MUNCIE, Ind. – They may have limped to the finish line, but the Miami RedHawks nonetheless managed to close their 2017 season with a win by defeating Ball State 28-7 at Scheumann Stadium.
With the win, MU gets first possession of . . .
With the win, MU gets first possession of . . .
. . . the RedBird Trophy, which goes to the winner of what is now an annual game. The two schools, just 70 miles apart, are in different divisions, but the MAC recently officially designated the two as rivals, setting up an annual showdown.
Miami entered the game with a host of injuries, including running backs Kenny Young and Alonzo Smith. The offense took another blow midway through the second period when center Mitch Palmer left with an injury.
Miami entered the game with a host of injuries, including running backs Kenny Young and Alonzo Smith. The offense took another blow midway through the second period when center Mitch Palmer left with an injury.
The RedHawks, however, squeezed 125 yards out of the run game and got three touchdown passes from junior quarterback Gus Ragland. They also took advantage of three key Ball State turnovers.
Miami scored all its points in the first half of somewhat windy and cool evening. The RedHawks covered 75 yards in seven plays on the first drive, with nearly half the distance coming on a 37-yard run by freshman Jaylon Bester.
“We were down to our fourth and fifth tailbacks,” Miami coach Chuck Martin said. “Jaylon stepped up. ... He makes a huge play on the first drive and sets us up for a score and shows kind of what he’s capable of doing.”
Ragland combined with senior receiver Sam Martin on an 11-yard slant to finish the drive and Sam Sloman added the first of his four PATs.
After an exchange of punts, BSU was about to punt again from near midfield. The snap, however, went off punter Morgan Hagee’s hands. Grabbing the ball but under heavy pressure, he whiffed on a kick attempt and a scramble ensued. After slipping away from others, the ball ended up in the arms of Miami linebacker Brad Koenig, who returned it six yards to the Ball State nine.
Three plays later, Ragland found senior Jared Murphy over the middle for a 7-yard TD strike with 2:10 left in the opening period.
Ragland, a junior who missed several games due to injury during MAC play, completed 15 of 27 passes for 148 yards and three TDs on the night. He was not intercepted or sacked.
Miami put together a 12-play drive on its next possession, but BSU was giving up ground grudgingly. The Cardinals finally stopped Miami altogether at the 36. Facing fourth and nine, MU attempted a 54-yard field goal. It had the distance, but curved just left of the upright.
Only able to generate one first down on its next possession, Ball State punted. The punt went just 11 yards and a holding penalty all but wiped that out. The RedHawks took over at their own 45 and scored five plays later. Two receptions by Murphy provided 34 yards. Junior James Gardner covered the final 11 with a catch and spin into the end zone. It was the junior’s 11th TD of the season.
There was 6:05 remaining in the second period, but that would be Miami’s last offensive points. A final TD came with 1:16 left. Quarterback Jack Miles attempted a throw to the left side, but it ricocheted off freshman Ben Kimpler into the arms of DB Joshua Allen. He returned his team-high third interception of the year 49 yards for a score to put the visitors up 28-0.
“Kimpler makes a big play and Josh was ready for the screen and was in a good position,” Martin said.
By its second possession of the third quarter, Ball State had inserted freshman QB Drew Plitt. They also started to feed 5-10, 225-pound freshman Caleb Hantley the ball. He eventually gained 159 yards on 25 carries before being forced out of the game.
Malik Dunner stepped in, contributing 60 yards with one TD. His 28-yard run at 10:54 of the final period capped a 12-play drive over 87 yards.
Plitt chipped in 52 yards on nine carries, while Milas had nine carries for51 yards in his time at the helm. Overall, the Cardinals running game churned out 293 yards and one score on 56 carries.
Milas and Plitt combined for 13 completions in nine attempts with 98 passing yards. Each threw one interception – both were costly. Milas’ pick was returned 49 yards for a TD. Plitt’s interception ended a late Ball State drive that used 15 plays to move 79 yards. The Cardinals had reached Miami’s 1-yard line. After Dunner was stopped for no gain, Plitt threw a slant pass that was intercepted by Deondre Daniels.
With less than a minute left, MU kneeled out the clock.
“The second half, we just kind of took care of business,” said Martin, who credited the defense with a good night’s work. “Defensively, we not only got stops, we created field position and got some points on the board.”
For Ball State, Tuesday marked a ninth consecutive loss. The Cardinals went winless in conference play after winning two of their first three outings of 2017. The opener was a 24-21 setback at Illinois.
As with the RedHawks, injuries were a factor, but Ball State also got a look at some talented underclassmen who are already producing.
Martin recalled his earliest days at Miami, where freshmen were often thrust into battle. That group became this year’s senior class.
“I’m proud of the seniors who took this program from the depts. Of 0-16,” Martin said. “We couldn’t even be competitive with the bad teams in our league (back then,). Every year from here on out, there’s no ready we won’t be fighting for conference championships.”
