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MUNCIE — The Miami RedHawks played the spoilers Thursday night against the Ball State Cardinals, pulling out a 14-13 Mid-American Conference victory in the opening football game in the newly-renovated Scheumann Stadium.
Ball State seemed to have the lead and the momentum when B.J. Hill came up with his first career interception with 4:16 to go.
However, the Cardinals (0-1, 0-1 MAC) could not stop the RedHawks with their special teams and secure a win.
“They did what they had to do to win and we didn’t,” said Ball State head coach Brady Hoke. “I feel our special teams really hurt us tonight. The special teams are really important especially in close games. We also couldn’t get the first down on a third and one. We have to do a better job of executing and getting the job done.”
The Cardinals took over at their 20 after Hill’s big play, but Miami’s defense stopped Ball State on a crucial third down play and forced Ball State to punt.
Nathan Parseghian ran back Chris Miller’s 50-yard punt 56 yards to the Ball State 23.
From there, Miami was able to run out the clock by keeping the ball on the ground and tailback Brandon Murphy ran six yards up the middle to give the RedHawks the winning touchdown with 17.7 seconds left in the game.
Murphy also scored the first touchdown of the game and led the RedHawks (1-0, 1-0 MAC) in rushing with 123 yards on 19 carries.
Miami quarterback Mike Kokal completed 14 of 24 passes for 118 yards and was intercepted twice.
Special teams proved to be very important in the outcome of the game.
The Redhawks’ first touchdown was set up by a big punt return by Eugene Harris in the second quarter. He returned the Ball State punt 32 yards to the 50-yard line with under 12 minutes left in the first half.
Miami moved down the field. Murphy broke several tackles for a 21-yard run to the end zone with 8:23 to go and Trevor Cook tacked on the PAT to put the RedHawks ahead 7-3.
Ball State’s defense came out of the halftime break and kept the RedHawks from scoring.
The Cardinals’ offense rewarded its defensive cohorts with a big fourth-quarter scoring drive that put Ball State ahead 13-7.
A 17-yard reverse run by Dante Love, followed by a 23-yard burst by tailback MiQuale Lewis put the Cardinals at the Miami 27 with 11:39 to play.
Love pulled in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis with 11:22 to play and Jake Hogue tacked on the PAT.
Love and tight end Darius Hill led the Cardinals’ receiving corps. Love had eight catches for 80 yards and Hill had four for 79.
Even though Davis was 19 of 36 for 198 yards and one touchdown, he was still inconsistent and unable to make key plays.
“Nate didn’t play his best game by far,” said Hoke. “Maybe he was seeing something out there that we didn’t see and we need to fix it. Just like everyone else you will have your bad days. And we didn’t help him the way we needed to.”
Lewis led the Cardinals in rushing with 91 yards on 25 carries. Ball State finished with 148 yards rushing, while Miami had 178.
Ball State threatened against the RedHawks in the third quarter after Miami punter Jake Richardson stuffed Ball State deep inside its own five with a 63-yard punt with 9:38 to go.
Facing third and seven at the Ball State 30, Davis threw a strike to Hill for a first down at the Miami 37.
Ball State got a big break with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to give the Cardinals a first down deep in RedHawks’ territory.
Lewis rushed for a first down at Miami’s 11 with five minutes to go and Davis completed a short hitch pass to Love for second and one inside the three.
After no gain Ball State faced a third-down situation and Lewis was stopped for a loss to bring up a 22-yard field goal by Hogue and the Cardinals trailed 7-6 with 3:04 left in the third quarter.
Ball State had a second-quarter drive that died at the Miami 37.
The Cardinals opened the scoring on Hogue’s 20-yard field goal with two minutes to play in the first quarter. It was his first career field goal.
Cook missed again wide left from 45 yards out after moving down inside the Ball State 30.
The RedHawks missed an early scoring opportunity in the first quarter after Murphy broke away for a 59-yard run to the Ball State 10.
The Cardinals defense held, highlighted by a third-down sack of quarterback Mike Kokal by linebacker Cortlan Booker.
Miami tried a 33-yard field goal by Trevor Cook, but his kick was wide right.
Hogue missed a 43-yarder just after Cook’s failed attempt.
It was a disappointing night for the Ball State student section, which set a student attendance record of 7,885.
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