Ball State University
3-1-0
Army
1-3-0
Football Improves to 3-1 with 48-21 Win Over Army
September 24, 2011 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State football team orchestrated a 48-21 non-conference victory over Army Saturday afternoon at Scheumann Stadium to improve to 3-1 on the season.
The win gives Ball State and first-year head coach Pete Lembo a 3-1 start to the season. The last time the Cardinals started a season 3-1 was in 1995, under the tutelage of former head coach Bill Lynch (1995-2002). This is the best start for the Cardinals since 2008 when Ball State went 12-0 in the regular season under the direction of former head coach Brady Hoke (2002-08).
"It's all about the players, and they really came out and executed the plan very well," Lembo says. "We did some totally different things on defense. It was a pretty grueling week for the defensive players and the scout team. There was a sense of urgency to get ready for today, and I thought we executed pretty well."
The Ball State defense was relentless throughout the afternoon, shutting out Army in the first half. The Cardinals held Army without a pass completion tying an NCAA single-game record (achieved numerous times, last happened Houston vs. Air Force, 9/13/08).
Sophomore quarterback Keith Wenning tied his career high with 24 pass completions for a career best 324 yards against the Black Knights.
"Offensively, we knew getting off to a good start would be pretty important," Lembo says. "We were able to maintain a really nice balance in the first half. I don't think in 11 years as a head coach, I have had a team play that good of a half. It was pretty neat to see."
The Cardinals raced out to a 31-0 lead at the half behind Wenning's 21-of-27 passing performance for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Willie Snead was his top target with nine catches for 135 yards and one score.
Freshman running back Jahwan Edwards three-yard touchdown run in the Cardinals opening drive of the game gave the Cardinals a 7-0 edge over Army with 10:10 on the clock. Edwards recorded his second TD of the game after a 12-yard run into the end zone to give Ball State the 14-0 lead over Army at the 12:38 mark of the second quarter.
Junior wide receiver and Muncie native, Jamill Smith returned a punt for 12 yards, putting the Cardinals on the 41-yard line to start their drive late in the second quarter. Smith would then capitalize on the field position later in the series after catching a 2-yard touchdown pass from Wenning to put Ball State up 21-0 with 4:39 left in the half.
With 4:25 remaining in the second quarter senior safety Sean Baker tallied his 17th career interception and returned it for 18 yards, which resulted in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Wenning to Snead, making the score 28-0 . Baker became the school's all-time leader in career interceptions versus Buffalo last season.
Steven Schott made a 21-yard field goal which gave Ball State the 31-0 cushion over the Knights at the half.
"Their offense really had their way with us," Army head coach Rich Ellerson says. "They have got a very basic zone and power and we did not have a chance. We could not do anything about their quarterback. He really played a good game. He clearly had a hot hand and the way you cool somebody's hot hand is with some pressure. We just could not generate anything. They did such a good job up front and he just stayed in that zone. He had a wonderful day."
Baker sacked Army quarterback Trent Steelman on a fourth-and-eighth in the second half opening drive which gave the Cardinals field possession on its own 38-yard line. After six plays and 62 yards, Edwards scored his third TD of the game at the 6:46 mark in the third quarter for a 38-0 advantage.
Army scored its first TD of the game with 4:11 left in the third quarter after a 1-yard touchdown run from sophomore slot back Raymond Maples.
Sophomore tight end David Schneider recorded the first touchdown reception of his career off of a 51-yard touchdown pass from Wenning towards the end of the third quarter increasing the Cardinals cushion over the Knights to 45-7.
Army cut Ball State's lead to 45-14 at the 12:49 mark in the fourth quarter after slot back Raymond Maples had a 19-yard TD run.
Schott capped off the Cardinals victory with a 22-yard field goal with 2:50 left in the contest, making the score 48-14. Army would score with just over a minute remaining which made it 48-21.
Ball State Football Cardinal Notebook
- Ball State's 48 points scored are the most for the Cardinals since posting 48 points against Northeastern (8/28/08).
- Ball State finished the game with a season-high 383 yards passing, which ranks sixth highest in school history.
- The Cardinals' 545 total yards are the seventh most in program history and the most in a game since 610 yards against Nebraska (9/22/07).
- The Cardinals' defense does not allow a completed pass, tying an NCAA record (achieved numerous times, last happened Houston vs. Air Force, 9/13/08).
- Freshman Willie Snead caught a career-high 45-yard pass in the fourth quarter, surpassing his previous high of 11-yards (Buffalo, 9/17/11).
- Snead finished the game with a career-high 180 yards, surpassing his previous high of 21 yards against Buffalo (9/17/11).
- Snead becomes the first Cardinal receiver to eclipse 100-yards in a game this season and the first since Jack Tomlinson posted 106 yards against Northern Illinois (11/20/10). His 180 yards are the most for a Cardinal since Dante Love posted 214 yards against Nebraska (9/22/07).
- Snead's 180 yards receiving are the 11th most yards receiving in a single game in Ball State history.
- Snead also notched a career-high 10 catches, besting his previous high of four receptions against Buffalo. His 10 catches are the most for a Cardinal since Briggs Orsbon recorded 10 catches against Toledo (10/3/09).
- Snead posted his second career touchdown reception in the second quarter to make it a 28-0 contest.
