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The gridiron won’t look the same this week for Ball State quarterback Nate Davis as he looks down field not seeing his main target Dante Love. Ranking No. 1 among receivers in yards per game entering last week’s contest, Love suffered a sever injury causing medical personnel to stabilize his spine will not be seeing the playing field again this season.
“Dante Love suffered a cervical spine fracture and spinal cord injury which required surgery to stabilize the fracture. He is currently moving all four extremities.” Dr. Jay Matchett, Ball State team physician and orthopedic surgeon, stated in a release from the Ball State Athletic Department.
Davis will look towards nine other receivers who have pulled down the rock this season with Darius Hill leading the group with 16 catches with 237 yards as the Cardinals (4-0) host Kent State (1-3) today.
The Cardinals will now be forced to use a blue collar approach as well as MiQuale Lewis will be running through the tackles with his seven TDs along with grounding 546 stripes on the season. MiQuale tied the Ball State single-game record with four rushing touchdowns last week after Love went down.
Davis will enter the contest with 1,155 yards in the air and 10 scores. The former Bellaire standout currently sits No. 1 on the all time career passing yards list for Ball State.
Today will mark the 24th meeting between the Cardinals and the Golden Flash with Ball State leading the series 18-5.
BALDWIN WALLACE at MARIETTA
The Marietta College football season continues in week four tonight when the Pioneers play host to Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) rival Baldwin-Wallace College in their home opener at Don Drumm Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. The Pioneers would like to welcome everyone to the fourth annual River City Bowl, especially those back in town for Football Alumni Day.
Individually, the Pioneers are led by quarterback Dexter Hughes is 37-of-66 passing, throwing for 407 yards.
The Woodsfield native has thrown two touchdowns and four interceptions. Hughes ranks sixth in the OAC in passing yards per game (203.5). Hughes’ key target has been sophomore Cory Kriechbaum as he leads the team with 11 receptions for 146 yards, while junior Marty Mueller has added nine catches for a team-high 166 yards.
On the defensive front, Marietta enters the week ranked sixth in the OAC scoring defense, giving up 18.0 points. The Pioneers rank sixth in total defense. It is allowing 306.5 yards per game.
The Pioneers rank fourth against the run (92.0) and seventh against the pass (214.5). Marietta has recorded three sacks and 10 tackles for loss to go along with one interception this season.
The Pioneers have allowed their opponents to convert 6-of-6 red zone chances, including six touchdowns.
MT. UNION at
MUSKINGUM
Muskingum (1-1) will have its hands full today as No. 1 ranked Mt. Union (2-0) rolls into New Concord with Chas Yoder directing the Purple Raiders’ linebacker corps. The former Purple Rider standout ranks fourth on the Mt. Union tackle list after two games. Yoder will be joined by former prep teammate Trevor Bruney as he will be looking to get reps at the tailback position. Bruney has grounded 11 stripes on for carries this season.
The Muskies offensive attack will be triggered by sophomore quarterback Jake Burns. The 6-ft-1 signal caller will be keeping his eye on hot hands Josh Grafton who pulled down three balls for 106 yards last week against Otterbein.
Other targets will include the stalky, 6-ft-2 Blake Allen at tight end. The former Barnesville Shamrock has only been tossed the pigskin once this season, but looks for an explosive game today. Keeping him safe in the trenches will be another Ohio Valley Athletic Conference duo with Scott Madison and ad Chris Heaton.
According to the Muskies’ depth chart, Madison, a former Shamrock as well, will anchor the line at center while Heaton, a Buckeye Local grad, will get the nod at guard. Also included in the defensive scheme will be St. Clairsville’s O.J. Diomedia at free safety.
MONMOUTH at ROBERT MORRIS
The Robert Morris (1-2) football program looks to snap a two-game slide this afternoon when it hosts Monmouth (1-3) for a 1 p.m. contest at Joe Walton Stadium in its 2008 Northeast Conference opener. The Colonials are coming off a 31-14 loss at Dayton.
The Colonials will be led by gunslinger Erik Cwalinski. The 6-ft-3 signal caller finished 13-of-39 passing for 223 yards and a touchdown at Dayton last week, marking his fifth straight game of throwing for at least 200 yards dating back to the final two contests of 2007. It’s the longest streak of Cwalinski’s career, and over that span he has completed 51.3 percent (78-for-152) of his passes for 1,156 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions.
However, individual records and playing the game on paper do not win games for you.
The Hawks defense has not allowed a 100 yard rusher in two games but Monmouth’s pass defense, ranked 84th in the NCAA, will have to match up against Robert Morris’ 26th ranked passing offense.
Expect RMU not to grind the ball out and give Cwalinski to keep his 237.7 yards in the air average today as he has already connected with 10 Colonials’ receivers this year.
UNIV. OF CHARLESTON at CONCORD
The University of Charleston (2-2) looks to bounce back from a disappointing 24-21 loss to West Virginia State as they travel to Concord (0-4) for a 6 p.m. kickoff tonight.
The Golden Eagles, who are known for blue collar route, have totaled more than 1,500 yards of total offense and have controlled the time of possession in all its contests. Part of the UC’s success came from big blocks from tailback Taylor Jovicic. The sophomore Shadyside graduate is slated to start today and has attempted minimal carries this season (7-18 yards), but is looking for a breakout game.
GROVE CITY at W&J
Washington & Jefferson (3-0) looks to continue its trek towards another Presidents’ Athletic Conference victory as it hosts Grove City (2-1) in a 7 p.m. contest. The high octane Presidents have outscored their opponents 132-80 and have averaged 44 points in their opening three games.
Presidents’ quarterback Bobby Swallow has connected with nine targets this season with one of those being Martins Ferry’s Ryan Church. The converted quarterback to wide receiver has hauled in six grabs for 135 yards and a score this season. Scheduled to get the start today, the Martins Ferry product will be a big key in the Presidents’ offensive scheme.
On the ground, Wellsburg native Terrence McAllister has been burning up the turf in a backup position at Cameron Stadium accumulating 62 stripes on 25 attempts behind Curt Jones (38-221 yards). The junior Brooke Bruin product is expected to get a handful of reps today.
On the defensive front, Brandon Bovina will get his fourth consecutive start of the season as he enters the contest with 6.5 tackles from his defensive line spot. Bovina, a Mingo Junction native and Indian Creek graduate, also has one sack for negative seven yards.
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