TSBB Morning Quarterback: I spell redemption B-A-L-L S-T-A-T-E

Oh sweet molasses! Where do I start? I'll start with me. I watched the game with my brother and three friends at the Buffalo Wild Wings on 86th Street and Township Line Road in Indianapolis and I may not be allowed there ever again. I became the fan I despise most. Complaining after every bad play, cheering loudly after every great play. I WAS Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde. And I let out very loud YEAAAAHS after the biggest Ball State plays. But it was all worth it.

What a game. I was on an emotional roller coaster all night long. Before I get into our happy happy's, let me just say this: Ball State did exactly what championship teams do in the fourth quarter. The defense buckles down and the running game takes over. The Cardinals defense didn't allow any points on the final three possessions and on our offense's final possessions, MiQuale Lewis ran, and ran so far away. There were so many memorable plays I don't know if I'll ever forget them. Let's get into it.

The Very Good

1. MiQuale Lewis

The sparkplug didn't find the end zone but he rumbled for a career-high 177 yards. He was kind of quiet in stretches, but when the Cardinals needed him the most, he was there. On the final touchdown drive, he plowed off runs of 21 and 19 yards which set up the final TD pass to Briggs Orsbon.

2. The defense (sort of)

On two of CMU's final three possessions, the defense stiffened up and didn't allow the Chippewas the score. On the final possession, they intercepted Lefevour twice. It was dicey there for a bit though. After the first interception was overturned, the Chippewas promptly marched to the BSU 30. But luckily, Lefevour had flashbacks to the end of the Purdue game and overthrew the receiver and Sean Baker is awesome.

3. The efficient Nate Davis

Completion and yardage-wise, a very quiet 12-of-22 for 175 yards. BUT...four touchdown passes. And all four were picture-perfect. Not to understate it, but Nate has a cannon. The first TD pass to Louis Johnson was perfectly placed in between four Central Michigan defenders. The throws to Ifft and Orsbon were just on the money. Please stay.

4. Butch Kelly's play-calling.

I've always been a fan of the fake punt. But on 4th-and-18 with four minutes to at like the 45-yard line? Come on. That was downright dumb. He had think we'd be in a punt-safe formation, right? Right? RIGHT? I guess not. That really hurt CMU field-position wise when setting up for the last drive.

5. Brady Hoke's cajones and the incorrectness of the yellow line

Wow...4th and inches on our own 40 early in the third. That REAKED of desperation. And I'm not so sure we made it. But by golly, we did it and it led to a touchdown. The same with the other time we went for it on 4th and inches. HOLLER! Thank you for having the balls I may not have had Brady.

6. Louis Johnson

That's how you make the most out of your two catches. 65 yards and two touchdowns.

7. Dan Lefevour

The kid's good. He's a perfect college quarterback. He's not a very good thrower, yet he threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns. But the biggest key was that we contained his running, his strongest attribute. He knows how to slip tackles, I don't know how, but he does. He looks like a two-year old kid, but he just makes play. Thank you for overthrowing your receiver, though. He's got the moxie and when I see him on the field I shudder because the kid is good.

8. Andrew Aguila

A thousand thank yous for missing two field goals.

The Very Bad

1. BJ Hill

Hey thanks for showing up to the game today, BJ. FALSE, BIG FALSE. On two occasions, Hill tried to make interceptions when he had no chance whatsoever. And on the touchdown which gave CMU its 24-17 lead. Cripes. He overran that thing way more than anyone should. He has just had a horrible past two games. Kind of crappy for someone who might end up being All-MAC.

2. Third downs

On the 3rd and 15 play in which LeFevour took off up the middle and ran 18 yards for the first down...seriously. What the fuck. Yes, I'm leaving the curse word. We sat in a soft zone on every play and let them run rampant on third down. It was demoralzing. 3rd and 15, 3rd and 1, 3rd and 5. Whatever it was, CMU got it.

3. Todd Harris and Ray Bentley

They probably deserve a post of their own, but let me just say this: Both of them suck. Good god. What the hell was that? Bentley showed so much blatant homerism that he might've taken LeFevour's jock strap out to dinner last night. And somehow he got Harris to join him. My favorite was when Sam Woodworth left the game after taking an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit and he said, "I've taken harder hits in my day" without mentioning the helmet-to-helmet at all. You stay classy. How Bentley was given this assignment is beyond me. And Harris, our quarterback is not Nate Lewis.

4. Myles Trempe

Myles, thank you for dropping that pass and preventing us from ever throwing the ball deep again. Nate's sorry for throwing the ball right at the numbers and 40 yards on the button. Our mistake. Now go join Jordan Trask on the bench.

5. Offensive play-calling

Evidently Stan Parrish did not get the memo that Central Michigan's defense is terrible. I didn't really analyze the Central defense too much during the game but I hope they sat in a Cover 2 Nickel or Dime or something that didn't have us exploit everything downfield. I just thought that was really confusing. I know our philosophy has been "take what we're given" but it seemed discouraging. But then again, we won. So whatever.