Unlike last year, when 6-0 stretch run gave MU a share of the MAC East title and trip to a bowl game, this year’s squad fell just short. Most of the losses slipped away.
“Unfortunately ... we played a lot of the year the right way, but we had some key moments that really hurt us, and it’s frustrating,” Martin said. “We’ll look back on the year as opportunities lost.”
One of the key lessons to learn, he observed will be “how to finish and how to keep your foot on the gas pedal all the time. ... It’s not just because you have the ability ... You’ve got to grind out games.”
Miami scored all its points in the first half of somewhat windy and cool evening. The RedHawks covered 75 yards in seven plays on the first drive, with nearly half the distance coming on a 37-yard run by freshman Jaylon Bester.
“We were down to our fourth and fifth tailbacks,” Miami coach Chuck Martin said. “Jaylon stepped up. ... He makes a huge play on the first drive and sets us up for a score and shows kind of what he’s capable of doing.”
Ragland combined with senior receiver Sam Martin on an 11-yard slant to finish the drive and Sam Sloman added the first of his four PATs.
After an exchange of punts, BSU was about to punt again from near midfield. The snap, however, went off punter Morgan Hagee’s hands. Grabbing the ball but under heavy pressure, he whiffed on a kick attempt and a scramble ensued. After slipping away from others, the ball ended up in the arms of Miami linebacker Brad Koenig, who returned it six yards to the Ball State nine.
Three plays later, Ragland found senior Jared Murphy over the middle for a 7-yard TD strike with 2:10 left in the opening period.
Ragland, a junior who missed several games due to injury during MAC play, completed 15 of 27 passes for 148 yards and three TDs on the night. He was not intercepted or sacked.
Miami put together a 12-play drive on its next possession, but BSU was giving up ground grudgingly. The Cardinals finally stopped Miami altogether at the 36. Facing fourth and nine, MU attempted a 54-yard field goal. It had the distance, but curved just left of the upright.
Only able to generate one first down on its next possession, Ball State punted. The punt went just 11 yards and a holding penalty all but wiped that out. The RedHawks took over at their own 45 and scored five plays later. Two receptions by Murphy provided 34 yards. Junior James Gardner covered the final 11 with a catch and spin into the end zone. It was the junior’s 11th TD of the season.
There was 6:05 remaining in the second period, but that would be Miami’s last offensive points. A final TD came with 1:16 left. Quarterback Jack Miles attempted a throw to the left side, but it ricocheted off freshman Ben Kimpler into the arms of DB Joshua Allen. He returned his team-high third interception of the year 49 yards for a score to put the visitors up 28-0.
“Kimpler makes a big play and Josh was ready for the screen and was in a good position,” Martin said.
By its second possession of the third quarter, Ball State had inserted freshman QB Drew Plitt. They also started to feed 5-10, 225-pound freshman Caleb Hantley the ball. He eventually gained 159 yards on 25 carries before being forced out of the game.
Malik Dunner stepped in, contributing 60 yards with one TD. His 28-yard run at 10:54 of the final period capped a 12-play drive over 87 yards.
Plitt chipped in 52 yards on nine carries, while Milas had nine carries for51 yards in his time at the helm. Overall, the Cardinals running game churned out 293 yards and one score on 56 carries.
Milas and Plitt combined for 13 completions in nine attempts with 98 passing yards. Each threw one interception – both were costly. Milas’ pick was returned 49 yards for a TD. Plitt’s interception ended a late Ball State drive that used 15 plays to move 79 yards. The Cardinals had reached Miami’s 1-yard line. After Dunner was stopped for no gain, Plitt threw a slant pass that was intercepted by Deondre Daniels.
With less than a minute left, MU kneeled out the clock.
“The second half, we just kind of took care of business,” said Martin, who credited the defense with a good night’s work. “Defensively, we not only got stops, we created field position and got some points on the board.”
For Ball State, Tuesday marked a ninth consecutive loss. The Cardinals went winless in conference play after winning two of their first three outings of 2017. The opener was a 24-21 setback at Illinois.
As with the RedHawks, injuries were a factor, but Ball State also got a look at some talented underclassmen who are already producing.
Martin recalled his earliest days at Miami, where freshmen were often thrust into battle. That group became this year’s senior class.
“I’m proud of the seniors who took this program from the depts. Of 0-16,” Martin said. “We couldn’t even be competitive with the bad teams in our league (back then,). Every year from here on out, there’s no ready we won’t be fighting for conference championships.”
Unlike last year, when 6-0 stretch run gave MU a share of the MAC East title and trip to a bowl game, this year’s squad fell just short. Most of the losses slipped away.
“Unfortunately ... we played a lot of the year the right way, but we had some key moments that really hurt us, and it’s frustrating,” Martin said. “We’ll look back on the year as opportunities lost.”
One of the key lessons to learn, he observed will be “how to finish and how to keep your foot on the gas pedal all the time. ... It’s not just because you have the ability ... You’ve got to grind out games.”
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