Navy Midshipmen

Trevor Replogle

Mid-Atlantic Sports

Freshman Jake Hogue kicked a 24-yard field goal in overtime to lead the Ball State Cardinals to a 34-31 win over the Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

The Cardinals (2-1) offense was led by quarterback Nate Davis who completed 19-of-33 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns.

MiQuale Lewis led the Cardinals ground attack, carrying the ball 27 times for 161 yards and a receiving touchdown.

Navy (1-2) was led by running back Eric Kettani who rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada with 117 yards and two scores.

With 9:20 remaining in the first quarter, Navy got on the board first when Kaheaku-Enhada punched it in from one yard out.

Ball State answered quickly as Davis found Darius Hill with a seven-yard touchdown pass in front of Ketric Buffin to tie the game at 7-7.

Davis struck again early in the second quarter, hooking up on a double pass with Dante Love from 50 yards out, to give the Cardinals a 14-7 lead.

Navy battled back to tie the game with 5:53 left in the half when Kaheaku-Enhada broke free down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown run.

Ball State regained the lead just three and a half minutes later, as Davis added a five-yard touchdown run to give BSU a 21-14 lead at the half.

The Mids tied the game with 11:32 left in the third quarter when Kettani rumbled for a 24-yard score.

Matt Harmon gave Navy an early fourth-quarter lead, drilling a 24-yard field goal to give the Midshipmen a 24-21 advantage.

The Cardinals fired back just minutes later, as Hogue added a 24-yard field goal of his own, to tie the game with just over eight minutes remaining in the game.

Kettani put Navy back on top less than a minute later, busting off a 71-yard touchdown run to give the Midshipmen a 31-24 advantage.

However, the Cardinals refused to die, as Davis found MiQuale from 12 yards out to tie the game with just 3:53 left to play in regulation.

The Midshipmen had a chance to win the game in regulation. After driving 57 yards, they had a 32-yard field goal attempt from the middle of the field. But Ball State junior Brandon Crawford, a former Marine, blocked the kick as time expired to force overtime.

"We got a chance to win the game," Navy Coach Paul Johnson said. "If we can kick a 32-yard field goal right in the middle of the field . . . I'll see it on film, but I guess they got some push. You've got to be able to make it."

Quarterback Jarrod Bryant fumbled on Navy's first play in overtime.  Ball State recovered and kept the ball on the ground to set up Hogue's game winner. 

Navy sorely missed two defensive starters, Clint Sovie and Jell Deliz, who are out for the season with injuries suffered in last week’s game with Rutgers.