The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page C10

CIO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2007 2nd Sports THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM COLLEGE FOOTBALL NO. 24 NEBRASKA 41, BALL STATE 40 Cardinals put scare in Huskers SWARMING DEFENSE: Ball State's Cortlan Booker (44), Drew Duffin (65) and Brandon Crawford (90) sack Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller during the first half. The Cornhuskers scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3:13 to play and held on for a 41-40 victory Ball State fails to convert on some late plays, falling just short of major upset By Doug Zaleski Muncie Star Press LINCOLN, Neb. A dropped pass by a normally dependable receiver and a miss on a lengthy field goal by a strong-legged kicker in the final half-minute likely had Ball State playing the "what if" game all the way home Saturday. The Cardinals were positioned to rattle the foundation of the college football world when they took a nine-point lead on No.

24 Nebraska early in the fourth quarter. But when it came time to deliver the final dagger, the Cardinals couldn't respond. The Cornhuskers scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3:13 to play and dodged Ball State's last-gasp threat in a 41-40 victory. "Not everything goes as scripted," Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller said. Those guys came in with nothing to lose." For a long time, it appeared the Cardinals (2-2) weren't going to lose.

Undaunted by the famed "Sea of Red" crowd in Memorial Stadium or anything Nebraska threw at them on the field, the Cardinals controlled the tempo of the fast-paced game throughout the first 3Vi quarters. Quarterback Nate Davis kept the Cardinals one step ahead of Nebraska (3-1) for much of the game. The sophomore passed for 422 yards, third best in school history. Davis led an offense that produced 610 yards, No. 2 on the school's all-time list.

Ball State led 10-7 in the second quarter, 24-21 in the third, NATI HARNIK Associated Press Ball State Nebraska 0 10 21 9 7 7 14 13 40 41 Neb-Lucky 28 run (Henery kick), 10:17. 20 pass from N.Dayis (Hogue kick), 9:46. BSU-FG Hogue 45, 4:41. Neb-Castille 1 run (Henery kick), :26. 14 run (Hogue kick), 11:31.

Neb S.Hill 73 pass from Keller (Henery kick), 6:39. 43 run (Hogue kick), 4:55. Neb-Swift 18 pass from Keller (Henery kick), 2:09. BSU-Loye 58 pass from N.Dayis (Hogue kick), :54. BSU-Grant 21 pass from N.Dayis (kick failed), 12:50.

Neb Ruud 34 interception return (Henery kick), 9:21. BSU-FG Hogue 22, 7:05. Neb Purify 11 pass from Keller (pass failed), 3:13. A 84,394. On second down, with Nebraska blitzing, Davis found Dante Love wide open over the middle near the 15-yard line.

Love, who had career highs with 10 catches for 214 yards (sixth best in school history), dropped the ball on what could have been a touchdown. Davis' third-down pass to Darius Hill in traffic near the 15 was incomplete, bringing out Hogue for a 55-yard field goal try. After a high snap, Hogue pulled the ball to the left with 12 seconds to play. "We're all competitors, and this is a tough loss," said Ball State cornerback B.J. Hill, who made his third interception of the year.

"We felt we could win the game." and stunned the sellout crowd of 84,394 by going on top 37-28 with 12:50 to play in the game. "They were going to punch, and we better punch back," Hoke said of his thoughts as a monumental upset began to appear possible. Ball State defensive end Brandon Crawford forced Keller to fumble, and the Cardinals' Am-ara Koroma recovered with 10 minutes to play. But two plays later, Davis backpedaled and passed way over tailback Quale Lewis' head in the middle of the field. Nebraska linebacker Bo Rudd intercepted the ball and ran it back 34 yards for a touchdown to trim Ball State's lead to 37-35 with 9:21 to go.

"It was a dumb decision on my part," Davis said. "I should have thrown it away." Suddenly, Nebraska was in full comeback mode. Ball State delayed the Huskers slightly with a 22 -yard field goal by Jake Hogue for a 40-35 edge with 7:05 to play. But Nebraska then steamed down the field and scored on an 11-yard pass from Keller to Maurice Purify. The two-point conversion failed, but Nebraska led 41-40 with 3:13 to go.

"I'm not out of it until the final whistle blows," Keller said. "I won't allow it to happen." Ball State wasn't out of it either. Davis led the Cardinals to a first down at the Nebraska 43, then picked up five yards to the 38 on a pass to Dun Dunford. BSU Neb 27 25 36-188 36-114 422 438 26-43-1 29-37-1 12 51 3- 45.0 2-1 2-2 4- 34 5-50 27:08 32:52 First downs Rushes-yards Passing Comp-Att-Int Return Yards Punts-Avg. Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession RUSHING Ball M.Lewis 19-122, N.Dayis 6-57, Edmonds 6-5, T.Lewis 1-2, Love 4-2.

