SLIDESHOW: Football drops Homecoming game 41-30 to Ball State
By Ryan Zuke on October 20, 2012 5:21 pm / 13 comments
The scoreboard read 446 offensive yards for Central Michigan and 464 for Ball State at the end of the game Saturday.
But in the points column, it was not that close as CMU lost to BSU 41-30, Saturday in front of 14,081 fans at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
“You’ve got to give credit to Ball State,” head coach Dan Enos said. “I think they capitalized on their opportunities, and I don’t think we did.”
Junior Zurlon Tipton rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown, and senior Ryan Radcliff threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns, but two Radcliff turnovers proved to be costly.
The Chippewas trailed 24-10 in the third quarter with the ball on the BSU 25-yard line, but Radcliff fumbled and defensive tackle Nathan Ollie recovered, carrying the ball to the CMU 41.
“It wasn’t a very smart play,” Enos said. “He should have gone to his number-two receiver and threw it to him. We felt he was open, and, at worst-case scenario, he should have thrown it away so we had a chance to go for it or kick a field goal.”
The Cardinals capitalized on the turnover, taking a 31-10 lead on a Keith Wenning touchdown pass to tight end Zane Fakes.
Wenning finished with 231 passing yards and three touchdowns. He added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter as well.
BSU extended its lead to 38-17 on the first play of the fourth quarter with Wenning, hitting a wide-open Barrington Scott for a seven-yard score. Scott also had a rushing touchdown and 99 yards on the ground.
Despite creating two turnovers Saturday, Enos said the defense must play better.
“We have a lot of young guys and this is a process,” Enos said. “You don’t just wave a magic wand and get real, real good overnight. We have a vision, we have a plan and we’re going to stick to it.”
The Chippewas added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it was far little too late.
Sophomore defensive back Jarret Chapman left the game with a concussion, but Enos said he was fine after the game. Defensive back Kavon Frazier had to get stitches in his hand but came back to play.
First Half
CMU had a chance to take a lead on its first drive, but senior David Harman missed wide-right on a 38-yard field goal.
BSU took advantage, using an 11-play, 79-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. Scott rushed up the middle for a six-yard score.
The Chippewas tied the game five seconds into the second quarter when Radcliff found tight end Ben McCord in the corner of the end zone for a 22-yard score. It was McCord’s first touchdown of his career.
“He’s had really good practices the past couple of weeks, and we just made a decision today to play him,” Enos said. “He’s going to be a good player.”
BSU regained the lead on the ensuing drive, capped off on a one-yard touchdown run by Wenning.
Harman pulled CMU within four on a career-high 51-yard field goal with 9:41 left in the first half.
But the Cardinals scored ten unanswered points to end the half and took a 24-10 lead into the locker room.
CMU will host Akron next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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13 Comments
To Heeke, Dr. Ross and the BOT,
It is time to relieve Enos of his duties and fiind another coach for 2013. This is really getting ridiculous. Who is our QB for next year???????
IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP TO REESTABLISH CMU PRESENCE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
Have we seen enough yet? Radcliff is a disaster. He is the Valverde of QBs and Enos’ loyalty to him SHOULD be the nail in his coaching career.
14.000 fans for Homecoming with decent weather? What’s your first clue CMU’s football program is in serious trouble? Does the team have to lose the next five games to prove to Ross & Heeke that Enos has to go? If Rao was still here, Enos would be gone because Rao learned from the Debord disaster!
When will SOMEONE hold SOMEONE accountable?????? 14,000 for Homecoming?
Only 14,000 showing up is sad. But, it goes further beyond the incompetent Dan Enos. It’s the way CMU treats its alumni starting with the BOT, Ross, the unionized tenured faculty who are always miserable since they claim their huge salaries and great benefits packages aren’t enough.
The university is quickly sliding downhill. I think the 12.5 percent decline on freshmen enrollment is a pretty good indication that high school seniors see CMU as not the best pick.
The problem with terminating Enos is are you going to trust Heeke to hire a better coach? He will call his friends with the Big Ten and get us another Big Ten hire.
You wonder how many will show up for Akron and Miami. I see the ticket brokerage firms are selling Miami tickets for $9 each, far below face value.
You wonder how many will show up in 2013 if Enos is back considering we don’t have MSU, Navy and Western on the schedule. Think of all those fools who bought the 7-game home season ticket package and donated extra money to the Chippewa Club. They sure did get sold a bill of goods.
Enos and Obama are similar—both incompetent and over their heads.
November should be the month both are fired!
I think the appropriate song for the Marching Chips to play in their halftime season finale against Miami is the old Stones tune—-”Won’t Be Fooled Again.”
There’s a simple answer to all of this nonsense. BOYCOTT all games! Demand removal of this football staff—all of them! Enos just got beat again, by a guy who CMU turned down! What is Mr. Heeke not seeing here?! Or is Ross The Clown pulling strings behind the scenes?!
First the Marching Chippewas were outstanding. The music selection was perfect, their playing and marching were right on. They continue the tradition of football Saturday and being one of the best college marching bands! The band alumni turnout was top notch too. I like the “where’s Waldo” in the band (look at a photograph – you’ll see what I mean.
I was very disappointed in the attendance. I thought last year HC was bad but this year was pathetic – and the weather was a vast improvment over 2011. The students certainly did not come out to support the team so that is very telling. For the rest who didn’t attend was it the $22 ticket price keeping everyone away?
I think it’s time for a new coaching staff. The players have talent but they are just not able execute under this lack of leadership.
Regardless of the scoreboard I did have a great time seeing my old friends, visiting the departmental tents, tailgating and paying tribute to our friend and alumni Bob Blanchard who passed away this summer at way too young of age. Bless you Bob.
Lack of attendance surely didn’t have anything to do with the fact that this game was at the same time as MSU/UM, right? I have a lot of CMU pride, but if you think most people aren’t going to skip out in favor of childhood favorites playing in the annual rivalry game, you’re crazy. Whoever scheduled the game at the same time should be questioned.
Keep blaming Enos, it’s the easy thing to do. The team is still very young, and the transititon from spread to pro style isn’t exactly an easy one. Dan Enos can’t catch passes, make blocks, or tackle. Players have to be responsible too. How quickly we forget a win over Iowa.
First, the win over Iowa is meaningless unless CMU can games in MAC conference. Second, I’m tired of hearing the team is young. What about the juniors and seniors? That’s why they call it a TEAM. Third, who is the QB for next year? An evaluation of this team and the coaching staff will reveal zero growth–I know it’s a harsh fact but it is the truth. Fourth, all other MAC schools are improving except CMU.
Lastly, I agree that players are also held accountable. However, you can’t except redshirt freshmen to play at the level of others who are riding the pine. Change is difficult and unless he changes his scheme and players now, I am on the Fire Enos Now mantra.
Enos and CMU. Together we are MAROONED.
It’s easy….. Restore Relevance. Our program was once relevant enough to keep fans in the stands even when other teams in the state were playing. That’s not the case currently — whatever the reason’s name is.
That should be a t-shirt. Restore Relevance
Toss Ross, Enough Enos.
We need Rao back. He hired Kelly because he was a “head” coach. CMU has since hired offensive line or other line coaches who aren’t worth a farthing–they can’t coach an entire team and cannot do the things that need to be done.
No. The Iowa win alone means nothing.
The Sage of Wake Forest
(Does anyone find tiring Enos’ saying every week how good the opposing team is, and that CMU can’t cut it? How about saying how good your own team is for a change, Dan? Trouble is, he can’t.)