High-Powered Passing Game Not Enough in 45-30 Setback to Ball State

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MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – In its final road game of the 2014 season, the Eastern Michigan University football team suffered a 45-30 defeat to the hands of the Ball State University Cardinals Saturday afternoon, Nov. 22, at Scheumann Stadium. EMU scored 27 second-half points but could not overcome three turnovers and a 28-3 halftime deficit. The setback dropped the Eagles to 2-9 (1-6 MAC) on the season, while BSU improved to 4-7 (3-4 MAC) going into the final week of the 2014 campaign.

EMU out-gained Ball State in total yardage, 503-440, but three turnovers led to three touchdowns by the Cardinals. Also, the Green and White defense could not force a turnover by the Cardinals, leading to a minus three turnover margin for the contest. All three EMU touchdowns came via the air raid, while Dylan Mulder (Saline, Mich.-Saline) tied his personal mark for the most field goals in one game with three, connecting on makes from 25, 29 and 26 yards.

Despite the loss, redshirt freshman quarterback Reginald Bell (Los Angeles, Calif.-Susan Miller Dorsey) did his part, piling up 510 yards of total offense for the second-most yardage by one individual Eagle in program history. The record of 554 total yards by Andy Schmitt, Nov. 28, 2008, still stands but it was a career day for Bell. He threw for 409 yards on 36-of-49 passing, all personal bests, while rushing for an additional 101 yards on 18 carries.

The EMU receiving corps also had career-high days in conjunction with the passing game of Bell. Dustin Creel (Industry, Pa.-Western Beaver) and Tyreese Russell (Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran) became the first Eagles to catch at least 10 passes in a game since Tyler Jones hauled in 23 receptions versus Central Michigan, Nov. 28, 2008. Creel finished with career bests in catches (14) and receiving yards (152), while Russell broke his personal high with 113 receiving yards. The duo became the first teammates to tally over 100 yards receiving in a game since Jones and Jacory Stone accomplished the feat against Temple, Nov. 22, 2008.

Along with Creel and Russell, six other Eagles caught passes from Bell including Darius Jackson (Sparta, Ill.-Sparta) and Kris Strange (Pickerington, Ohio-Central), who joined Russell in grabbing touchdown receptions. Strange tied his career-high in catches with four, while snapping his personal best in receiving yards with 41. Out of the backfield, Jackson's 33 yards of receptions was also a new best for the running back.

EMU finished the game 6-for-6 in the redzone with a three touchdowns and three field goals.

The Cardinals were led by starting quarterback Jack Milas, who threw for 169 yards (11-of-17) and two touchdowns in the first half before exiting the game with an injury. Senior running back Jahwan Edwards carried the ball 19 times for 131 yards and a touchdown to pace the BSU rushing attack. Jordan Williams caught a team-high four passes for 68 yards, while Darian Green added 56 yards receiving. Along with forcing three EMU turnovers, the Ball State defense recorded a pair of sacks and limited the Eagles' ground game to just 2.6 yards per rush.

Ball State started the game with the ball and converted two key third downs to keep its drive moving down the field. On the 10th play of the drive, Miles kept the ball on a read option to score from three yards out, giving the Cardinals the early 7-0 lead with 11:20 remaining in the first quarter.

After the EMU offense went three-and-out, the Eagles' defense forced the same by Ball State, giving the ball back to the Green and White. Starting from its own 14-yard line, Eastern was led down the field by Bell. The redshirt freshman quarterback scampered 22 yards to get into BSU territory, following that big play with an 18-yard pass to Russell. With another first down, the EMU gunslinger kept the momentum going by finding Creel through the air for another 15 yards. The Eagles entered the red zone, but the Cardinals stopped EMU short of the chains on three plays to set up fourth-and-inches. Head Coach Chris Creighton kept the offense on the field, but the false start penalty pushed EMU back, forcing the first year head coach to send out the field goal unit. Mulder split the uprights on from 29 yards out, cutting the deficit to four, 7-3. On the scoring drive, Bell was a perfect 4-of-4 for 51 yards as well as a pair of rushes for 25 yards on the ground to set up the field goal.

The Cardinals answered the EMU field goal with another 75-yard touchdown drive. Miles found Corey Lacanaria on a 13-yard fade route to the back corner of the endzone. At the end of the first quarter, the Green and White trailed by a 14-3 margin.

BSU added two more touchdowns in the second quarter on a 99-yard drive as well as a score with just 13 seconds left in the opening half. Going into the locker room, The Eagles found themselves down 28-3. In the first 30 minutes, Bell was efficient through the air, throwing for 128 yards on 15-of-21 passing. His favorite wide receiver was Creel, who caught nine passes for 66 yards, while Russell also made three receptions for 33 yards. Creel's catches in the first half matched what the junior wide receiver had all season coming into the game. On the ground, Bell's six rushes for 41 yards were also the best on the team as the Green and White accounted for 183 yards of total offense in the first half.

Miles also showed his effectiveness in the first half for Ball State, accounting for three touchdowns (two pass, one rush). The BSU quarterback went 11-of-17 for 169 yards, while rushing twice for 57 yards on the ground. Edwards paced the Cardinals' rushing attack with 83 yards to bring BSU's first half total yardage to 318.

Following a scoop and score on an EMU fumble to start the second half, the Eagles answered with their first touchdown of the contest. Eastern marched 78 yards down the field on seven plays in just 2:38. Russell equaled his first half of receiving yards on the scoring drive alone, making a spectacular one-handed grab before catching a 10-yard pass from Bell in the back of the endzone. Once again, Bell also moved the Eagles using his feet with 39 yards rushing during the drive.

The Eastern defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Ball State drive, and EMU ended up with good field position near midfield. Bell did not let that starting position go to waste, once again leading the Eagles into the red zone. While the Green and White could not find another touchdown, Mulder converted his second field goal of the game, nailing a 25-yarder. Following another Ball State punt, Mulder added another field goal from 36 yards out to make it a 35-16 contest. For the fourth straight game, the EMU defense kept the opposition out of the end zone. With the only points coming from a touchdown by Ball State's own defense, the Eagles outscored the Cardinals 13-7 in the third quarter.

BSU started the quarter with 10 straight points before Bell orchestrated another long scoring drive, this time resulting in a one yard pass-and-catch to Jackson for the touchdown. The EMU quarterback accounted for all 75 yards on the drive to give the Eagles their highest point total since a 37-27 victory over Buffalo, Oct. 11. However, Bell and the Eastern Michigan offense were not done, continuing to fight. Bell passed the 400-yard mark on a 70-yard drive, and he found Strange on a six-yard pass to make the game its final 45-30 tally.

The Eagles will close out the 2014 season with one final game at The Factory, hosting the University of Toledo Friday, Nov. 28, at 1 p.m. The Mid-American Conference West Division matchup will be the final game for 18 senior Eagles, who will be recognized in a pregame ceremony on the EMU Gray Turf.

High-Powered Passing Game Not Enough in 45-30 Setback to Ball State

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Team Stats

Reginald Bell

Players Mentioned

Reginald Bell

Dustin Creel

Darius Jackson

Dylan Mulder

Tyreese Russell

Kris Strange

Players Mentioned

Reginald Bell

Dustin Creel

Darius Jackson

Dylan Mulder

Tyreese Russell

Kris Strange

Eastern Michigan Athletics