Nebraska, Lucky 21-102, Castille 5-16, Helu 4-13, Team Hminus 2), Keller 5-(minus 15). PASSING Ball N.Dayis 26-43-1-422. Nebraska, Keller 29-37-1-438. RECEIVING Ball Loye 10-214, D.Hill 5-93, Everett 3-39, M.Lewis 3-25, Edmonds 2-16, Grant 1-21, N.Dayis 1-9, Dunford 1-5. Nebraska, Lucky 11-81, Purify 6-122, S.Hill 3-129, Peterson 3-43, Nunn 3-25, Swift 1-18, Castille 1-15, Helu 1-5.

Kravitz Chris Wright gets his opportunity with intangibles. From CI He didn't even have to tell me. When you work with someone that closely and for so long, a simple sidelong glance speaks a thousand words. It was over. I was crushed.

But I have decided that despite Smith's advice to cease and desist with intangibles, this great American tradition, this journalistic icon, must be preserved at all costs. Intangibles must live. Just as long as I don't have to grade them. The Celebrity Intangible lives. Help Wanted The Dopey Report Card is seeking a highly motivated, deeply disturbed individual who is willing to devote five minutes every Sunday (or Monday, if necessary) to grading and writing the weekly intangibles category.

Experience: Unnecessary. Actually, experience is kind of frowned upon. Where has it gotten me? Salary: I might buy you a beer someday, if I'm feeling charitable and can figure out a way to expense it to The Star. Benefits: Fifteen minutes of fame, give or take. Just look at Hunter.

Before intangibles, who even knew the Colts had a punter? Now, he gets the red-carpet treatment wherever he goes. Not a day passes without someone coming up to him on the street and saying, "Hey, aren't you the intangibles guy?" Requirements: A TV, a computer and at least a half-dozen working brain cells. It would also help if I've heard of you. Nothing against Jim from Brownsburg, but it's not exactly a Celebrity Intangible if your job is working at a Jiffy Lube. Hours: The weekly intangible must be written and sent to The Boss that's me within an hour of the end of the Colts' game.

Now, in fairness to all applicants, I must say up front that one candidate is already a front-runner, and will be writing today's Celebrity Intangible off the Texans- Colts game. He's WTHR-13's chief meteorologist Chris Wright. He applied for the spot before it was even posted. Kids, that's what we like to call ingenuity. The job will be his until further notice.

Or until Angela Buchman applies. Hi Bob, It's Chris Wright from WTHR. I understand that Hunter Smith is too pooped to continue after seven regular-season punts, so please consider this my official application for the position of Vice President in Charge of Intangibles. After 20 years of working with the nebulous title of Chief Meteorologist, I'm more than ready for this task. (OK, I'm no Angela Buchman but who is?) I've written seven mysteries and two children's books, so I have some writing experience.

I'll e-mail you my observations at the end of the game and we'll see where it goes from there. Thanks for your consideration. For those who may be new to The Star, a quick bit of background: A few years ago, I noted in the DRC that I hated intangibles, that every week, I reached the intangibles portion of the report card and not only drew a complete blank but immediately felt my stress headaches coming on. What are intangibles, anyway? And how do you grade intangibles when half the team's games are in a climate-controlled dome? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an intangible is defined as "incapable of being defined or determined with certainty or precision." Sure grade that. But, bless his soul, Smith breathed much-needed life into the intangibles category.

He was the Babe Ruth of intangibles. He was to intangibles what Reggie Miller was to the 3-point shot. He left some very big shoes to fill, which poses a problem for me, since I have unusually small feet. (No snide jokes, please.) Today, the job belongs to Chris Wright. Next week, it could be somebody else.

Send your application and maybe a sample intangible off this week's game to the e-mail address listed below I've always said this about writing intangibles: It takes a village. Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star. Call him at (317) 444-6643 or e-mail bob.kravitzindystar.com. Listen to Bob today on the Colts pregame show from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

on FM. INDIANA NOTEBOOK IU I mm 1 HEATHER CHARLES The Star NO PAYDIRT HERE: Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis tries unsuccessfully to dive into the end zone. Lewis picked up 35 yards on the ground while throwing a career-high 51 times for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Illini defense befuddling HEATHER CHARLES The Star THIS ONE'S MINE: Illinois defensive back Justin Harrison reacts to his recovery of a Ray Fisher fumble at the Illini 17-yard line in the second quarter. For a photo gallery from lU's loss to Illinois, go to lndyStar.comHoosiers two minutes to play.

Quarterback Juice Williams threw a 15 -yard TD pass to Mendenhall to make it 20-7 with 44 seconds left in the half. Call Star reporter Terry Hutchens at (317) 444-6469. Hoosiers suffer 4 turnovers, blocked punt. From CI sacked seven times for mi-nus-52 yards, and the Hoosiers had four turnovers (three fumbles and an interception) and suffered a blocked punt. The turnovers led to 10 Illini points and interrupted IU scoring threats.

The Hoosiers, on their first possession, had a second-and-10 at the Illinois 29 when Marcus Thigpen lost a fumble. When Ray Fisher fumbled at the end of a 16-yard run in the second quarter, he had moved to the Illini 17. James Hardy's fumble came at the IU 27, and five plays later, Mendenhall scored a 5-yard touchdown to put Illinois up 27-7 early in the fourth quarter. Lewis' interception was in the end zone with just over a minute to play after IU had a second-and-goal at the 5. "You have to give Illinois a lot of credit because they did a great job defensively," said IU coach Bill Lynch.

