Box Score Nov. 21, 2017
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MUNCIE, Ind. - Miami came away with a dominant 28-7 win over Ball State in their season finale on Tuesday. The `Hawks now lead the newly-established Redbird Rivalry between the two schools 1-0.
Playing in their last game with the `Hawks, two seniors - Sam Martin and Jared Murphy - accounted for the team's opening two scores. Martin's touchdown got the Red & White rolling early in the first quarter. After receiving to begin the game, quarterback Gus Ragland went to Jaylon Bester for seven yards before connecting with James Gardner for 14 more. Bester then took to the ground for 37 yards to land Miami inside the BSU red zone. Ragland looked to Gardner in the back corner of the end zone, but a holding call on the Cardinals' defensive back moved the offense up to the nine-yard line. One play later, Ragland's pass over the middle found Martin to open the scoring and make it 7-0 just three minutes into the contest.
Despite stalling after a nine-play drive, Ball State was able to pin Miami on their own seven-yard line with a perfect pooch punt by quarterback Jack Milas. Miami could not get anything going with the ball, but the defense helped them out and once again stifled the Cardinal offense. On fourth down, though, Cardinal punter Nathan Snyder fumbled the snap and then whiffed on the kick. After slipping through the hands of numerous players, Miami's Brad Koenig finally landed on top of it on the BSU nine-yard line.
Now with the ball inside the Cardinals' 10-yard line, it took the RedHawks just three plays to find the end zone. This time, it was senior wideout Murphy on the touchdown reception. With Sam Sloman's extra point, the `Hawks found themselves up 14-0 with just over two minutes to go in the opening quarter.
After trading fruitless drives, Miami again found themselves advancing on the Cardinal defense without much trouble. Ragland started the Miami drive with eight minutes left in the half by targeting Murphy for a 12-yard reception. Bester scampered for three yards before Ragland went back to Murphy - this time for 22 yards into the BSU red zone. Leonard Ross rushed for four yards to set up a 14-yard toss-up to Gardner for the score. With the touchdown reception - his 11th of the season - Gardner moved into a tie for the third-most touchdown receptions in a single Miami football season.
Miami would tack on yet another score just before halftime with the help of the defense. Ball State, taking over with 2:23 remaining in the half, drove into Miami territory with the help of two rushes from Milas and a 25-yard rush by running back Caleb Huntley. On the next play, Milas' pass was batted in the air by RedHawk defensive end Ben Kimpler and caught by blitzing safety Josh Allen. Allen took it 49 yards to the house for his first career pick-six. He led the team in interceptions this season with three.
Both teams failed to drive more than one yard into the other's territory in their opening drives of the second half. On Ball State's second, they made it to Miami's 35-yard line - the closest they had been to Miami's end zone up to that point. The duo of Brad Koenig and Pasquale Calcagno made sure they went no farther, each accounting for two stops that set up a Cardinal fourth down and forced them to punt for the fifth time.
The Cardinals got the ball back and stormed down the field, however, and capped off a 12-play, 87-yard drive to get on the board. Backup quarterback Drew Plitt was called upon and finally put Ball State in the end zone.
The Cardinals appeared to be on their way to making it a 28-14 game, but their 15-play, 79-yard drive ended with an interception in the end zone by Miami cornerback Deondre Daniels. Ragland took a knee to solidify the victorious season finale.
The RedHawks open the 2018 season at home against Marshall on Sept. 1.
