MUNCIE,
IN (9-14-2002) — Indiana State drew
first blood in the battle for the “Victory Bell”, but the power of Division
1-A Ball State showed in the end as a Sycamore rally from nine points down fell
just short as the Sycamores were turned away with a close 23-21 loss to the
Cardinals.
ISU opened up on the first play from scrimmage as Julian Reese hit Jake Shields with an 84-yard touchdown pass to give the Sycamores the quick 7-0 advantage.
Ball State came right back with a one-yard run by Marcus Merriweather to cap off a nine-play, 59-yard drive and tie the score at seven with 7:09 left in the first quarter.
As the first half ran down, the Cardinals controlled the ball for the last 4:25, marching 81-yards in 16-plays, with Mike Langford nailing a 22-yard field goal to give Ball State a 10-7 halftime advantage.
The Cardinals expanded on their lead in the third period, as Merriweather scored his second touchdown of the day, this time on a 25-yard scamper to put BSU ahead 16-7.
The Sycamores were able to answer right back as Soso Dede plunged in from one yard out to cap a four-play, 77-yard drive and bring ISU to within two points at 16-14. The play was set up by a 61-yard strike from Reese to wide receiver Tommy Signars, giving Indiana State a first-down inside the three yard line.
Merriweather was not done for the Cardinals, however, as he found the endzone for the third time on the day, this on a six-yard run with 12:10 left in the contest to give Ball State a 23-14 lead.
But Indiana State again answered, as Reese connected on his second touchdown pass of the day, a three-yarder to Ryan King, as the Sycamores inched closer to Ball State, now only trailing by two, 23-21. The play culminated a 15-play, 80-yard march which elapsed 7:04 off the clock. The ensuing Sycamore onside-kick attempt was recovered by the Cardinals as time expired.
For the game, Reese was 10-16 passing for 242 yards with one interception and two touchdown passes. Dede was the team’s leader on the ground with 13 rushes for 72 yards and one touchdown. James Braden led the receiving corps with five catches for 53 yards.