Ball State?s Jake Hogue kicked a game-winning 24-yard field goal to lift the Cardinals to a 34-31 victory over Navy at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
But, most of the 32,087 fans in the stands Saturday expected Navy kicker Matt Harmon to be the hero of the day in the Midshipmen?s home opener. However, Ball State blocked Harmon?s 32-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation and Navy backup quarterback Jarod Bryant fumbled a pitch to slot back Shun White on his first play in overtime, which set up the Cardinals game-winning score.
“We didn?t make the plays we needed to win the game,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said. “We had a fundamental play in a 32-yard field goal and we didn?t do it. Then in overtime we couldn?t have asked them to line up any better with the play we called. I think he might have scored if he got the ball. But we fumbled it and they went down and scored.”
Navy?s two late miscues erased a near record-breaking rushing performance by the Midshipmen, who compiled 521 yards on the ground, including a team-high by fullback Eric Kettani, who finished with 126 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Navy?s total Saturday was the third best in program history.
Navy?s defense, though, still showed plenty of signs of being an inexperienced group as Ball State finished with 539 yards of total offense with a balanced attack that included 262 rushing yards and 277 passing yards.
But, most of Ball State?s offensive production came in the first half when the Cardinals jumped out to a 21-14 lead following quarterback Nate Davis? 5-yard scoring run with 2:22 left in the second quarter.
“I thought in the second half they played a lot tighter,” Johnson said of the defense. “It was frustrating in the first half, I thought we came up with some good stops in the second half.”
Navy?s defense responded by forcing Ball State to punt away in its opening second-half possession. Kettani then tied the game at 21-21 when he scored on a 21-yard run with 13:24 left in the third quarter. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound junior also had 71-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which gave Navy a 31-24 lead with 7:17 remaining in regulation.
Ball State responded with a nine-play, 69-yard drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Davis to MiQuele Lewis with 3:53 left in regulation. Davis completed19 of 33 passes for 277 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Lewis had 161 yards rushing on 27 carries to lead the cardinals running attack.
“We didn?t come out on defense at the start of the game,” Navy defensive back Ketric Buffin said. “We did a better job in the second half. We came out with ore intensity. The coaches challenged us at halftime. They wanted to find out who wanted to play.”
Kattani?s second rushing touchdown was actually Navy?s second longest scoring run in the game as starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada had an 80-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The junior finished with 117 yards rushing on 11 carries before spraining both ankles after being sacked late in the first half by Ball State ?s Kenny Meeks. Bryant played all of the second half and rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries.
For Bryant, that fumble ruined a childhood dream for him of coming off the bench and leading Navy to victory. It was even more frustrating with the loss being at home because it was the first time the 4,200-member Brigade of the Naval Academy got to see the team play. Most students at the Naval Academy have not been able to see the team play because of new regulations, which restrict them from attending road sporting events.
“I knew my job was coming into the year and that was to be ready if Kaipo couldn?t play,” Bryant said. “I thought I felt good heading out there.
“It was frustrating with it being in front of the Brigade. I think everyone knows morale is kind of low here right now. A win like this could have turned that around.”
Navy now looks to snap a two-game losing streak when it hosts Duke at 1 p.m. this coming Saturday.
