Ball State University
2-3 , 1-0
Central Michigan
2-3 , 1-2
Football Wins at Central Michigan 31-17
October 02, 2010 | Football
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - The Ball State University football team (2-3, 1-0 MAC) defeated Central Michigan (2-3, 1-3 MAC) 31-17 Saturday afternoon at Kelly/Shorts Stadium to start the Mid-American Conference season.
The win marks Ball State's second straight victory at Central Michigan -- 2008 and 2010 -- in a stadium where the Chippewas own a 17-5 mark since the start of the 2006 campaign.
"This was a great win against the defending Mid-American Conference West Division Champions," Ball State head coach Stan Parrish says. "We came in here and supported each other. We did a better job of calling plays. We ran the ball well and we played physical. We hustled and hit hard against a good football team in their stadium."
Keith Wenning connected on a 56-yard touchdown pass to running back Eric Williams with 5:30 left in the first quarter to give Ball State the early 7-0 edge over Central Michigan. It was Williams' first career touchdown reception and longest catch of his career. The touchdown pass also marked Wenning's longest completion of his career.
The Cardinals defense held the Chippewas to just a field goal on CMU's next possession, making it a 7-3 ball game. In the first half Ball State's defense limited Central Michigan to three points and only 138 total yards of offense led by Travis Freeman and Tony Martin with five total tackles and Robert Eddins with 2.5 sacks. Eddins ended the game with the most sacks in his career 4.5.
Ball State increased its lead to 14-3 after Williams rushed for three yards for his second touchdown of the game with 10:37 left in the second quarter. The TD marked the first multiple touchdown game of Williams' career.
David Brown's 80-yard touchdown run with 2:09 in the third quarter gave the Cardinals a 21-3 edge over the Chippewas. It was Brown's longest rush and first touchdown of his career.
On CMU's ensuing possession, Andrew Puthoff tallied his first career interception on the Chippewas first play. The interception set up a 21-yard touchdown pass from Wenning to Williams increasing Ball State's cushion to 28-3.
The Chippewas scored their first touchdown of the game with 13:12 on the clock in the fourth quarter making it 28-11 after completing the two-point conversion.
On the CMU's next possession Jason Pinkston managed his first career interception which set up a 30-yard field goal from Ian McGarvey with 6:43 on the clock in the fourth quarter making the score 31-11.
For the game Ball State totaled 306 rushing yards led by Brown with a career high 117 yards and one touchdown. It marked the first 100-yard rushing game of Brown's career.
"We stretched the field and we blocked better," Parrish says. "We ran well and Keith (Wenning) made the throws. We came to win and we played as a team. We got the lead and our defense played really, really well."
The Ball State football team will play its homecoming game when it hosts Western Michigan Saturday for a noon kickoff at Scheumann Stadium.
First Quarter
Ball State 7, Central Michigan 0
5:30-Keith Wenning 56-yard touchdown pass to Eric Williams. Ian McGarvey kick good.
3 plays, 92 yards, 1:09
Ball State 7, Central Michigan 3
1:03-David Harman 24-yard field goal.
10 plays, 72 yards, 4:27
Second Quarter
Ball State 14, Central Michigan 3
10:37-Eric Williams 3-yard touchdown run. Ian McGarvey kick good.
5 plays, 58 yards, 2:28
Third Quarter
Ball State 21, Central Michigan 3
2:09- David Brown 80-yard touchdown run. Ian McGarvey kick good.
1 play, 80 yards, 13 seconds
Ball State 28, Central Michigan 3
:22- Keith Wenning 27 yard touchdown pass to Eric Williams. Ian McGarvey kick good.
4 plays, 32 yards, 1:34
Fourth Quarter
Ball State 28, Central Michigan 11
13:12- Ryan Radcliff 6 yard touchdown pass to Cody Wilson. Ryan Radcliff to Paris Cotton two-point conversion.
10 plays, 63 yards, 2:10
Ball State 31, Central Michigan 11
6:43- Ian McGarvey 30 yard field goal.
8 plays, 41 yards, 4:39
Ball State 28, Central Michigan 17
4:03- Ryan Radcliff 17 yard touchdown pass to David Blackburn. David Harman kick no good.
8 plays, 77 yards, 2:40.
Notes:
Eric Williams caught his first receiving touchdown of his career in the first quarter with 5:30 remaining. It was also the longest reception of Williams career.
The 56-yard completion from Keith Wenning to Eric Williams was the longest of the season and the longest of Wenning's career.
Eric Williams in the second quarter rushed for his second touchdown of the season and 7th of his career.
Eric Williams had the first multiple touchdown game of his career.
Robert Eddins tallied a career high 4.5 sacks.
David Brown 80-yard touchdown run was the longest of his career and his first career TD.
Andrew Puthoff had the first interception of his career.
Jason Pinkston had the first interception of his career and first multiple interception game.
David Brown tallies his first 100 yard rushing game.
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Team Stats
BALL 7, CMU 0
BALL - WILLIAMS, Eric 56 yd pass from WENNING, Keith (McGARVEY, Ian kick) 3 plays, 92 yards, TOP 1:09
BALL 7, CMU 3
CMU - HARMAN, David 24 yd field goal 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:27
BALL 14, CMU 3
BALL - WILLIAMS, Eric 3 yd run (McGARVEY, Ian kick), 5 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:28
BALL 21, CMU 3
BALL - BROWN, David 80 yd run (McGARVEY, Ian kick), 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:13
BALL 28, CMU 3
BALL - WILLIAMS, Eric 27 yd pass from WENNING, Keith (McGARVEY, Ian kick) 4 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:34
BALL 28, CMU 11
CMU - WILSON, Cody 6 yd pass from RADCLIFF, Ryan (COTTON, Paris pass) 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:10
BALL 31, CMU 11
BALL - McGARVEY, Ian 30 yd field goal 8 plays, 41 yards, TOP 4:39
BALL 31, CMU 17
CMU - BLACKBURN, D. 17 yd pass from RADCLIFF, Ryan (HARMAN, David kickfailed) 8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 2:40
