Defense rebounds after poor first half

MUNCIE -- With one quarterback unable to start and a second knocked out two drives into the game, IU coach Terry Hoeppner called on one Hoosier who hasn't played in a game since high school.\nRedshirt freshman Kellen Lewis responded to the call.\n"We had an outstanding performance by Kellen Lewis," Hoeppner said after the 24-23 victory against Ball State. "(He) had some outstanding plays, but managed the game so well." \nFirst-string quarterback Blake Powers was unable to start because of an undisclosed injury sustained in last week's game against Western Michigan University, while senior backup Graeme McFarland was knocked out of the game with an apparent shoulder injury after two ineffective drives to start the matchup. \nLewis entered his first game since November 2004 in front of a record crowd of 23,813 at Scheumann Stadium, facing a 14-0 deficit. \nOn the opening drive of the game, Cardinals quarterback Joey Lynch marched his team 80 yards down the field and capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Brad Salyer for a 6-0 lead. \nAfter an IU three-and-out on offense, Lynch wasted no time adding to the lead. He finished off a four-play drive with a seven yard strike to wide receiver Terry Moss.\n"We struggled coming in here with the atmosphere and the in-state game," IU junior linebacker Adam McClurg said. "A couple things happened good for them; we just needed to execute."\nLewis entered the game on the third offensive drive after McFarland was injured but was unable to put the Hoosiers on the board. \nBall State kicker Brian Jackson connected on a 52-yard field goal attempt with 8:25 left in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 17-0. \nOn the ensuing kickoff, IU sophomore running back Marcus Thigpen dropped back and fielded the second kickoff return of his college career. One hundred yards later, he was in the end zone and the Hoosiers were on the board, making the score 17-7. \nBall State scored again just before the half on Lynch's third touchdown pass of the game. With 35 seconds left in the half, Lynch connected with wide receiver Darius Hill on a 41-yard completion for the last scoring Ball State would do in the game. \nJackson missed the PAT after the touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 23-7 halftime lead.\nFortunately, Lewis and the IU offense came to life in the second half. \nOn the first drive of the third quarter, Lewis went 5-for-7 through the air, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver James Hardy to begin the IU comeback.\nLewis cut the lead to two late in the third quarter almost single-handedly. He completed three passes and rushed two times, accounting for all the Hoosiers' offense on the drive. He finished the drive with a 23-yard scramble for a touchdown. \nIU took a 24-23 lead with 11:01 left in the fourth quarter on a 35-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Austin Starr. \nThe IU defense held Ball State scoreless in the second half, aiding in the comeback victory. After allowing 220 yards and 23 points in the first half, the defense gave up 110 yards in the second half and no scores.\n"We had a few missed assignments," IU junior cornerback Tracy Porter said. "The coaches brought us together at half time, just told us to settle down, do what we did in practice and let everything else take care of itself. And that's what we did"