Ball State University
1-0
Southeast Missouri State
0-1
Second Half Effort Leads Football To Season-Opening Win Over SEMO
September 03, 2010 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State football program opened its 86th season Thursday night in strong fashion as the Cardinals downed Southeast Missouri State 27-10 at Scheumann Stadium in front of 10,753 fans. Ball State outscored the Redhawks 20-3 in the second half, including 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to open the season with a victory.
"Tonight was just what we needed," second-year head coach Stan Parrish says. "I am not sure if last year at half we could have mustered that second half performance. It was a game everyone thought we were going to win. Our student body was great tonight. Not only were they here but they were into the game from the start. We hope the students come back out and support us against Liberty."
The Cardinals (1-0) rushed for 243 yards in the victory as four different running backs ran for at least 30 yards. The 243 yards rushing are the most for the Cardinals since they notched a single-game record 463 yards at Eastern Michigan (10/24/09)
Sophomore tailback Eric Williams (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) rushed for a career-high 106 yards on 20 carries in the victory surpassing his previous career high of 88 yards rushing against Bowling Green (10/17/09) last year. Williams ran for one touchdown, while junior tailback Cory Sykes (Harvey, Ill./Thornton) scored two times and finished the night with 72 yards rushing.
Ball State opened the 2010 season efficiently as it drove 63 yards on its initial possession for an opening drive touchdown. The Cardinals leaned heavily on the run on the opening possession as they ran for 45 yards on 10 carries. Williams rushed for 31 yards on the initial drive, while Sykes capped the possession with a nine yard touchdown run to put Ball State in front 7-0.
Southeast Missouri answered right back on its first possession of the season as it drove 73 yards for the game tying touchdown. The Redhawks capped the drive as Mike Jones rushed around the end for 11 yards to knot the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.
The Cardinals came out of the locker room and retook the lead early in the second half as they forced Southeast Missouri into a three-and-out possession to open the half. Ball State drove 51 yards on the drive, including a fourth and one conversion by Williams. The drive was sparked by a 14-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Kelly Page (Sunnyvale, Texas/Mesquite) to wide receiver Daniel Ifft (Dover, Ohio/Dover) and was capped with a one-yard Sykes run for a 14-7 lead.
The Ball State defense stepped up on the ensuing SEMO drive as Robert Eddins forced a fumble from Cedric Cox that he recovered to keep the momentum on the Cardinals' side. Ball State turned the miscue into points as it drove 39 yards and scored its third touchdown of the game. The Cardinals converted their second fourth down play of the half as Page completed an eight-yard pass to Aaron Mershman (Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling). Sykes capped the drive as he ran off the left side for 12 yards to put the Cardinals in front 21-7.
Ball State kept the pressure on as it caused another turnover, this time on special teams as Briggs Orsbon (Convoy, Ohio/Crestview) broke through the line and blocked a Joe Vucic punt to give the Cardinals the ball on the SEMO 25-yard line. The blocked punt was the first for Ball State since Eddins accomplished the feat against Eastern Michigan last year. The Cardinals extended the lead to 24-7 as Ian McGarvey (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) nailed a 29-yard field goal.
The two teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter as Drew Geldbach hit a career-high 53 yard field goal while McGarvey nailed a 17-yard attempt with 5:40 left in the game.
The Ball State defense limited the Redhawks to 237 total yards, forced three turnovers and blocked one punt. Safety Sean Baker (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) led the defense as he posted a team-high nine tackles, including two tackles for loss and forced a fumble.
Ball State returns to action Sept. 11, as it hosts Liberty in non-conference action at Scheumann. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., for Team Day presented by Lifetouch.
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Team Stats
SEMO 0, BALL 7
BALL - SYKES, Cory 9 yd run (McGARVEY, Ian kick), 11 plays, 63 yards, TOP 6:05
SEMO 7, BALL 7
SEMO - JONES, Mike 11 yd run (GELDBACH, Drew kick), 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 5:31
SEMO 7, BALL 14
BALL - WILLIAMS, Eric 1 yd run (McGARVEY, Ian kick), 9 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:53
SEMO 7, BALL 21
BALL - SYKES, Cory 12 yd run (McGARVEY, Ian kick), 8 plays, 39 yards, TOP 3:37
SEMO 7, BALL 24
BALL - McGARVEY, Ian 29 yd field goal 7 plays, 12 yards, TOP 2:30
SEMO 10, BALL 24
SEMO - GELDBACH, Drew 53 yd field goal 10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 4:21
SEMO 10, BALL 27
BALL - McGARVEY, Ian 17 yd field goal 10 plays, 54 yards, TOP 5:38
