Three thoughts from Ball State vs. Army
Ball State bowl eligible
For the second time in as many seasons, Ball State is bowl eligible after getting its sixth win of the season in 30-22 victory at Michie Stadium. Last season however, Ball State wasn't invited to a bowl game and was just one of two teams to not go. From that experience, the team knows getting a seventh win with three games remaining on the schedule will most likely guarantee a bid to play in December. But the Mid-American Conference already has four teams bowl eligible and Bowling Green could be a fifth team besides Ball State to be bowl eligible.
Cardinals rush for more than 200
At the beginning of the season, Ball State was finding success on the ground and running for over 200 yards per game. Ball State was able to do that again against Army behind Jahwan Edwards and Barrington Scott. Edwards ran for more than 100 yards again, and his touchdown run in the first quarter was the 20th rushing touchdown of his career. As a sophomore, Edwards is ninth on the all-time list in Ball State's record book.
Offense went flat, defense stepped up
After scoring on the first two drives of the game, the Cardinals didn't score another touchdown until the early fourth quarter. Usually that means trouble for a team that is struggling to find the end zone. But Ball State's defense allowed the team to stay in front throughout the entire game. The game was never tied, and the closest Army got after Ball State's opening touchdown was four points at 17-13. In the past couple of games Ball State's defense has really stepped up after playing poorly at the beginning of the season.
