After serving a two-game suspension to start the season, junior defensive end Jonathan Newsome was inserted into Ball State's starting lineup. The Ohio State's transfer's debut as a Ball State football player couldn't have gone much better.
Newsome recorded two sacks in the game as well as Ball State's first sack of the season.
His teammates fed off his play. Junior linebacker Kenneth Lee brought down Indiana quarterback Cam Coffman in the third quarter, and junior defensive tackle Nate Ollie and sophomore defensive end Nick Miles shared a sack at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Coach Pete Lembo said more blitzes by the defense in the second half also helped create a better pass rush by Ball State.
Lembo remained critical of his defense's play in the first half, however.
"To be honest, some of what happened in the first half was just mistakes," Lembo said. "We had some guys that blew assignments or got caught out of position, and it hurt us. I think we settled down in the third quarter."
Patterson starts over Pinkston
Newsome wasn't the only new starter on Ball State's defense Saturday night.
Sophomore cornerback Eric Patterson drew the start against Indiana over senior Jason Pinkston. Patterson showed why he had earned the starting job, finishing second on the team in total tackles (nine) and first in passes broken up (three).
After the game, Lembo praised Patterson for his performance.
"Eric's playing very well for us, could argue that he's playing as well as any corner we have right now."
Pinkston did not register a single statistic against Indiana.
Lembo loses his cool
Near the end of the third quarter, Lembo was seen on the sidelines throwing his hat down in anger and walking onto the field while Ball State was on offense.
His actions resulted in a 15-yard penalty.
After the game, Lembo explained why he was upset at that moment.
"We did not sub personnel and wanted to go fast, and they did sub, and I thought we should have been allowed to go fast on that," Lembo said. "And the side judge thought I got a little too far out on the field. I didn't say anything offensive. He thought I was being a little intrusive, I guess."
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