DEKALB, Ill. — Unfortunately for Ball State andquarterback Talmadge Hill, playing Northern Illinois and committingcritical turnovers seem to go hand-in-hand.
The Cardinals committed five turnovers, and the Huskies turnedthe first three of them into 20 second-quarter points and rolled toa 48-23 victory in a Mid-American Conference West showdown.
Hill, who had tossed seven interceptions against NIU in the pasttwo seasons, stumbled through the roughest of the three games,completing just 9 of 12 passes for 72 yards and two interceptionsand also losing a fumble. He didn't feel that Northern did anythingspecial, though.
"I wouldn't say they forced a lot of turnovers; I would say thatwe gave them some," said Hill, who had thrown just two priorinterceptions on the season. "The two picks and the fumble, I takeresponsibility for those, but it really wasn't anything they forcedus into. When you turn the ball over that many times you're notreally giving yourself a chance to win."
Ball State (4-5 overall, 3-2 MAC) fell to third in the MAC West,while Northern Illinois (8-1, 4-1) stayed right behind BowlingGreen in the division with its fifth-straight win over theCards.
Michael Turner rushed for 126 yards, caught three passes for 52yards and scored three touchdowns. But he was far from alone in theHuskie rushing attack. Backup A.J. Harris (21 rushes, 106 yards)gave Northern two 100-yard rushers, and quarterback Josh Haldiadded 26 yards and two scores.
"They ran the ball wherever they wanted to, when they wantedto," said disappointed BSU coach Brady Hoke. "(We) didn't tacklevery well, didn't play in the right position very well. And youcan't turn the ball over against a good team, a well-coached team.I think I lost count after three.
"He had his holes to run in," added Justin Beriault, Hoke'sstrong safety, "and on top of that he's a great back. You give aback like that holes, and he's going to make stuff happen. That'swhat both of them did today."
Turner rushed seven times on the game's first possession, andHaldi capped the 76-yard drive with a 2-yard keeper.
Ball State responded on its second try, with Brad Seiss crashingin from two yards out at the 3:55 mark. Hill had run 48 yards on aquarterback draw to the 14-yard line four plays earlier.
Turner put the Huskies up for good with an 18-yard scoring runwith 13:51 to go in the second quarter. Hill was then interceptedby Lionel Hickenbottom and Brian Atkinson on consecutive drivesinto Northern territory, and the Huskies scored touchdowns afterboth turnovers. Ray Smith recovered a Scott Blair fumble with just37 seconds left, leaving enough time for Turner to take a swingpass and turn it into a 31-yard TD with 23 seconds left.
A 34-18 loss at Bowling Green last week ended Northern's hope ofa BCS bowl game. Joe Novak had some anxiety about how his teamwould respond with its MAC Championship chances still on theline.
"To be honest, I was concerned," he said. "I thought they wouldrespond, but you never know."
"We took advantage of some turnovers. We got some great fieldposition, and it took some momentum away."
Turner and Harris ran for second-half touchdowns as the Huskiesgave Ball State no chance to get back in the game. Roescheventually replaced Hill as quarterback and threw for 168 yards,including touchdowns to Michael Steinhaus (1 yard) and DanteRidgeway (6 yards).
Ridgeway came in averaging more than 95 receiving yards andseven catches, but was limited to four receptions for 49 yards.Hickenbottom said the Huskies made it a point to keep track ofRidgeway.
"He was one of our main focuses," the safety said. "His namethis week was 'Waldo.' We were always asking each other, 'Where'sWaldo.'"
Hoke said he would like to see Novak and the Huskies in a bowlgame even if they don't win the MAC Championship.
"We got beat by a heck of a football team today," he said."They're 8-1 for a reason. Yeah, I'd love to see them. I'm a bigfan of Joe Novak, how he coaches football and what he stands for inthe profession. For those kids, you'd love to see that, and forJoe."
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