BALL STATE 27, KENT STATE 24
Final
FOURTH QUARTER
11:26 ... Kent State offense is on the move thanks in large part to two Ball State penalties ... a questionable pass interference on a throw over the middle intended for Tim Erjavec, then a roughing-the-passer penalty against Jonathan Newsome for a shot to the throat on Reardon, tacking on 15 after a 9-yard pass to Durham.
9:58 ... Durham bulls his way for 10 on 4th-and-2 ... power running at its best to the Ball State 28.
9:22 ... The gamble on 4th down pays off one play later with Colin Reardon finding Chris Humphrey for 28 yards and a touchdown to vault Kent State into the lead.
In a way, Reardon broke every rule in the book, rolling to his right, then throwing back across the field late to Humphrey, who was breaking open to the corner. Dangerous, but a gutsy play by a freshman quarterback. The throw was just over the fingertips of the Cardinals defensive back who was scrambling to catch up with Humphrey.
Second extra point of Brad Miller's career puts Kent State on top.
Kent State 21, Ball State 20
8:37 ... Kent State is trying to punch in another score after a tipped-ball interception by Darius Polk and a return all the way to the Ball State 1-yard line.
Durham stuffed for no gain on first down ... then a 1-yard loss by Durham on second down.
7:14 ... After 1st-and-goal from the Ball State 1, three Durham runs net -3 yards ... and Kent State forced to settle for a disappointing field goal of 21 yards by Miller.
Kent State 24, Ball State 20
4:42 ... Ball State now at the Kent State 10 and facing a 3rd-and-6 ... Tipped ball by Fackler forces a fourth down with 4:38 to play.
4:31 ... Kent State defense rises up again. Turnover on downs as Wenning's lob for Snead in the left corner is incomplete out of bounds. Great coverage by Malcom Pannell.
3:46 ... Scary moment as Colin Reardon is helped off the field after being injured handing off to Durham ... A non-contact injury finishing his rollout after handing the ball off to the back.
Lower leg and walking off very gingerly.
David Fisher in at quarterback on 3rd-and-3.
3:12 ... Kent State forced to kick the ball away after a Durham run on 3rd-and-3 comes up short by two yards.
Ball State will start at its own 43.
2:47 ... A 45-yard throw from Wenning to Snead to the Ball State 12, and the Cardinals in position again.
2:14 ... Fackler with his third knockdown at the line. Ball State faces a 3rd-and-8 from the Ball State 10 ... Again!
1:29 ... On 4th-and-4 from the KSU 7, Wenning hits Snead over the middle for a touchdown and the lead.
Gallant effort by the defense. Up to Fisher and the KSU offense to salvage this with just 1:29 to play and one timeouts left.
4:31 ... Kent State defense rises up again. Turnover on downs as Wenning's lob for Snead in the left corner is incomplete out of bounds. Great coverage by Malcom Pannell.
3:46 ... Scary moment as Colin Reardon is helped off the field after being injured handing off to Durham ... A non-contact injury finishing his rollout after handing the ball off to the back.
Lower leg and walking off very gingerly.
David Fisher in at quarterback on 3rd-and-3.
3:12 ... Kent State forced to kick the ball away after a Durham run on 3rd-and-3 comes up short by two yards.
Ball State will start at its own 43.
2:47 ... A 45-yard throw from Wenning to Snead to the Ball State 12, and the Cardinals in position again.
2:14 ... Fackler with his third knockdown at the line. Ball State faces a 3rd-and-8 from the Ball State 10 ... Again!
1:29 ... On 4th-and-4 from the KSU 7, Wenning hits Snead over the middle for a touchdown and the lead.
Gallant effort by the defense. Up to Fisher and the KSU offense to salvage this with just 1:29 to play and one timeouts left.
Ball State 27, Kent State 24
1:25 ... Kent State will start at its own 32 ... No timeouts ... need to get into position for the backup kicker to tie it ... or for a gamewinning score with the backup quarterback... and just one timeout.
1:04 ... Good play-call on 3rd-and-10 ... shovel pass from Fisher to Pierce for 18 yards to the Ball State 49.
0:35 ... Fisher sacked trying to scramble and keep the play alive on 4th-and-15.
