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Read more: http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130917/SPORTS/130919676/1002

"I don't know how you could say we would be "coasting" in the second half with the way their defense was just hitting the s*** out of us mid way through the second and the rest of the game. That was one of the hardest hitting teams we will see. That D impressed. As to adjustments? I sure didn't see many after the half for BSU. It was all Mean Green." Read more: http://www.bsufans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2850&start=140

Ball State and North Texas are fighting for more than some think. A Ball State win would confirm suspicions that the Cardinals are for real, but a North Texas win would be huge. The Mean Green have been doing well so far this season, with their only loss coming by six points to the Ohio Bobcats. North Texas is still not seen as a true Conference USA contender at the moment, but a win over the Cardinals would instantly put them into the conversation. Ball State is going to be the favorite here, but if the Ohio Bobcats are as good as they were last season, an upset by North Texas wouldn't be shocking. Read more: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1769486-college-football-picks-week-3-predictions-for-every-game/page/31

MUNCIE The Ball State football coaching staff prefers to look at its running game as component parts. Where an outsider sees the final results yards, per-carry average, touchdowns coaches want to get to the film and see was it a great block, a back making a good move or something on the other side of the play that actually opened things up? And that sort of study can take more meaning when one of those component parts is missing. It was a big deal, but at times like that, you cant make it bigger than what it is, freshman tailback Teddy Williamson said. We prepared all winter, all summer, all spring when I got here last semester, thats what we prepared for, an opportunity. Ball State faced Army last week without starting tailback Jahwan Edwards, a bruising yet fast All-Mid-American Conference player who remains questionable for this weeks game at North Texas. That changed the complexion of the Cardinal ground game as Horactio Banks and freshman Williamson, the only other scholarship runners, are smaller and quicker. Their final output, the combination of all the components, was a modest 109 yards on 30 carries, not a particularly efficient number. But Cardinals coach Pete Lembo said the backs themselves played at an acceptable level for the most part. Read more: http://www.indystar.com/article/20130911/SPORTS06/309110013/Ball-State-football-Cardinals-backs-get-their-opportunity?nclick_check=1

The Cardinals are also facing a very good team this week in the Mean Green (1-1). North Texas opened the year with a 40-6 beating of Idaho, and in last week’s 27-21 loss to Mid-American Conference-power Ohio, the Mean Green had their way with the Bobcats throughout the second half (outscoring Ohio 14-6 after digging itself a 21-7 halftime hole). “North Texas was on the cusp of doing some things last year,” Lembo explained. “Now they are in their third season (under former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney) as a staff and it is apparent that these players have really bought into the coaching staff.” The Mean Green have exhibited great balance offensively (83 rushing attempts and 63 passing), and senior quarterback Derek Thompson is actually in his fifth season (he played sparingly as a freshman and was injured early in his sophomore season) of competition with North Texas and his experience shows. Thompson has completed 75 percent (42 of 56) of his passes for 544 yards and four scores through two games. “North Texas’ identities on offense and defense fit together very nicely,” Lembo said. “You look over to the offensive side of the ball and there is a mix of one- and two-backs. There is a power running game with play action. You can see the growth from last year to this year.” Since Lembo arrived in Muncie, the Cardinals have demonstrated the ability to create “chunk” plays for big gains offensively. Already this season, the Cardinals have generated nine plays of at least 20 yards or more (as high as 50 yards). However, Lembo anticipates that won’t be real easy on Saturday. “North Texas is very fundamentally sound,” Lembo said. “Everybody is keeping things inside and in front. It’s very hard to get explosive plays against them. “They are a very physical team that is very much on the same page,” Lembo said. “It’ll be a huge challenge for us.” Read more: http://seedit.sx.atl.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130910/SPORTS/130919999

