Dante Ridgeway wishes he could play Central Michigan everygame.
After setting career highs in catches, yards and touchdownsagainst the Chippewas last season, Ridgeway did it again Saturday.The sophomore wide receiver had 10 catches to tie his personal bestand three touchdown grabs, one better than last year.
"I just ran the routes to the best of my ability and tried toget open," Ridgeway said. "It starts with the protection, though,and Talmadge (Hill) throwing the ball."
While Ridgeway said Hill's precise passing helped, he added thatbreakdowns in Central's defense allowed him to get open.
"They blew some coverages a little bit," Ridgeway said."Talmadge threw the ball up and I could go up and get it because(Central's defensive backs) were so short.
All the Chippewas' cornerbacks were 5-feet-10-inches tall orshorter, compared to Ridgeway, who is 6-feet-1-inch tall.
The disparity in height was most evident on Ridgeway's firsttouchdown catch of the game. It came on a busted play in which Hillwas under pressure and his primary receiver was covered.
Hill stepped up in the pocket and threw the ball over twodefenders to a leaping Ridgeway in the back of the end zone.
"I just kind of threw it up there and let (Ridgeway) make aplay, and he did," Hill said.
Though Ridgeway attributes his performance to his teammates andCentral's defense, the head coaches of both teams said Ridgewaycreates his own success.
Ridgeway has had 20 catches for 260 yards and five touchdownsthe past two games against CMU. Because the Chippewas have changedtheir defense since last season, Ball State head coach Brady Hokesaid, it was Ridgeway's skill that allowed him to excel, not poorcoverage.
"I don't think it was Central's defense," Hoke said. "It was amatter of him hitting the open area and doing a nice job (readingthe defense).
"Dante is one of those guys that we have a lot of confidence in.We try and feature him on certain things."
Central Michigan head coach Mike DeBord saw first-hand how BallState uses Ridgeway in a variety of ways. He said the Cardinals'focus on Ridgeway made him hard to defend.
"They do a good job of moving him around in certain positionsand then getting him the ball. They also do a good job of gettinghim the ball in a lot of different ways."
Ridgeway's numbers against Central increased his team-leadingtotals in catches, yards and touchdowns. He now has 33 catches for380 yards and six touchdowns on the season.
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