The Ball State University Cardinals will be visiting Rynearson Stadium looking to spoil Eastern Michigan University’s homecoming weekend this Saturday. While the Eagles will be spending time studying film to learn the Cardinals’ game, here are some notes for the fans to take a look at:
Cardinals start off the 2013 season 2-1
Ball State University’s first three games of the season have been non-conference games with a lot of scoring.
The Cardinals started out with two straight home victories— 51-28 over Illinois State University and a 40-14 win over the Army Black Knights. Ball State was handed its first loss of the season when the team traveled south to Denton, Texas to take on the University of North Texas and fell 34-27 last Saturday.
Recent history with Eastern Michigan University
The Cardinals are 7-3 against the Eagles over the past decade.
EMU hasn’t beaten the Cardinals since Oct. 16, 2010, when the Eagles won in overtime, 41-38.
Offensive leaders
BSU’s passing game is among the best in the country and is led by senior quarterback Keith Wenning. Wenning’s 998 passing yards is the best in the Mid-American Conference and fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He also leads the MAC in passing touchdowns, with seven.
Junior wide receiver Willie Snead is Wenning’s go-to receiver with 305 yards and four touchdowns through three games. Two of those touchdowns came in week one against Illinois State University when he caught nine passes for 164 yards.
The Cardinals aren’t shy about running the ball, either. Sophomore running back Horactio Banks is third in the MAC with 235 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 38 carries.
Defensive and Special Teams notes
Despite allowing 223 rushing yards per game, the Cardinals’ 25.3 points against average is second-best in the MAC.
The team has allowed more rushing yards (668) than passing yards (632) so far this season. It also recovered four fumbles and two interceptions.
Despite having a good kick return team, the punt return unit is quite the opposite for Ball State. The Cardinals lead the MAC in kickoff return yard average with 25.8, but average just 3.0 yards per punt return.
Junior kicker Scott Secor is 62.5 percent on field goal attempts with his longest FG of the year coming from 47 yards out.
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