From Ball State Scrimmage on the Ball State Website:
Defense and Freshman QB Among Scrimmage Highlights
August 12, 2023
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MUNCIE, Ind. – Operating in their first "game situation" scrimmage of the season, the Ball State football team got a strong showing from its revamped defensive line. On the offensive side of the ball, focus on consistency was the key while working through multiple personnel groups.
"It was great being out here on a Saturday afternoon when we're going to play most of our games," said Cardinals head coach
Mike Neu. "It was hot today, just like it's going to be in a couple weeks, so it was good to replicate those conditions and play in front of some MAC [Mid-American Conference] referees."
"We had too many penalties, though," Neu added. "We have a lot to learn. But that's what today was about – develop some discipline and some consistency, and make sure that we're not making those same mistakes when we have a real opponent on the field."
While consistency on both sides of the ball was certainly a focus, the challenge was finding that consistency on offense while working through four quarterbacks and over a dozen receivers, all the while limiting the run game to minimize contact.
Unofficial statistics reflected 16 different pass-catchers, with 11 players grabbing at least two receptions. Oddly, none of those receivers was starting tight end
Brady Hunt.
On the passing end,
Layne Hatcher finished the day completing 17 of 23 passes for 133 yards.
Kiael Kelly was 6-of-9 passing for 53 yards through the air. Kelly's 63-yard run produced one of the game's first highlights. In the second half of the scrimmage, another highlight was Kelly's 24-yard TD strike to transfer receiver
Ty Robinson on a double-reverse pass after Kelly lined up as a receiver. Later, Kelly connected with transfer running back
Charlie Spegal on a 6-yard score.
The most productive passer overall was freshman
Kadin Semonza from Mission Viejo, Calif., who completed 12 of 21 passes for 152 yards and three TDs. Semonza's first throw was batted down by transfer defensive end
James Makszin, but he connected with sophomore tight end
Justin Morris on the next two plays resulting in a 36-yard TD. Semonza also completed his next five throws before "halftime," to five different receivers. Among them was a 44-yard score up the middle to tight end
Maximus Webster. His TD pass in the second half was a 2-yard dart to Robinson on third-and-goal.
Robinson, a junior transfer from Colorado, was the Cards' top receiver on the day, gathering four passes for 49 yards and two scores. Returning tight end
Tanner Koziol hauled in four passes for 32 yards. Koziol's four catches all came from Hatcher, including three straight plays in the second half.
While defensive statistics were unavailable, coaching staffs on both sides of the ball praised the defensive line – responsible for at least three sacks and disruption in the midst of shuffling offenses. With Sidney Houston rushing on the edge and newcomers Makszin and Mikari Sibblis joining an already experienced unit, "the D-line did well," said an understated defensive coordinator
Tyler Stockton. "Coach [Adam] Morris has done a great job managing that group so far."
Added co-offensive coordinator
Kevin Lynch, now in his eighth year with the program, "this is the most depth I have seen on the defensive line since I've been here."
Ball State resumes its practice schedule on Sunday, before an off day on Monday. Training camp continues next week before fall classes begin on campus August 21.