"Our turnovers really hurt us, and I just didn't think we were in sync." Coming in, IU had lost one fumble. Lewis had been sacked only twice. Will Davis, listed as a reserve defensive end on the Illini depth chart, had four sacks. "I think (this game) was just a wake-up call that we're in the Big Ten now," said IU fifth-year center Ben Wyss. "It's bigger and faster and stronger.

Maybe what might have worked the first three games isn't going to work the rest of the season. "Obviously we're not going to get any bigger in just a few short weeks, but as far as just manning up and being more accountable, we just have to pick it up a lot more." Indiana fell behind 13-0 midway through the second quarter before the Hoosiers put together a 10-play, 78-yard drive to cut the lead to 13-7. James Hardy caught the final two passes on the drive, the second for a 7-yard score. It was his sixth touchdown catch of the season and 26th of his career. But the Illini quickly regained momentum with a 68-yard touchdown drive with 7 -7 Illinois Indiana 6 14 0 0 7 0 paid immediate dividends.

Bailey had two catches for 39 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown on which he made a couple of strong moves and dove the final 3 yards into the end zone. "He made some plays and did a nice job," Lynch said. "We used him as the gunner on the punt team and he seemed to be OK, so we played him at wide receiver in the second half." Etc. Members of the 1987 IU football team that lost to Tennessee in the Peach Bowl were honored during a timeout Saturday. The '87 team holds the distinction of being the only IU team to beat Michigan, Ohio State and Purdue in the same season.

Former IU running back Anthony Thompson, who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December, was honored in a halftime ceremony. IU tailback Demetrius McCray suffered a foot injury in the first quarter and did not return. Lynch was unable to update his condition after the game. Call Star reporter Terry Hutchens at (317) 444-6469. Hoosiers QB Lewis, sacked 7 times, admits to some confusion but throws 51 times By Terry Hutchens terry.hutchens(3i ndystar.com BLOOMINGTON, Ind.

Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis accounted for nearly 300 yards of offense in IU's 27-14 loss to Illinois on Saturday, but the Illini defense kept him guessing throughout the game. Illinois linebacker Leman went as far as to say that Lewis looked confused at times. "We threw some pressure at him and some different schemes, and I think we were able to confuse him," Leman said. "I think some of his reads weren't as clear as he thought they would be. If he hesitated a little, it gave (our players) time to get some sacks." Illinois recorded seven sacks on Lewis for 52 yards.

Lewis couldn't completely disagree with Leman's assessment. "There were a couple of looks where we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off, and it was just one guy blitzing, and now no one has the No. 3 receiver," Lewis said. "Sometimes you just have to calm down and regather. I thought we did that a little bit in the fourth quarter, but it was a little too late." Tons of passes Lewis was surprised to learn he threw more than 50 passes against the Illini.

He finished the game 26-of-51 for 263 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The number of completions matched a career high and the attempts were the most in his career. His previous high was 43 attempts. "I threw 50 balls?" Lewis asked with a surprised tone. "That may be the first time in my life I've done that.

It's a first here, and I know I never did that in high school, either." Bailey finishes strong IU wide receiver James Bailey, who suffered a concussion last week against Akron, was limited to work with the punt team in the first half after not practicing all week. In the second half, IU coach Bill Lynch inserted Bailey into the offensive lineup and it III FG Reda 45, 10:20. Ill FG Reda 38, 4:28. Ill Hoomanawanui 2 pass from J.Williams (Reda kick), 10:25. Ind Hardy 7 pass from Lewis (Starr kick), 2:04.

15 pass from J.Williams (Reda kick), :44. 5 run (Reda kick), 12:45. Ind Bailey 30 pass from Lewis (Starr kick), 7:58. A 34,707. Ill Ind First downs 23 26 Rushes-yards 55-288 35-134 Passing 98 263 Comp-Att-Int 13-28-2 26-52-1 Return Yards 37 67 Punts-Ayg.

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 4-3 Penalties-Yards 3-29 4-40 Time of Possession 31:48 28:12 RUSHING Illinois, RMendenhall 27-214, J.Williams 11-32, Pollard 6-30, Benn 4-22, Dufrene 3-(minus 2), Gamble Hminus 3), Team 3-(minus 5). Indiana, Payton 5-40, Lewis 17-35, Thigpen 8-20, Fisher 1-16, Sears 2-15, Means 1-5, McCray 1-3. PASSING Illinois, J.Williams 13-28-2-98. Indiana, Lewis 26-51-1-263, Team 0-1-0-0. RECEIVING Illinois, Benn 5-50, RMendenhall 3-18, Judson 2-16, Pollard 1-10, Hoomanawanui 1-2, Hudson 1-2.

Indiana, Means 7-83, Hardy 6-42, Thigpen 3-20, Fisher 3-14, Bailey 2-39, Sears 2-32, Walker-Roby 2-29, Payton 1-4..