Disappointing finish, but a great effort
FINAL: Ball State 27, Kent State 24
1:04 ... Good play-call on 3rd-and-10 ... shovel pass from Fisher to Pierce for 18 yards to the Ball State 49.
0:35 ... Fisher sacked trying to scramble and keep the play alive on 4th-and-15.
Disappointing finish, but a great effort
FINAL: Ball State 27, Kent State 24
THIRD QUARTER
13:46 ... A tough first minute for Kent State ... Jamil Smith returned the first kickoff of Brad Miller's career 50-plus yards to the KSU 42.
A few plays later, Dylan Farrington down with an injury. He got up and walked off on his own, but holding his right arm.
And after a short slant from Wenning to Williams, Ball State now has a first down at the KSU 3.
Kick coverage has been excellent for Kent State so far this season. Two kickoffs today have led to big seams for Smith.
12:50 ... Tipped ball by Polk takes away a touchdown throw to Snead in the left corner. Now 3rd-and-2 from the 2... and an easy touchdown.
12:46 ... Slant to Williams from Wenning for a 2-yard score.
It took Ball State 28-plus minutes to score its first points in the 1st half... Just over 3 minutes to score in the second half.
That's the danger of the short field. Just 42 yards in 8 plays for the Cardinals to take their first lead.
Kick coverage has been excellent for Kent State so far this season. Two kickoffs today have led to big seams for Smith.
12:50 ... Tipped ball by Polk takes away a touchdown throw to Snead in the left corner. Now 3rd-and-2 from the 2... and an easy touchdown.
12:46 ... Slant to Williams from Wenning for a 2-yard score.
It took Ball State 28-plus minutes to score its first points in the 1st half... Just over 3 minutes to score in the second half.
That's the danger of the short field. Just 42 yards in 8 plays for the Cardinals to take their first lead.
Ball State 14, Kent State 7
9:43 ... Great individual effort by Humphrey on a 6-yard pass at the marker, breaking a tackle and exploding for a 20-yard gain to the Ball State 30. That was the Flashes' longest pass play of the game... and Humphrey's sixth catch for 59 yards.
A nice design on a give to Durham, decoying a reverse to Archer, and KSU is now at the Ball State 14 on first down.
On the move in an attempt to answer Ball State's opening score of the second half.
7:30 ... Reardon beats the cornerback blitz off the edge and finds Dri Archer over the middle for a 14-yard touchdown. Great answer by the Kent State offense and another creative drive using some misdirection to create some running space for Durham.
Reardon is also now 12-for-13 for 104 yards.
The 33rd career touchdown for Dri Archer.
7:26 ... Tired of watching Jamil Smith find a seam on kick returns, Kent State has turned to the sky kick.
7:05 ... Kent State has the ball back. The Golden Flashes' defense recovers from the quick score to open the half by forcing a three-and-out on drive No. 2 ... Great play by Polk on third down to bat down a Wenning throw.
3:39 ... Can't throw off the back foot into coverage. Under pressure Reardon makes the critical mistake, and it leads to a tipped-ball interception by Jeffery Garrett at the Kent State 39.
Defense had recovered and was playing well, forcing two consecutive three-and-outs. Now it has to come back out and defend another short field. A difficult task.
2:53 ... The turnover is a killer for Kent State as the Cardinals quickly turn it into six ... but just six.
A 25-yard touchdown pass from Wenning to a wide-open Jamill Smith puts Ball State back on top 20-14. Only good news for the Flashes is a missed extra point by Secor.
1:50 ... Making the task potentially more difficult, the Flashes have already used their second timeout of the second half. They can stop the ball just one more time.
7:30 ... Reardon beats the cornerback blitz off the edge and finds Dri Archer over the middle for a 14-yard touchdown. Great answer by the Kent State offense and another creative drive using some misdirection to create some running space for Durham.
Reardon is also now 12-for-13 for 104 yards.
The 33rd career touchdown for Dri Archer.
Kent State 14, Ball State 14
7:26 ... Tired of watching Jamil Smith find a seam on kick returns, Kent State has turned to the sky kick.
7:05 ... Kent State has the ball back. The Golden Flashes' defense recovers from the quick score to open the half by forcing a three-and-out on drive No. 2 ... Great play by Polk on third down to bat down a Wenning throw.
