By MIKE SMITH
There’s an old Chuck Berry Song entitled “Reeling and Rocking” The refrain alludes to rock and roll dancing, as in “We was reeling’ and a rockin’ – Rollin’ till the break of day.”
There could be some reeling and rocking Thursday in Muncie as . . .
There’s an old Chuck Berry Song entitled “Reeling and Rocking” The refrain alludes to rock and roll dancing, as in “We was reeling’ and a rockin’ – Rollin’ till the break of day.”
There could be some reeling and rocking Thursday in Muncie as . . .
. . . the Toledo Rockets visit Ball State’s Cardinals at Schuemann Stadium. Actually, preseason MAC favorite Toledo has been “rockin” through most of 2017. Losing just once and currently riding a three-game At the same time, Ball State has been on the “reelin” side in recent weeks.
Things looked much better for the Cardinals through the season’ first three weeks. They lost at Illinois 24-21 on a field goal as time expired and then posted back-to-back double digit wins. Since that time, BSU has lost by 12, 52, 28 and 47.
Injuries have certainly been a part of the Cardinals woes. Junior QB Riley Neal, for instance, has been out since Week Four – coincidentally when Ball State’s losing streak started. However, a heaping dose of Toledo’s offense doesn’t figure as a cure.
Toledo ranks second among MAC teams in scoring (38.0 ppg) and first in total offense (509 ypg). It a balanced offense, with senior Logan Woodside leading a passing offense that is first (MAC) in yards (292.7 ypg) and pass efficiency.
The Rockets are seventh in scoring defense first in yards (292.7 ypg) and pass efficiency. However, UT can and will run the ball. As a team, UT is third (MAC), averaging 216.3 ypg). Running back Terry Swanson leads the conference with an average of 109.2 ypg.
As evidence by the last three games, the Cardinals offense is struggling. It has registered a total of 15 points over the last three weeks and ranks 11 among 12 MAC teams in scoring offense. The Cardinals are also 11th in scoring defense (34.7 ppg), so each side of the ball has been stressing the other unit.
Quarterback Jack Milas completed 18 of 30 for 118 yards in the Cardinals 56-9 loss to Central Michigan last week.
Freshman Justin Hall led BSU with four catches, but for just 11 yards. Classmate Markice Hurt had two receptions for a total of 30 yards.
Freshman Caleb Huntley carried 19 times for 79 yards. Ball State totaled just 81 rushing yards after Milas was brought down for minus-26 yards on eight sacks.
Romero Wade and Jacob White combined for 17 tackles to lead the BSU defense. Anthony Winbush recorded two sacks among his seven hits.
The Rockets, meanwhile, is coming off a big win over previous MAC East leader Akron, 48-21. Woodside tossed five TD passes as the Rockets overwhelmed UA. Jon’Vea Johnson toped receivers with five catches for 102 yards and a pair of TDs.
Swanson rushed for 123 yards on 20 carries to lead a ground game that totaled 303 yards with one score.
Khalil Robinson registered eight solo tackles among his team-high nine stops for the defense.
Toledo jumped out to a 21-0 firt quarter lead and owned a 38-7 advantage heading into the final stanza.
Injuries have certainly been a part of the Cardinals woes. Junior QB Riley Neal, for instance, has been out since Week Four – coincidentally when Ball State’s losing streak started. However, a heaping dose of Toledo’s offense doesn’t figure as a cure.
Toledo ranks second among MAC teams in scoring (38.0 ppg) and first in total offense (509 ypg). It a balanced offense, with senior Logan Woodside leading a passing offense that is first (MAC) in yards (292.7 ypg) and pass efficiency.
The Rockets are seventh in scoring defense first in yards (292.7 ypg) and pass efficiency. However, UT can and will run the ball. As a team, UT is third (MAC), averaging 216.3 ypg). Running back Terry Swanson leads the conference with an average of 109.2 ypg.
As evidence by the last three games, the Cardinals offense is struggling. It has registered a total of 15 points over the last three weeks and ranks 11 among 12 MAC teams in scoring offense. The Cardinals are also 11th in scoring defense (34.7 ppg), so each side of the ball has been stressing the other unit.
Quarterback Jack Milas completed 18 of 30 for 118 yards in the Cardinals 56-9 loss to Central Michigan last week.
Freshman Justin Hall led BSU with four catches, but for just 11 yards. Classmate Markice Hurt had two receptions for a total of 30 yards.
Freshman Caleb Huntley carried 19 times for 79 yards. Ball State totaled just 81 rushing yards after Milas was brought down for minus-26 yards on eight sacks.
Romero Wade and Jacob White combined for 17 tackles to lead the BSU defense. Anthony Winbush recorded two sacks among his seven hits.
The Rockets, meanwhile, is coming off a big win over previous MAC East leader Akron, 48-21. Woodside tossed five TD passes as the Rockets overwhelmed UA. Jon’Vea Johnson toped receivers with five catches for 102 yards and a pair of TDs.
Swanson rushed for 123 yards on 20 carries to lead a ground game that totaled 303 yards with one score.
Khalil Robinson registered eight solo tackles among his team-high nine stops for the defense.
Toledo jumped out to a 21-0 firt quarter lead and owned a 38-7 advantage heading into the final stanza.
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