by It seems the Cardinals can’t get through a Mid-American Conference game without at least a little chaos, and Ball State’s Redbird Rivalry Game against Miami (OH) on election night was no exception.
After a pair of short opening drives from both teams, the Redhawks muffed a punt in the rain, resulting in punter Alec Bevelhimer picking up the ball and launching it straight into the arms of Ball State senior linebacker Brandon Berger, who took it straight into Miami’s endzone for a defensive touchdown.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, while their defense would maintain its consistency throughout the majority of the contest, it was the team’s offense that stalled out in crucial moments, reversing the team’s early fortunes in the fourth quarter. Despite having three opportunities to score in the fourth period, Ball State came up empty handed each time, losing the game 21-27.
“It’s tough to find the words right now,” Head Coach Mike Neu said following the game. “Just looking at those guys in the locker room … very, very difficult.”
The contest was a crucial one for the Cardinals, who now, following the loss, find themselves with a 3-6 record heading into the final three games of the season.
Ball State seemed to stray away from their usual offensive scheme in the game, and Neu noted that this was by design because of the film the team had seen of Miami’s tough defensive line. Senior running back Braedon Sloan, the team’s leader in rushing yards, only saw three touches on the ground, and the Cardinals most effective receiver, senior tight end Tanner Koziol, was also limited. Koziol, who had finished the previous six games with at least eight receptions per game, earned a season-low four catches on the night.
Ball State did, however, have a bright spot in their receiving core. Junior wide receiver Justin Bowick showed up in a big way for the Cardinals’ offense. After missing the first six games of the season, Bowick saw a substantial number of targets in the contest, racking up 171 receiving yards to go along with eight receptions.
“It felt really good to make plays and know that my hard work paid off,” Bowick said, referring to his injury earlier in the season.
The game, which was broadcast on ESPN, served as extra motivation for Bowick, who noted that it felt especially good to showcase his talents under a national spotlight.
“Everybody is watching,” Bowick said. “Why wouldn’t you want to go out there and let everybody know what your name is?”
Regrettably for the Cardinals, redshirt freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza knew the name of reigning Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year Matthew Salopek all too well throughout this game as Salopek provided near constant pressure for the RedHawks defensive line, including a game-sealing sack late in the fourth.
Now, with the Redbird Rivalry Trophy going to Miami, the Cardinals look past the Redhawks and towards the final stretch of their 2024 campaign. Next Tuesday, Ball State will head to New York with the team’s remaining hopes for a potential postseason appearance on the line as they take on the Buffalo Bulls in a must-win game.