3:39 ... Can't throw off the back foot into coverage. Under pressure Reardon makes the critical mistake, and it leads to a tipped-ball interception by Jeffery Garrett at the Kent State 39.
Defense had recovered and was playing well, forcing two consecutive three-and-outs. Now it has to come back out and defend another short field. A difficult task.
2:53 ... The turnover is a killer for Kent State as the Cardinals quickly turn it into six ... but just six.
A 25-yard touchdown pass from Wenning to a wide-open Jamill Smith puts Ball State back on top 20-14. Only good news for the Flashes is a missed extra point by Secor.
Ball State 20, Kent State 14
1:50 ... Making the task potentially more difficult, the Flashes have already used their second timeout of the second half. They can stop the ball just one more time.
SECOND QUARTER
14:45 ... Some more creativity by Kent State.
On 4th-and-5, the Flashes call a fake punt with Chad Bushley angling a snap to up-man Brice Fackler, who rumbled 34 yards for a first down at the Ball State 28.
Andrew Horning was on to punt after Anthony Melchiori apparently injured himself saving a touchdown with a tackle on an earlier kickoff.
11:57 ... Melchiori injury kept him from attempting a field goal on fourth down. Brad Miller came on to miss a 43-yarder.
Losing Melchiori is a major blow to Kent State's special teams. Hopefully he can return.
8:56 ... Kent State's defense is making Ball State work for every yard ... only issue has been on third-and-long where the Cardinals have converted two third-and-longs ... one because of a missed tackle, and the other due to a gamble for a pick after Wenning threw under pressure.
Run defense has been much better this week. Defensive line holding its own, linebackers flowing to the football, gang tackling. All good things.
7:42 ... Great play by Luke Wollet as Wenning tried to convert another third-and-long with a throw over the middle.
The game more than 22 minutes old and this high-powered Ball State offense is still looking for its first score.
A little bit of a negative ... Great punt by Kyle Schmidt of Ball State downed at the 1.
3:29 ... A nice punt by Andrew Horning in place of Melchiori. After his 42-yarder is fair caught at the Ball State 32, the Kent State defense is back on the field trying to keep the shutout alive in the closing minutes of the first half.
Easily the best start for a Kent State defense this season. Pretty impressive stuff.
The Flashes have blitzed more than I think I've seen this year.
1:46 ... Needed some wood to knock here in the press box.
Willie Snead with a great over-the-shoulder catch of a deep throw by Wenning. He beat double coverage for a 39-yard touchdown that ties it.
It took Ball State more than 28 minutes to get on the scoreboard.
1:41 ... Calhoun boots the squib kick and has to race back for a frantic recovery at the Kent State 6. Flashes are forced to start deep in their end again when Ball State is trying to give them good field position with the short kick.
8:56 ... Kent State's defense is making Ball State work for every yard ... only issue has been on third-and-long where the Cardinals have converted two third-and-longs ... one because of a missed tackle, and the other due to a gamble for a pick after Wenning threw under pressure.
Run defense has been much better this week. Defensive line holding its own, linebackers flowing to the football, gang tackling. All good things.
7:42 ... Great play by Luke Wollet as Wenning tried to convert another third-and-long with a throw over the middle.
The game more than 22 minutes old and this high-powered Ball State offense is still looking for its first score.
A little bit of a negative ... Great punt by Kyle Schmidt of Ball State downed at the 1.
3:29 ... A nice punt by Andrew Horning in place of Melchiori. After his 42-yarder is fair caught at the Ball State 32, the Kent State defense is back on the field trying to keep the shutout alive in the closing minutes of the first half.
Easily the best start for a Kent State defense this season. Pretty impressive stuff.
The Flashes have blitzed more than I think I've seen this year.
1:46 ... Needed some wood to knock here in the press box.
Willie Snead with a great over-the-shoulder catch of a deep throw by Wenning. He beat double coverage for a 39-yard touchdown that ties it.
It took Ball State more than 28 minutes to get on the scoreboard.
Kent State 7, Ball State 7
1:41 ... Calhoun boots the squib kick and has to race back for a frantic recovery at the Kent State 6. Flashes are forced to start deep in their end again when Ball State is trying to give them good field position with the short kick.
HALFTIME
Some halftime stats ...- Both teams have 10 first downs.
- Kent State leads in rushing 160-to-40
- Ball State leads in passing 161-to-56
- Total yards, Kent State leads 216-to-201 (not many predicted that)
- Time of possession is Kent State 18:30-to-11:30
- Colin Reardon completed his first nine passes. He is 9-of-10 for 56 yards ... and also leads the team with 68 rushing yards on five carries. That's already 10 yards over his career high
- Kent State has called 24 running plays against just 10 pass attempts.
FIRST QUARTER
14:47 ... Good to see Kent State go right to Trayion Durham on first down for four yards. Important to establish the run, eat some clock, keep the ball out of the hands of the Cardinals' offense.
Unfortunately, a false start on 2nd-and-4 has put the offense off schedule.
The series started at the 17 after a squib kickoff took a while to field. The Cardinals kickers practiced a variety of short kicks during pregame with the obvious idea to keep the ball out of the hands of Dri Archer.
12:26 ... About the worst case scenario for Kent State to start ... a fumble by Dri Archer gives Ball State's offense the football at the Flashes' 35.
Paul Haynes has been preaching ball security all week because Ball State likes to strip the ball with the second and third defender in. Archer didn't take care of the football... And after the Flashes had picked up a first down on third-and-long with a 12-yard run by quarterback Colin Reardon.
10:04 ... Keenan Stalls with the first interception of his career turns back the Ball State offense after it had reached the Kent State 6.
Cardinals quarterback Keith Wenning tried to fit the football into a tight window in the back of the end zone. A very nice play by linebacker Matt Dellinger tipped the ball high into the air and right into the waiting arms of Stalls.
7:56 ... Colin Reardon has runs of 21 and 16 yards on this drive, giving him 3 carries for 49 yards already. The focus of the Ball State defense appears to be on Durham. They all flowed with the big fullback on a first-down read option, allowing Reardon to break free for 21.
6:44 ... Kent State offense very creative so far ... a reverse to Josh Boyle for 14 ... Some nice fakes to free Reardon ... a perfect screen to Durham for 14 ...
It all has the offense at the Flashes at the Ball State 13 ... and a nice recovery after the early turnover.
5:19 ... Great second effort by Anthony Meray. After initially getting stopped at the line, Meray poked through the line and ran 10 yards for an opening touchdown ... his first rushing touchdown since game No. 4 of 2011.
Meray continues to play better and better as he gets more playing time.
3:26 ... A major surprise ... Nose tackle Nate Terhune has checked into the game with Ball State already knocking at the door at the KSU 6... He broke his lower leg just 4 weeks ago at Ball State.
Just a few days ago, Paul Haynes said he hoped to have Terhune available next week at South Alabama.
2:00 ... Kent State has the football again after another Ball State turnover in the end zone. The Cardinals' Jordan Williams looked like he would tie the game after taking a short throw from Wenning and weaving his way to the goal line ... where Jordan Italiano was waiting. The Kent State defensive back stripped the ball, and cornerback Dylan Farrington fell on it in the end zone for a touchback.
Kent State defense creating two enormous breaks in this first quarter.
That fumble was the first forced and recovered by the Flashes' defense this season.
6:44 ... Kent State offense very creative so far ... a reverse to Josh Boyle for 14 ... Some nice fakes to free Reardon ... a perfect screen to Durham for 14 ...
It all has the offense at the Flashes at the Ball State 13 ... and a nice recovery after the early turnover.
5:19 ... Great second effort by Anthony Meray. After initially getting stopped at the line, Meray poked through the line and ran 10 yards for an opening touchdown ... his first rushing touchdown since game No. 4 of 2011.
Meray continues to play better and better as he gets more playing time.
Kent State 7, Ball State 0
3:26 ... A major surprise ... Nose tackle Nate Terhune has checked into the game with Ball State already knocking at the door at the KSU 6... He broke his lower leg just 4 weeks ago at Ball State.
Just a few days ago, Paul Haynes said he hoped to have Terhune available next week at South Alabama.
2:00 ... Kent State has the football again after another Ball State turnover in the end zone. The Cardinals' Jordan Williams looked like he would tie the game after taking a short throw from Wenning and weaving his way to the goal line ... where Jordan Italiano was waiting. The Kent State defensive back stripped the ball, and cornerback Dylan Farrington fell on it in the end zone for a touchback.
Kent State defense creating two enormous breaks in this first quarter.
That fumble was the first forced and recovered by the Flashes' defense this season.
PREGAME
3:00 p.m. ... Coin Flip ... Ball State won the toss and will defer to the second half.Game Time
2:45 p.m. ... It'll be interesting to see if nose tackle Nate Terhune is in uniform today for Kent State. Terhune broke a bone in his lower leg four weeks ago at LSU, and he is already close to returning.
Haynes did not expect Terhune to play today. Next week is a very real possibility, however. The big defensive lineman got in some work this week and there had been some talk of allowing him to suit up and stand on the sidelines today.
Getting an hard-working overachiever like Terhune back would be a big bonus for Kent State's run defense.
2:30 p.m. ... Kent State will wear "HD" stickers on the backs of their helmets today to honor the memory of Helen Dix. Since the team could not attend the funeral today at 1 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Kent, head coach Paul Haynes wanted the team to show its support for the Dix family.
Also notice the new helmet stickers for 2013 in the above photo.
Darrell Hazell brought the tradition of Ohio State-style stickers two seasons ago. Those stickers had the full Kent State logo inside a white circle.
This year, Paul Haynes has switched to simple gold lightning bolts. What do you prefer? Oval with logo? Lightning bolts? No sticker at all?
2:00 p.m. ... Ball State's specialists are on the field and warming up, and no surprise that their kickers are practicing sky kicks to the up-man on kickoffs.
Don't expect Dri Archer to get another shot at a 100-yard kickoff return this week.
1:28 p.m. ... Some good early news as we are getting word that Roosevelt Nix is feeling good and ready to go after being limited in practice this week with a sore back.
This game features two of the top defensive linemen in the Mid-American Conference in Nix and Ball State's 6-foot-3, 236-pound defensive end Jonathan Newsome, who leads the Cardinals with three sacks for 19 yards in losses.
We'll see how much help Kent State gives left tackle Terrell Johnson when he works against Newsome.
With all of the talk about the Flashes and how they will find a way to slow down quarterback Keith Wenning and the Cardinals' passing game, I'm actually more interested in how Kent State will stop the run. Ball State has quietly built a nice rushing complement with Jahwan Edwards since his return from a concussion. Edwards ran for 155 yards against Virginia last week, and we all know how Kent State's defense has had its difficulties stopping the run this season. That includes the 454 yards the Flashes allowed on the ground in last week's loss to Northern Illinois.
1:11 p.m. ... The Record-Courier's Allen Moff is embedded with the Kent State football team during this weekend's trip to Muncie. He is updating his experience on Facebook. To follow along, visit Allen's Facebook page by clicking here.
He has lots of photos from behind the scenes at team meetings and from the team hotel in Indianapolis
12:27 p.m. ... Here's a look around the web at what the media thinks of today's Kent State at Ball State game:
- From yesterday, Elton Alexander breaks down KSU vs. BSU in the Plain Dealer with his "Kent State Football Gameday."
- In the Record-Courier, Allen Moff previews today's game and the challenge the Golden Flashes' defenses faces against an electric Cardinals offense.
- Allen Moff had this story earlier this week about the "daunting challenge" Kent State faces here in Muncie.
- In the Akron Beacon Journal, Stephanie Storm writes about Kent State facing another high-powered offense in her Kent State-Ball State preview.
- In today's Indianapolis Star, Ben Breiner of the Star Press considers "5 things to watch in Ball State, Kent State game."
- In the Muncie Star Press, Breiner writes about an improving Ball State defense.
- Ball State head coach Pete Lembo goes for win No. 100 today when the Cardinals host Kent State. That story is in the Ball State student newspaper.
12 p.m. ... Just arrived at Scheumann Stadium here in Muncie, Ind.
Instead of coming in with the team yesterday, I drove in this morning with the Kent State radio team of Ty Linder and Rob Polinsky.
It's homecoming here today at Ball State. With about three hours to go before kickoff, traffic is already backed up on Bethel Avenue and McGalliard Road. With the Cardinals rolling at 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the MAC, we should have a big crowd here this afternoon.
It's quiet here now:
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