Ball State University
0-1 , 0-0
Tennessee
1-0 , 0-0
Youthful Cardinals Suffer Season-Opening Setback at Tennessee
September 01, 2022 | Football
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The Cardinals (0-1) have the seventh-youngest roster in the nation, with 74.1 percent of the team being classified as underclassman. While BSU did not back down, a talented and experienced Volunteers (1-0) squad came away with a 59-10 victory on its home turf.
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Eight of 22 starters were making their first career start for Ball State, including redshirt junior quarterback John Paddock.
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Paddock entered the contest with just 34 career completions, with that total giving BSU the second-fewest returning completions by quarterbacks in the nation. He would come close to doubling that tally by the end of the night, finishing the game with career-highs of 27 completions and 269 yards.
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Highlighting Paddock's night was his first collegiate touchdown pass, as he connected with true freshman tight end Tanner Koziol for a three-yard score midway through the third quarter. Two plays before the score, Koziol hauled in his first career reception, a 26-yard connection to move the ball to the Tennessee seven-yard line.
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Unfortunately, Paddock and the Ball State defense were up against Tennessee's sixth-year senior quarterback Hendon Hooker who became the oldest starting quarterback in Volunteers history when he went under center.
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Hooker guided the Vols to a 45-0 lead before giving way to Joe Milton III and finished the contest 18-25-0 for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the air, while rushing for 14 yards and two scores.
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In addition to Paddock, redshirt junior Amir Abdur-Rahman and redshirt freshman Brady Hunt made their debut in the Ball State starting lineup on offense. Graduate transfer Jaquan Amos, redshirt junior Jack Blanco, sophomore Kyle King, redshirt junior Cole Pearce, and sophomore Jordan Riley were first-time starters for the Cardinals on defense.
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Senior Jayshon Jackson, senior Yo'Heinz Tyler, and Abdur-Rahman led Ball State's receiving corps with five receptions apiece, with Jackson tallying a team-high 65 yards. Sophomore running back Carson Steele led BSU on the ground with 27 yards, while adding four receptions and 14 yards.
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On the defensive side, Blanco registered a team-high nine tackles, while Amos and Loren Strickland added eight total tackles apiece. Riley added BSU's lone tackle for loss.
Another defensive highlight came with 4:10 left in the game, when senior Malcolm Lee forced a fumble which was recovered by redshirt freshman Julian McBride at the Tennessee 14-yard line. The effort set up the final score of the game, a 25-yard field goal from graduate transfer kicker Ben VonGunten.
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Ball State returns to action next Saturday (Sept. 10) when it hosts Western Michigan to open Mid-American Conference play at Scheumann Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. with the game being broadcast live on ESPN+ and over the radio airwaves on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network.
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Fans looking to catch the action live can still purchase season tickets or single game tickets online or by calling the Ball State Tickets Office at 888.BSU.TICKET.
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In addition, the $20 Ball & Brew Pack is still available, while Ball State and Muncie Community Schools Staff can purchase discount tickets as well.
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Team Stats
BSU 0, TEN 7
TEN - Hyatt,Jalin 23 yd pass from Hooker,Hendon (McGrath,Chase kick) 1 plays, 23 yards, TOP 00:09
BSU 0, TEN 10
TEN - McGrath,Chase 33 yd field goal 8 plays, 46 yards, TOP 01:45
BSU 0, TEN 17
TEN - Hooker,Hendon 1 yd run (McGrath,Chase kick), 8 plays, 34 yards, TOP 02:20
BSU 0, TEN 24
TEN - Hooker,Hendon 3 yd run (McGrath,Chase kick), 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 03:08
BSU 0, TEN 31
TEN - Small,Jabari 7 yd run (McGrath,Chase kick), 6 plays, 53 yards, TOP 01:32
BSU 0, TEN 38
TEN - Merrill,Walker 16 yd pass from Hooker,Hendon (McGrath,Chase kick) 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 02:34
BSU 0, TEN 45
TEN - Wright,Jaylen 3 yd run (McGrath,Chase kick), 11 plays, 94 yards, TOP 03:02
BSU 7, TEN 45
BSU - Koziol,Tanner 3 yd pass from Paddock,John (VonGunten,Ben kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:52
BSU 7, TEN 52
TEN - Sampson,Dylan 2 yd run (McGrath,Chase kick), 13 plays, 78 yards, TOP 06:05
BSU 7, TEN 59
TEN - Holiday,Jimmy 53 yd pass from Milton III,Joe (McGrath,Chase kick) 7 plays, 93 yards, TOP 02:08
BSU 10, TEN 59
BSU - VonGunten,Ben 25 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 01:15