Ball State Football Quick Hits Ball State improved to 2-0 on the season with a 40-14 home victory over Army Saturday . . . This marks the Cardinals first 2-0 start to the season since 2008 when Ball State tallied a 12-0 record. The Cardinals have scored 91 points in their first two games this season -- 51 vs. Illinois State and 40 vs. Army . . . The 91 points are the most in school history in two games to start a season . . . The previous high was 83 points scored in the first two games of 2008. Ball State scored 37 unanswered points after trailing 7-0 to Army . . . It marked the second straight game the Cardinals have made a run of unanswered points . . . Ball State scored 42 straight points vs. Illinois State after falling behind 21-9 late in the second quarter. Ball State opened the season with a 51-28 home victory over Illinois State . . . With the win, Ball State head coach Pete Lembo improved his career coaching mark to 10-3 in season openers as the head coach at Lehigh, Elon and with the Cardinals . . . It marked Ball State's third straight win in a season opener, which marks the first time that has happened since 1976-78. Ball State finished the 2012 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Mid-American Conference action . . . The Cardinals' three regular season losses -- Clemson, Northern Illinois and Kent State -- were to teams that completed the regular season with a combined record of 33-5. The nine wins in 2012 tied for the third most victories in a single season in school history and marked the most wins since 12 in 2008 and 10 in 1978. Ball State was bowl eligible for a second straight season in 2012 and played in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl . . . The Cardinals were last bowl eligible in back-to-back seasons in 2007 and 2008 and Ball State played in the International Bowl after the 2007 campaign and the GMAC Bowl after the 2008 season. Game #3 Ball State Cardinals (2-0; MAC 0-0) Head Coach: Pete Lembo Career Record: 96-46/13th year At Ball State: 17-10/3rd year vs. North Texas Mean Green (1-1) Head Coach: Dan McCarney Career Record: 66-101/15th year At North Texas: 10-16/3rd year GameDay Information Sat., Sept. 14, 2013 -- 3 p.m. (CT) Apogee Stadium (Capacity: 30,850) Artificial -- Denton, Texas Ball State Radio Network Flagship Station - WLBC FM 104.1 Joel Godett, play-by-play Mark O'Connell, color analyst Luke Martin, sidelines Jeff Weller, host WCRD-Radio (Ball State Student Station) 91.3 FM Tyler Bradfield, play-by-play Sean Stewart, color analyst Television/Internet - FOX Sports Net Mark Followill, play-by-play Brian Baldinger, color analyst J.C. Pearson, sidelines Live Stats -- www.ballstatesports.com Tickets -- www.ballstatesports.com/tickets Listen to the Coach • Monday Night w/ the Red & White Radio Show at Applebee's 7-7:45 • Next Cardinal Endzone TV Show Featuring Head Coach Pete Lembo -- Sept. 19 -- 6 p.m. - WIPB-TV, Muncie • Next Football Insider Luncheon -- Sept. 27 -- 11:30 a.m. at Ball State Alumni Center - $15 per person Follow the Cardinals: Twitter: @bsuathletics Twitter: @BSUCardsFB Twitter: @Pete_Lembo Facebook: BallStateFootball Read more: http://ballstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14200&ATCLID=209255302

Wenning completed 23 of 32 passes and now had 62 career touchdowns trailing Nate Davis with 74 . He again passed the 300 yard passing game for the eighth time in his career and accounted for seven touchdowns in the last two Ball State games. Ollie accounted for eight tackles and one tackle for a loss and one sack in the game. He also was a key to keeping Army down to 76 yards of passing with quarterback Angel Santiago completing only seven of 20 passes. Ball State travels to North Texas Saturday to face the mean green that just got beat by Ohio 27-21. The school has a storied history with 32 All-American players. Read more: http://www.munciefreepress.com/node/29596

Ball State's Joel Godett and Jared Law feature highlights on a weekly basis of the Cardinals' football games. Listen and watch replays of the win over Army. Ball State, which improved to 2-0 on the season with the 40-14 victory over Army, will travel to North Texas for a Saturday game at 4 p.m. (ET). Godett, the Voice of the Cardinals, and Law, the director of video operations for football, will provide the highlights each and every week of the 2013 season. http://ballstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14200&ATCLID=209255745

"Ohio beat them 27-21. It's a little too hard to read them. Crushed one of the worst teams in FBS and lost by 6 to Ohio on the road. I have some concerns." Read more: http://www.bsufans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2832&sid=c5736b621c1ec426b1d7c159f8013018

Turnovers doom Black Knights After playing a penalty-free, turnover-free game in a win against Morgan State in the season opener, Army committed two costly turnovers deep in their own territory. The first fumble came in the second quarter and Quinton Cooper recovered at the Army 21-yard line. Ball State turned the fumble into a 34-yard Scott Secor field goal. A hit by Chris Calloway in the third quarter forced the second Army fumble on a kickoff return and Ball State recovered at the 11-yard line. On the next play, Keith Wenning hit Zane Fakes for a touchdown pass to put Ball State up 37-7 in the game. Ball State now 2-0 The Cardinals are 2-0 to start the season for the first time since 2008. In the two games, Ball State has eclipsed the 40-point mark. The next two games are both on the road at North Texas and Eastern Michigan. It's not unrealistic to think that when Ball State returns to Scheumann Stadium on Sept. 28 against Toledo that the team is 4-0. Ball State will take learning points as North Texas plays fellow Mid-American Conference opponent Ohio today, who Ball State has beaten twice in the last two seasons. Read more: http://www.bsudailynews.com/Content/Default/What-s-New/Article/MIKED-UP--3-thoughts-from-Ball-State-vs--Army/-3/9/40245

