Avoiding a Cardinal Sin: Numbers That Matter From Indiana's Win Over Ball State

Mitchell Paige hauls in a pass against Ball State. Image: Cam Koenig HoosierHuddle.com

Written By Nick Holmes (@HoosierHolmes)

Most importantly, Ball State’s reign over the Hoosiers has come to an end, as the Cardinals’ winning streak over Indiana was halted at three games on Saturday. What was once considered pretty much unthinkable, a Big Ten team losing to a MAC school, Indiana had been picked apart by the Cardinals in 2008, ’11, and ’12. Former Ball State Head Coach Pete Lembo had taken a historically a one-sided matchup between the schools and turned it into a somewhat heated rivalry.
 
However, Lembo was not roaming the Cardinals’ sidelines on Saturday. Jumping out to a 30 to 0 lead midway through the third quarter, it looked the Hoosiers might be on their way to pitching their first shutout since October 30, 1993, when Indiana defeated Michigan State Spartans 10 to 0. However, that would have to wait for another day, as the Cardinals tacked on 20 straight points to finish the game. Despite the minor late game collapse, there is plenty to feel good about heading into the team’s week three bye. Let’s take a look at look some of the numbers and trends coming out of the Hoosiers win over Ball State.

Taking of Pigskin 123 

Taking of Pelham 123 ring any bells? The 1974 original and the 2009 remake was about a group of criminals hijacking a train in hopes of earning a financial ransom. The Hoosiers defense did a little hijacking of their own on Saturday, recording three takeaways for the second straight week. Against the Cardinals, Indiana forced and recovered two fumbles and picked-off one pass. Coach Allen has preached the importance of takeaways since setting foot on campus last winter and it looks the Hoosiers have taken that message to heart.

 Richer Rich

 Another week, another win for the Hoosiers first-year starter. While Richard Lagow’s numbers were far from awe-inspiring, he got an opportunity to show off his arm strength on Saturday, connecting on a long touchdown pass to second year wide receiver Nick Westbrook. On the day he connected on 17 of 27 throws, for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns, improving on last week’s numbers.

 A Westbrook Story

‘Next man up,’ the old saying muttered by more football coaches than you shake stick at. Junior wide receiver Simmie Cobbs went down of team’s first play of their first offensive drive on Saturday, making that two weeks straight the team would have to forge ahead without their top-returning receiver. And just like the week before, sophomore Nick Westbrook stepped up in Cobbs’ absence, leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns on Saturday. For the day Westbrook made 3 catches for a career-high 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. With future of Cobbs unknown at best (Wilson said a surgery is probable), expect Westbrook's role to increase and his story to become more compelling as the season progresses.

 There Can Only Be One

For the second straight week, the Indiana’s defense gave up just one offensive touchdown, as the Hoosiers caged the Cardinals offense most of the game. Again, it’s early in the season, but at this point last fall the Indiana defense had already given up eight offensive touchdowns.

 Red Run, Red Run

Indiana fans have pretty much begun to expect junior running back Devine Redding to break the century mark in rushing every week. Well, the Ohio native keeps on Shining for the Hoosiers, as he carried the rock 26 times for 110 yards, making that five straight games he’s completed the task. While, he will be the first to admit it was far from his most impressive performance during the stretch, his was able to keep the chains moving at some critical junctures of the game.

Monster Ball

Marcelino Ball had a monstrous game for the Hoosiers on Saturday, in just his second collegiate outing ever. Remind you he is only 17 years old. Ball led the Hoosiers with eight tackles on Saturday and picked off a pass in the second stanza of the game. Expectations continue to rise for the first year Hoosier, and so far he’s delivered in the hybrid “Husky” position. 

Failed Encounters of the Third Down 

On Tuesday I lamented about this team’s inability to convert on third down against Florida International. Well, on Saturday it got much, much worse. Of the 13 third downs the Hoosiers faced, they converted only two of them. Had this team been a little more effective on third down chances, this score would have been much more lopsided than it was. While the play calling was mostly vanilla, a team with as much depth as Indiana has on offense should have done a better job of overpowering the Cardinals front seven and imposing their will.
 
As the Hoosiers head into their off week, there’s plenty on the to-do list for the team to focus on. But the team avoided two trap games and will be starting the meat of their schedule on September 24, the beginning of ten straight weeks against Power Five opponents.