- Freshman running back Jahwan Edwards posted his fourth rushing touchdown of the season with a three-yard run in the first quarter, his fifth touchdown with a 12-yard rush in the second quarter and his sixth touchdown in the third quarter with a two-yard plunge.
- Edwards' three-touchdown effort gives him a new career-high, surpassing his two scores last weekend against Buffalo (9/17/11). His three touchdowns are the most for a BSU running back since Cory Sykes' three-touchdown performance against Eastern Michigan (10/24/09).
- Edwards' 23-yard rush in the third quarter was a career-high, surpassing his 18-yard rush against Buffalo (9/17/11).
- Junior wide receiver Jamill Smith posted a career-high 43-yard reception in the second quarter, surpassing his previous high of 16 yards vs. Buffalo (9/17/11).
- Smith posted his first career touchdown in the second quarter with a two-yard reception from Keith Wenning to make it a 21-0 score.
- Senior safety Sean Baker posted his 17th career interception in the second quarter.
- Quarterback Keith Wenning notched his 19th career touchdown pass to Jamill Smith in the second quarter and his 20th career TD pass hitting Snead in the second quarter. It is Wenning's second straight multiple-touchdown pass game and his third of the season.
- Wenning tied his career-high with three touchdown passes after a 51-yard pass in the third quarter. (vs. Eastern Michigan, 10/16/10; at Kent State, 10/30/10; vs. Akron, 11/6/10).
- Wenning finished with a career-high 324 yards, surpassing his previous high of 226 against Buffalo (9/17/11). His 324 yards passing are the most for a Cardinal since Nate Davis passed for 351 yards against Buffalo (12/5/08).
- Wenning's 324 yards passing are 13th best in a single-game in Ball State history.
- Tight end David Schneider picked up a career-high 51-yard reception in the third quarter, surpassing his previous high of 19 yards (vs. Buffalo, 11/12/10 & vs. Akron, 11/6/10). The reception was also the second touchdown catch of his career (vs. Akron).
- Placekicker Steven Schott scored a career-high 12 points, surpassing his previous high of nine points against Indiana (9/3/11).
First Quarter
Ball State 7, Army 0
10:01- Jahwan Edwards 3-yard touchdown run. Steven Schott kick good.
12 plays, 80 yards, 4:59
Second Quarter
Ball State 14, Army 0
12:38- Jahwan Edwards 12-yard touchdown run. Steven Schott kick good.
6 plays, 80 yards, 2:24
Ball State 21, Army 0
4:39- Keith Wenning 2-yard touchdown pass to Jamill Smith. Steven Schott kick good.
11 plays, 59 yards, 4:28
Ball State 28, Army 0
2:38- Keith Wenning 21-yard touchdown pass to Willie Snead. Steven Schott kick good.
6 plays, 17 yards, 1:47
Ball State 31, Army 0
:02- Steven Schott 21-yard field goal.
11 plays, 56 yards, 1:40
Third Quarter
Ball State 38, Army 0
8:12- Jahwan Edwards 1-yard touchdown run. Steven Schott kick good.
6 plays, 17 yards, 1:47
Ball State 38, Army 7
4:11- Raymond Maples 1-yard touchdown run. Alex Carlton kick good.
8 plays, 77 yards, 3:55
Ball State 45, Army 7
1:47- Keith Wenning 51-yard touchdown pass to David Schneider. Steven Schott kick good.
5 plays, 60 yards, 2:24
Fourth Quarter
Ball State 45, Army 14
12:49- Raymond Maples 19-yard touchdown run. Alex Carlton kick good.
10 plays, 80 yards, 3:51
Ball State 48, Army 14
2:50 - Steven Schott 22-yard field goal.
10 plays, 78 yards, 5:34
Ball State 48, Army 21
1:07 - Terry Baggett 7-yard touchdown run. Alex Carlton kick good.
6 plays, 52 yards, 1:38
Team Stats
ARMY 0, BSU 7
BSU - EDWARDS, Jahwan 3 yd run (SCHOTT, Steven kick), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:59
ARMY 0, BSU 14
BSU - EDWARDS, Jahwan 12 yd run (SCHOTT, Steven kick), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:24
ARMY 0, BSU 21
BSU - SMITH, Jamill 2 yd pass from WENNING, Keith (SCHOTT, Steven kick) 11 plays, 59 yards, TOP 4:28
ARMY 0, BSU 28
BSU - SNEAD, Willie 21 yd pass from WENNING, Keith (SCHOTT, Steven kick) 6 plays, 17 yards, TOP 1:47
ARMY 0, BSU 31
BSU - SCHOTT, Steven 21 yd field goal 11 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:40
ARMY 0, BSU 38
BSU - EDWARDS, Jahwan 1 yd run (SCHOTT, Steven kick), 6 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:12
ARMY 7, BSU 38
ARMY - Maples, Raymond 1 yd run (Carlton, Alex kick), 8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:55
ARMY 7, BSU 45
BSU - SCHNEIDER, D. 51 yd pass from WENNING, Keith (SCHOTT, Steven kick) 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:24
ARMY 14, BSU 45
ARMY - Maples, Raymond 19 yd run (Carlton, Alex kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:51
ARMY 14, BSU 48
BSU - SCHOTT, Steven 22 yd field goal 10 plays, 78 yards, TOP 5:34
ARMY 21, BSU 48
ARMY - Baggett, Terry 7 yd run (Carlton, Alex kick), 6 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:38
