The difference in talent between Auburn University and Ball State University was easy to spot in Saturday's 54-30 win for Auburn.
The Tigers were bigger and faster than the Cardinals. But Ball State dominated the special teams aspect of the game. Auburn muffed two punts, leading to a Ball State touchdown, and had one kickoff go out of bounds.
Coach Stan Parrish said that was no accident.
"We put a lot of time into it, thank God," he said. "We have good kickers, a good snapper and guys in key components."
The kicking duties are split by place kicker Ian McGarvey and kickoff specialist Jake Hogue. McGarvey said he likes being able to focus on just placekicking.
"I can rest my leg," McGarvey said. "We all get a chance to rest our legs and focus on what we're doing."
McGarvey is seven of seven on extra points and six of eight on field goals. He also kicked a career-long 48-yard field goal against the University of New Hampshire.
McGarvey extended his school-record consecutive extra points streak to 80 last weekend. The streak is the fourth-longest in Mid-American Conference history. He hasn't missed a point after attempt since Nov. 13, 2007 against the University of Toledo. McGarvey doesn't think about the streak.
"It's always other people that bring it up," McGarvey said. "I give a lot of the credit to my line, my long snapper and holder because they do a great job. If they weren't there the kick wouldn't go in. I'm just a small part."
Ball State's special teams success has gone beyond its kickers. Freshman Scott Kovanda ranks second in the MAC with an average of 42.4 yards per punt. Kick returner Eric Williams has injected fresh talent into kickoff returns averaging 22.8 yards per return.
"The first thing most people think about is the kickers," McGarvey said. "There's a heck of a lot more to it than kicking the ball. It's a huge team effort."
Ball State uses many of its regular players on special teams as well. That can create a problem if they are injured, since their replacement has to also be able to play more than just their regular position. That happened at Auburn when safety Sean Baker missed the game with a broken hand.
"Baker was on everything," Parrish said. "We had to plug in his backup on every special team last week."
Linebackers coach Deion Melvin is also the special teams coach.
"Deion Melvin's headed that group up," Parrish said. "He's done fantastic work in every phase."
McGarvey said the Cardinals don't think of special teams as an afterthought, but as a key part of the team.
"It's a third of the football game," he said. "You've got to treat it that way."
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