Same old Chippewas
Chris McCarty
The Ball State wide receiver caught a 78-yard touchdown pass from Talmadge Hill with 7:28 to go in the fourth quarter to seal a 38-34 Cardinal (4-4 overall, 3-1 MAC) win over the Chippewas (2-6,1-5).
“You have to give Bill (Lynch BSU Head Coach) credit,” Head Coach Mike DeBord said. “In crunch time, it’s tough to call a long throw.”
Central’s offense finished with a season-high 533 yards, but was penalized eight times for 68 yards. Ball State finished with 492 total yards.
But, on their last three possessions, Chippewas only tallied 5 yards.
“Ball State adjusted well to our offense,” DeBord said. “We did not respond after they put pressure on our passing game.”
Terrence Jackson scored a on a three yard run at 2:41 in the third quarter to give CMU a 27-24 lead after Rob Turner caught a two-point conversion.
Jackson finished with a career high 199 yards on 32 carries, his fifth straight 100-yard game.
He added his second touchdown at 12:34 in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard run to give Central a 34-31 lead.
Derek Gorney made his first career start and set a school record with 50 passing attempts.
Gorney finished completing 22 passes for 279 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
“We were beat by Ball State’s big plays and our penalties,” DeBord said.
Jesse Avant made the Cardinals first big play to start the second quarter.
The Ball State cornerback intercepted Jacob Brown’s pass to Gorney on a attempted trick play. Avant returned the interception 70 yards to give the Cardinals a 14-7 lead .
“The throw looked like it was hurried,” DeBord said. “The corner made a great play.”
Steve Monson made the Cardinals second big play. The Ball State corner intercepted Gorney’s pass after the ball was tipped, ending the Chippewas opening drive of the second half.
Three plays later, Hill completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Corey Parchman, capping a three-play, 59-yard scoring drive to give Ball State a 24-13 lead.
At 2:32 in the second quarter CMU defensive back Omari Hill intercepted Hill in the endzone. Hill finished 13 of 27 for 303 yards and two touchdowns.
Ball State lead 17-7 before Paul Savich kicked a 30 yard field.
He later kicked a career-long 52-yard field goal at the end of the first half, cutting the Cardinals lead to 17-13.
Gorney completed a 45 yard touchdown pass to Willie Hill at 7:49 in the third for the Chippewas first score in the second half, cutting the Cardinals lead to 24-19. The two point conversion failed.
Marcus Merriweather scored on a 4-yard run at 13:44 in the fourth quarter to give the Cardinals a 31-27 lead.
He also scored first for the Cardinals with a two-yard touchdown run on the Cardinals first drive.
Merriweather finished with 144 yards on 32 carries, his fifth straight 100-yard game.
