Andy Roesch started at quarterback Saturday for Ball State after sitting out the past six weeks with a separated shoulder, but it was far from a storybook comeback.
In fact, Roesch may wish he had never stepped foot on the field to play in the 49-3 trouncing in which he was intercepted three times and completed just 1 of 10 passes against Miami's pass rush.
The Cardinals' third offensive play from scrimmage seemed like an omen for what lay ahead. On the play, RedHawk cornerback John Busing picked off Roesch's first pass and ran it back 65 yards to the south end zone, giving the RedHawks an early 7-0 lead.
From there things only snowballed: Roesch threw two more interceptions before finally being benched for good late in the second quarter.
Fellow senior quarterback Talmadge Hill did not fare much better when he got the call.
Hill first came into the game with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Even though he completed his first three passes and rushed for six yards leading the Cards to a couple of first downs, he got no help from the rushing game and the drive stalled out on the Miami 27. Placekicker Brian Jackson then missed a 44-yard field goal attempt wide left on fourth down and Ball State remained scoreless, down by 21 points.-á
"You can't afford to get behind," Ball State coach Brady Hoke said. "You can't throw the ball to them. Our plan was to play them both and really when Talmadge came in it was about the time he would have came in."
Roesch returned at quarterback the next three drives, none of which produced any points. He played until Darrell Hunter made his second interception of the game and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown.
Hoke said that in the previous week Roesch had "great practices" and was better than Hill. Offensive coordinator Don Treadwell and quarterbacks coach Brent Baldwin agreed with the decision to start Roesch, Hoke added.
Hill played the rest of the way after reentering with 2:48 left in the second quarter. He finished with 11-of-20 passing for 147 yards, one interception, three sacks and one fumble lost.-á
A factor that multiplied problems for the Ball State offense was its ineptitude at rushing the football, finishing with 29 total yards rushing. Not having to worry much about stopping the run, the Miami defense teed off on the offensive line all day, causing headaches for Roesch and Hill.
"When you can't run the ball you got problems," Hoke said. "We didn't block and we didn't run. Against a good football team you can't do those things."
Neither quarterback was available for comment following the game because of a coach's decision.
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