richard and Ben Ingle ran out to represent the Cardinals for the opening coin flip of the 2015-2016 season.