Ball State’s football team defeated Army, 40-14, Saturday afternoon in Scheumann Stadium to improve to 2-0 on the season. The win marks the third straight year Ball State has defeated the Black Knights under head coach Pete Lembo, and marked Ball State’s first 2-0 start since 2008. “If you would have told me we would win our first three games against Army – a team that runs the triple option and is a very difficult group to get ready for – I would have told you that would be a bit of a dream. We tried to stay balanced today. It was good to see some shorter throws turn into bigger plays. We are able to respond to big plays by the opponent. The offense comes out and responds well.” Ball State, which defeated Illinois State 51-28 in the season opener, has scored 91 points in its first two games, marking the most points scored by the Cardinals in the first two games of a season in school history. “We were without two of our veteran players and some of our younger guys were forced to step up,” Lembo says. “That makes it even more satisfying. The way we do things 365 days a year, we get the next guy ready and we do what we do. We believe in each other and we are working hard to improve our depth.” Army opened the game with a touchdown not even one minute into the contest before the Cardinals scored 37 unanswered points to take the game in a commanding fashion. After falling behind early, Ball state scored on every possession but one in the first half to take a 27-7 halftime advantage over Army. Senior quarterback Keith Wenning completed 23-of-32 passes for 325 yards with two touchdowns, and he has now accounted for seven TDs in the first two games – five passing, two rushing. With the 325 yards passing, Wenning topped the 300-yard passing mark for the eighth time in his career and has surpassed the 300-yard plateau in the first two games of 2013. With Jahwan Edwards out for the game with an injury, Horactio Banks rushed 17 times for 51 yards and two scores, while true freshman Teddy Williamson managed 13 rushes for 58 yards. Jamill Smith, who scored on an eight-yard touchdown reception from Wenning at the 4:29 mark of the first quarter to make it a 14-7 game, tallied five catches for 83 yards. Willie Snead tallied five catches for 64 yards, while Jordan Williams had four receptions for 77 yards. Zane Fakes was the recipient of Wenning’s second TD pass when he caught an 11-yard reception for a score in the third quarter that gave the Cardinals a 37-7 lead. Defensively, the Cardinals were led by Zack Ryan, who tallied 11 tackles. Michael Ayers and Nathan Ollie registered eight tackles apiece, while Ollie added one sack. Quinton Cooper and Aaron Hepp both had fumble recoveries on the day, while Jeffery Garrett tallied the second interception of his career. For the day, placekicker Scott Secor was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including a career long 47-yarder at 12:57 in the second quarter. It was the first time Ball State connected on four field goals in a game since Steven Schott went 4-for-4 against Eastern Michigan, Nov. 5, 2011. Ball State will travel to North Texas Saturday for its first road contest of the season before opening Mid-American Conference action at Eastern Michigan Sept. 21. The Cardinals return home Sept. 28, when they host Toledo at 3 p.m. in Scheumann Stadium. First Quarter Army 7, Ball State 0 14:04- Larry Dixon 71 yard touchdown run. Kick good Daniel Grochoiski 3 plays, 75 yards, .56 Ball State 7, Army 7 10:45 – Horactio Banks 10 yard touchdown run. Kick good Scott Secor. 9 plays, 60 yards, 3:17 Ball State 14, Army 7 4:29 – Keith Wenning 8-yard touchdown pass to Jamill Smith. Kick good Scott Secor. 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:26 Second Quarter Ball State 17, Army 7 12:57- Scott Secor 47-yard field goal. 10 plays, 54 yards, 3:03 Ball State 20, Army 7 10:40 – Scott Secor 34-yard field goal. 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:24 Ball State 27, Army 7 1:01 – Horactio Banks 6-yard touchdown run. Kick good Scott Secor. 5 plays, 80 yards, 1:20 Third Quarter Ball State 30, Army 7 10:46 – Scott Secor 19-yard field goal. 10 plays, 52 yards, 4:06 Ball State 37, Army 7 10:35- Keith Wenning 11-yard touchdown pass to Zane Fakes. Kick good Scott Secor. 1 play, 11 yards, :6 Ball State 37, Army 14 1:40 – Larry Dixon 9-yard touchdown run. Kick good Daniel Grochowski. 13 plays, 56-yards, 4:37 Fourth Quarter Ball State 40, Army 14 12:21 – Scott Secor 20-yard field goal. 10 plays, 72 yards, 4:19 read more: http://ballstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14200&ATCLID=209254522