by Ball State football averaged just 1.8 yards per play on offense and punted 10 times in Saturday’s 42-0 loss to Western Michigan.
Mike Uremovich didn’t have much to say following the game.
“We got out-coached,” the first-year Cardinal head coach said. “It’s ultimately my responsibility. I’m in charge of the program. Everything on that field is a result of what I’m doing or not doing, and today wasn’t good enough.”
The Cardinals fell apart in every aspect of the game.
The first quarter saw Ball State’s offense record just 16 yards of offense and -15 yards on the ground. The Red and White finished the first half with just 78 yards. But the second half didn’t see much improvement as the Cardinals walked off the field after putting up just 88 total yards.
Ball State (2-4, 1-1 MAC) redshirt senior QB1 was 13-for-22 with 66 yards. Though he was able to make some plays, he was sacked five times as Western Michigan’s defensive line gave the Cardinals issues up front.
Due to the poor overall play — negative three yards in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth — Ball State entered enemy territory just once as they turned the ball over on downs at the Broncos’ 45-yard line. This came after the Cardinals recovered a Western Michigan fumble on a punt return on their own side of the field.
“Our team wasn’t ready to play, as evident by the way we played,” Uremovich said. “That’s my responsibility.”
The poor play did not stop with the football, however, as Ball State’s defense had zero answers for the Broncos on defense.
Western Michigan went into the mid-game break after putting up 21 points on two touchdown rushes and a touchdown pass. The Broncos recorded 212 yards — 62 on the ground and 150 through the air — as they ran past the Cardinals with every opportunity.
But Western Michigan’s (4-3, 3-0 MAC) solid play did not stop once they returned to the field for the final 30 minutes of action. The Broncos scored three more touchdowns — two passing and one rushing — to score 42 unanswered points. They ended the win with 461 yards of offense.
“The [Broncos] offensive staff out-coached us as well,” Uremovich said.
Ball State will return home next week as Akron makes a stop in Muncie Saturday, Oct. 18. The game will start at 3:30 p.m.
Uremovich answered what the Cardinals need to work on ahead of that contest.
“Every area of everything we did today,” he said. “Offense, defense, special teams … it was not good.”
Kee On Sports requested to speak with players, but that request was declined.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
