One of the aspects of the game coach Stan Parrish wanted to focus on during Spring Practice was teaching Ball State how to finish games.
The Cardinals didn't have a killer instinct last season, losing four games late in the fourth quarter, and Parrish wanted to instill that attitude in his young team.
After Saturday's 41-38 loss to Eastern Michigan in overtime, it appears Ball State still lacks the ability to close out games.
The Cardinals twice led by 21 points in the first half but found themselves fighting to even send the game into overtime against a team that was on an 18-game losing streak.
After taking a three-point lead in the extra period, Ball State's defense forced a third-and-14. But Eastern Michigan was able to wriggle out of that jam and go on to win the game.
"I don't think we have the ability to put anybody away," Parrish said. "That's really discouraging."
The Eagles' comeback began in the second quarter with a 73-yard touchdown pass from Alex Gillett to tight end Garrett Hoskins. The long strike came just one play after running back Eric Williams returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, giving Ball State a 28-7 lead. Parrish said it was the game-changing play.
The touchdown was the first of four straight for the Eagles, giving them a 35-28 lead with just under five minutes in the game. Throughout the second half, the Cardinals' defense had no answer for the Eagles' simple offense, which Parrish said mainly consisted of three plays run out of a wildcat formation.
Captain Sean Baker had a simple explanation for Ball State's failure to stop Eastern Michigan in the second half.
"We just didn't come to play," the safety said. "That's all on us. We got outplayed."
The Cardinals' offense also evaporated in the second half until quarterback Keith Wenning led an eight-play, 68-yard drive to send the game into overtime. The drive was capped by a nine-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Briggs Orsbon, who found the endzone for the first time this season with 34 seconds left in regulation.
Ball State had limited success running the ball behind an offensive line that was missing two starters and a key substitute. Running back Cory Sykes missed his third game of the season with knee tendinitis, and Williams left the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury.
The Eagles held the Cardinals to just 98 rushing yards. The previous low for rushing yards against Eastern Michigan this season was 181 yards by Miami.
Still, Parrish wasn't surprised.
"It didn't shock me," he said. "We're really beat up up front."
After becoming the first team to lose to the Eagles since 2008, the Cardinals are really beat up with no one to blame.
"When you let them hang around, that's what happens," Parrish said. "We got what we deserved."
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