Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Ball State
Chippewas Fall To Ball State
10/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 28, 2000
MOUNT PLEASANT--The Ball State University football team erased a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to post a 38-34 win over Central Michigan University on Saturday afternoon at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
With the loss, CMU's record falls to 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the Mid-American Conference while the Cardinals improve to 4-4 overall and 4-1 in the MAC.
It was all Ball State down the stretch as it scored twice late in the game to secure the win.
David Westbrook scored his second touchdown of the day on an 18-yard pass from Talmadge Hill with 5:24 to play to cut Central's lead to 34-32.
CMU went three and out on its next possession to give the ball back to Ball State. The Cardinals capitalized when Hill sprinted five yards to score the winning touchdown with 57 seconds left in the game. The two-point conversion failed but BSU held a 38-34 lead.
The CMU defense almost came through on BSU's winning-touchdown drive. Wayne Dudley had intercepted Hill's pass but a CMU holding penalty erased the interception and gave the Cardinals an automatic first down.
BSU's kicker Thomas Pucke had missed two field goals in the fourth quarter that would have given the Cardinals the lead but Hill's touchdown gave BSU the win.
The Chippewas opened the game with a pair of touchdowns to jump to a quick 14-0 lead.
Vince Webber scored on a one-yard run with 11:39 left in the first quarter while Eric Salani caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Derrick Vickers at the 13:52 mark of the second quarter. Kicker Adam Clyne converted on both extra points in his first action for the Chippewas.
Ball State responded with three unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter to jump to an 18-14 lead. Marcus Merriweather was the Cardinals' offense, scoring on runs of two yards, 13 yards and one yard. Ball State missed the extra point attempt on the first score and failed on a two-point conversion attempt on the next two touchdowns.
The Chippewas came back to regain the lead before the end of the half.
Webber scored his second touchdown of the day on a one-yard run with 21 seconds left in the half. Clyne hit on the extra point to give the Chippewas a 21-18 halftime lead.
Central increased its lead to 27-21 when Marvin Smith picked up a Merriweather fumble and ran 20 yards for a score at the 9:58 mark of the third quarter. Clyne missed the extra point attempt.
The Cardinals then sliced the lead to 27-25 on a 39-yard scoring strike from Hill to Westbrook with 7:58 left in the third.
The Chippewa defense responded again with a big play when Rodrico Epps intercepted a Talmadge Hill pass and returned it 63-yards for the score with 9:41 to play in the game. Clyne's kick put CMU up, 34-25.
The Ball State ground game was a big part of the Cardinals' success. BSU had 381 rushing yards and a Kelly/Shorts Stadium record 609 yards of total offense. The Cardinal defense held the Chippewas to just 236 yards of offense.
Merriweather led BSU with 257 rushing yards and three touchdowns while Westbrook caught six passes for 123 yards and two scores. Hill was 18-of-30 in the passing department for 228 yards and two touchdown throws. Hill also rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown.
CMU was led by Webber who had 84 rushing yards on 23 carries and caught three passes for 44 yards. Vickers was six-of-18 for 63 yards and one score.
NOTES AND QUOTES
*Ball State won its fourth straight game to improve to 4-4 overall , 4-1 in the MAC and 2-1 in the MAC West Division. The Chippewas fall to 1-7 overall, 1-4 in the MAC and 0-2 in the MAC West Division. Ball State hosts MAC West Divisionn leading Western Michigan on Nov. 4 while the Chippewas travel to Eastern Michigan.
*Ball State set a Kelly/Shorts Stadium record with 609 yards of total offense. The mark is second best in BSU history behind 618 against Cal Poly Pomona in 1977. The Cardinals gained 381 on the ground and 228 through the air.
*Ball State tailback Marcus Merriweather rushed 42 times for 257 yards and three TDs. He was three yards shy of the school record of 260 set by Earl Taylor versus Eastern Michigan in 1976. His 42 carries were also second best in BSU annals.
*BSU has now won four straight. The Cardinals last won four straight in 1997 when they closed the season with four straight wins.
*BSU quarterback Talmadge Hill passed for 228 yards, going 18-for-30 with two TDs. He also rushed 19 times for 101 yards, including the game-winning five-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left in the game.
*CMU's 34 points were its highest offensive output this season. The previous high was 21 against Kent State.
*The Chippewa defense scored two touchdowns in the game. Marvin Smith returned a fumble 20 yards and Rodrico Epps returned an interception 63 yards.
*Central lost the game despite not turning the ball over. BSU on the other hand had four turnovers in the win.
CMU Head Coach Mike DeBord
"It was a game of two halves. Our offense moved the ball well and had good play execution but we didn't paly well defensivley. We made adjustments at the half on defense and I thought we played better but our lack of offense in the second half is what killed us."
"Ball State did a good job this afternoon. BSU kept its kids motivated and that kept it in the game. We asked a lot of our kids this week. We asked for effort, emotion and a win but we came up short. We need to keep fighting and start winning and our confidence will start rolling."
"Our kids have hung with this throughout this rough season. That's what Ball State has been doing this season. BSU's kids have hung with them and its coaching staff and it has been able to make some progress. One day our day will come."
BSU Head Coach Bill Lynch
"It was a good win for us. I give credit to the Chippewas. They played hard and forced turnovers. But we were fortunate enough to get the ball back one last time and score. We haven't won a lot of games in the fourth quarter but today we showed confidence and maturity and we made some big plays. It's a great team win because the offense kept having to make drives and defense had to keep making stops."
"Central executed its trick plays and screens well and that hurt us in the first half. The key to the game was after (Talmadge) Hill threw and interception for a touchdown, he got back in the huddle and kept his composure and led a successful drive."
