Ball State crushes Ohio 52-27 in primetime showdown

Cliff November 15, 2012 0

By RYAN NAYLOR
ISL Correspondent

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State took a big step toward its first bowl appearance since 2008 with a 52-27 win over preseason MAC favorite Ohio University on Wednesday night.

The Cardinals were one of two bowl eligible teams to miss out on postseason play last year, but this year, riding a five-game win streak, second year head Coach Pete Lembo’s team appears headed toward a thirteenth game in this year’s campaign. Officials from the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl attended the game at Schumann Stadium.

In a special blackout game featuring new black jerseys and a temporary high definition video screen in place for Senior Night, the Cardinals hammered the visiting Bobcats.

I’m taken back by what an amazing story this is. Lembo stated following the win. What you just saw is pretty special Looks like we have plans for Christmas.

Ball State’s win streak appeared to be in question with 2:24 left in the second quarter when starting quarterback Keith Wenning exited the game with a strained Achilles tendon. Wenning landed awkwardly after pulling in a 17-yard throwback pass from receiver Jamill Smith.

Enter fifth-year senior backup quarterback Kelly Page. Taking his first snap of the season, Page found the end zone on a 7-yard run to give the Cardinals a 21-17 lead at the break.

With Wenning on the sidelines in the second half, Page led Ball State to 333 yards of total offense as the Cardinals exploded for 31 points.

This is what we expect,” Lembo said. “This is the standard for what we want to do. We expect a backup to go in and perform and that’s exactly what Kelly did tonight. We don’t change what we do when a guy goes down, we don’t panic.

Page passed for two touchdowns and ran for another.

I’ve been through a lot in my career and to see the support from my teammates was humbling. he said.

Ohio (8-3, 4-3 MAC) struggled to stop the run all night. BSU Tailback Jahwan Edwards ran for 169 yards and a touchdown. Horactio Banks added 134 yards and a touchdown.

Before leaving the game, Wenning completed 16-20 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. In doing so, he became the Cardinals leader in career pass completions with 694, eclipsing Nate Davis’ record.

Ball State (8-3, 5-2 MAC) wraps up regular season play next Saturday in Oxford against the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks.