Spring Break
Undefeated Cardinals survive MU scare
Adam Hainsfurther
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Sports
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"It's frustrating," Miami head coach Shane Montgomery said. "I thought we went toe-to-toe with them. They're a good football team; I don't think they're much better than us."
Miami converted three first downs on just seven plays to open the game. Unfortunately, the team's drive deflated when Ball State's Derrick Henry forced a Jamal Rodgers fumble.
Ball State's MiQuale Lewis then stole the show for the Cardinals, running the ball seven times on BSUs first drive. He ran the ball from the Ball State 42 all the way to the Miami one-yard line in just five plays, but was stopped at the goal line twice before a failed fourth down pass.
After their successful goal line stand, Miami took control of the ball, and of the quarter. The RedHawks started with the ball on their own one-yard line and drove down the field under the direction of an accurate Dan Raudabaugh starting in place of an injured Clay Belton. He connected with nine different receivers in the first two quarters, including five different receivers on Miami's second offensive drive. Ultimately, the drive stalled on the Ball State 22-yard line, and the RedHawks had to bring in Nate Parseghian for the 39-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
This was the story of the night for the RedHawks: their inability to score touchdowns in the red zone. Miami failed to score a single TD from inside the 20-yard line, settling for three Parseghian chip shots on the night.
"The one thing I talked about, that we couldn't afford to do, was to settle for too many field goals, and we did," Montgomery said.
Unfortunately for the RedHawks though, Ball State's offense is considered to be the best in the MAC, and they showed it on Tuesday night.
Cardinal quarterback Nate Davis went 4-4 through the air on the ensuing drive for 49 yards and the go-ahead touchdown.
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