Ball State University
2-0
Navy
1-1
Ball State Beats Navy 35-23 on National Television
September 06, 2008 | Football
“Tonight's crowd was outstanding and our students were awesome again,” said
Senior wide receiver Dante Love caught nine passes for 165 yards, ran for 37 yards and compiled a career-high three total touchdowns. Love recorded his 11th career game with at least 100 yards, tying Dante Ridgeway (2002-04) for first place on the all-time list.
“Dante is a great asset because he can do so much,” said Hoke. “He runs the ball, catches the ball and blocks. He was terrific tonight.”
Love's first touchdown came on the third play of the game, a 61-yard touchdown reception, giving the Cardinals an early 7-0 lead. Love extended the
Senior quarterback Nate Davis completed 21-of-28 passes for 326 yards and tied his career-high with four touchdowns, a feat he has now achieved three times. He bumped his career passing yards total to 6,258, and he needs only 14 passing yards to set the
Navy (1-1) placekicker Matt Harmon connected on his third field goal with 8:55 left in the first half before freshman wide receiver Briggs Orsbon caught his first career touchdown, completing an 11-play, 92-yard drive. The 30-yard strike put the Cardinals in front 21-9.
The Midshipmen responded with their first touchdown of the game, a 14-yard run by quarterback Jarod Bryant. The touchdown finalized the scoring for both teams in the first half, leaving BSU with a 21-16 advantage.
After holding Navy running back Shun White to 27 rushing yards in the first half, White opened the second half with a 71-yard run that eventually set up Bryant's second rushing touchdown of the game, giving Navy its first lead, 23-21.
Davis and the Cardinals regained the lead for good on an eight yard pass to Love, concluding a 71-yard drive.
Navy pushed the ball to the BSU 3-yard line and the Cardinals came up with a crucial stop on fourth-and-one as Bryant failed to get past the line-of-scrimmage.
The Cardinals continued their potent offensive attack by completing their second drive of over 90 yards, going 97 yards in 10 plays ending with a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Darius Hill. Hill's 41 yards receiving move him into fifth place in
“It was an exciting game,” said Hoke. “We thought the game would be decided in the fourth quarter and it was. Games like these really build character and we were extremely proud of our guys tonight.”
Junior running back MiQuale Lewis helped keep the Navy defense honest and rushed for 117 yards, while also amassing 35 receiving yards.
The Cardinals face their first road test of the season and kickoff Mid-American Conference play at
Story written by Andrew Lentz of the Ball State Athletics Communications Office
Team Stats
NAVY 0, BSU 7
BSU - LOVE, Dante 61 yd pass from DAVIS, Nate (McGARVEY, Ian kick) 2 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:12
NAVY 3, BSU 7
NAVY - Harmon, Matt 49 yd field goal 10 plays, 31 yards, TOP 4:23
NAVY 3, BSU 14
BSU - LOVE, Dante 6 yd run (McGARVEY, Ian kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:30
NAVY 6, BSU 14
NAVY - Harmon, Matt 29 yd field goal 11 plays, 56 yards, TOP 5:25
NAVY 9, BSU 14
NAVY - Harmon, Matt 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 57 yards, TOP 4:48
NAVY 9, BSU 21
BSU - ORSBON, Briggs 30 yd pass from DAVIS, Nate (McGARVEY, Ian kick) 11 plays, 92 yards, TOP 5:01
NAVY 16, BSU 21
NAVY - Bryant, Jarod 14 yd run (Harmon, Matt kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:43
NAVY 23, BSU 21
NAVY - Bryant, Jarod 1 yd run (Harmon, Matt kick), 4 plays, 82 yards, TOP 1:34
NAVY 23, BSU 28
BSU - LOVE, Dante 8 yd pass from DAVIS, Nate (McGARVEY, Ian kick) 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 5:42
NAVY 23, BSU 35
BSU - HILL, Darius 35 yd pass from DAVIS, Nate (McGARVEY, Ian kick) 10 plays, 97 yards, TOP 4:35
