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MUNCIE, Ind. – Colgate couldn't drum up one of those FBS-buster upsets they've fashioned in the past, but the Raiders were respectable in a 30-10 loss to Ball State here Saturday.

The Mid-American Conference hosts scored 10 points in each of the first three quarters, but Colgate kept within shouting distance. The Raiders turned an Adam Bridgeforth end-zone interception into an 80-yard scoring drive that made it 13-7 in the second, and Jonah Bowman tacked on a 37-yard field goal early in the fourth for the Maroon points.
 
Chris Morgan drew his first career start at cornerback and the sophomore responded with a game- and career-high 14 tackles. And tight end John Quazza emerged as quarterback Jake Melville's favorite early target with six catches for 92 yards – both career-high figures.
 
Melville finished 14-of-26 passing for 137 yards, with a long of 37 to Quazza. Melville also rushed four times for 13 yards.
 
Colgate's rushing game netted 90 yards on 28 carries – and the Raiders would have topped the century mark if not for an errant snap that cost 18 yards. Demetrius Russell led the way with eight carries for 39 yards, while John Travellin scored the team's only touchdown on a 4-yard scamper to cap that impressive second-period march. John Wilkins added 31 yards on eight carries in his first action since last season's knee injury.
 
Bottom Line
• Ball State 30, Colgate 10

Won-Lost Records

• Colgate drops its 2014 opener for an 0-1 start.
• Ball State begins the season 1-0.

More Key Info
• Ball State had two rushers and one receiver top the 100-yard mark. Backs Horactio Banks rushed for 134 yards and Jahwan Edwards added 109 and a touchdown, while KeVonn Mabon caught 11 passes for 110 yards and a TD.
• Nikko Armiento's first punt of the season went for 53 yards, and the Colgate junior finished with eight attempts for a 42.5-yard average. Armiento finished third in the Patriot League last season at 40.1.
• Tight end John Quazza's receptions went for 8, 37, 8, 21, 13 and 5 yards. His last four catches came in the fourth quarter.
• Ball State tackled Colgate behind the line of scrimmage just one time for minus-1 yard (the 18-yard loss on the bad snap was downed by Melville). The Raiders defense came up with four TFLs for minus-15. Linebacker Vinny Russo had a 7-yard loss and defensive lineman Victor Steffan contributed 1½ for minus-4.
• Tailback Demetrius Russell's first carry of the game on Colgate's opening possession went for 16 yards. The Raiders then punted four plays later and posted three straight three-and-outs before breaking the ice.

Turning Point
• It didn't change the outcome but Adam Bridgeforth's end-zone interception breathed new life into the Raiders, who trailed 13-0 at that point midway in the second quarter. The Raiders proceeded to march 80 yards in nine plays, culminating with James Travellin's 4-yard sprint to the pylon.
• Key plays on that drive were a 37-yard Melville-to-Quazza completion over the middle, and Wilkins' burst for 11 yards on fourth-and-2 at the Ball State 20.

Facts & Figures
• Ball State had a 514-227 advantage in total offense and a 29-9 edge in first downs.
• Time of possession was 36:21 for the Cardinals to 23:39 for the Raiders.
• BSU quarterback Ozzie Mann finished 20-of-32 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns against one interception.
• Colgate was just 2-of-13 on third-down conversions, but 1-of-2 on fourth-down tries.
 
Records Watch

• Mike Armiento finished with 11 tackles and Kris Kent nine, leaving those two wrap-up artists tied for the active team lead with 206. Armiento and Kent finished 1-2 in team tackles last year with 92 and 91, respectively.
 
• In addition to Morgan, among those with setting career highs in tackles were Vinny Russo (12), Jake Kern (11) and Brett Field (6).
 
New Sensations
• Morgan and Field made their first career starts, alongside offensive tackle Grant Siegel, linebacker Charles Cairnie and first-year wide receiver Alex Greenawalt.
 
• First-years seeing the field Saturday were Greenawalt, Pat Afriyie, Connor Buck, Jose Alvarado, Curt Mitchell, Keyon Washington, Connor Wingenroth and Alec Wisniewski.
 
From the Source
• Colgate head coach Dan Hunt: (On the momentum swings just before half) "I would love to have gotten to halftime 13-7; that would have made a big difference. We gave up the drive right before half – aided by that pass interference call. That was big."
 
(On the defense): "We left our defense on the field. They ran a bunch of plays and we left them on the field too much. The defense fought very hard. We just put them in some tough situations and never really got into a rhythm offensively."
 
 "One of the encouraging things is we didn't lose anyone to cramps or getting sick. They lost a bunch of guys today and our kids pretty much held on."
 
(On the new faces) "I was really happy with Chris Morgan and a couple of the freshmen. I saw Pat Afriyie flying all over the place. And it was good for Jonah Bowman to make a 37-yard field goal. We going to have a true weapon there and we have to score points."
 
(On the offense) "We used three running backs today and all played well. We probably didn't have the ball enough for any of them to get into a rhythm, and I told them that. But it was nice to have three guys who could carry the ball and help us, and that will help us as the year goes on. We should stay healthier at that position."
 
(On tight end John Quazza): "It's nice to have that target out there. Quazza caught everything and he played like a man today. He showed that he certainly belongs among the top tight ends in the league.
 

"That first big pass completion (37 yards) after the interception – that flipped the field and got us going. It's something we will continue to keep doing."
 
• Colgate defensive back Adam Bridgeforth: (On the interception) "I was reading the quarterback and he had a quick three-step. I bit on the slant and the receiver hit me with a sluggo (slant and then break it back out), so I had to recover as fast as I could. He got me, but I didn't give up on the play.
 
"He went up, I looked at his hands and we both got it at the same time. I was on the bottom so the ref gave it to me. His call, and he decided it was my ball. I'm grateful he decided I had a better handle on it.
 
"It was cool being the catalyst that led the team to go 80 yards and score a touchdown. It felt great."
 
• Colgate defensive back Chris Morgan: (On his first career start) "I was just all over the place making plays. We gave up a few big plays but did all right. We've got to focus on tackling, wrapping up and swarming to the ball. We're getting better; I see that.
 
"We had some tough one-on-ones. The pass interference call I wasn't in favor of, but I feel good. There's a lot of room for improvement, but I feel good."
 
• Colgate quarterback Jake Melville: (On his chemistry with Quazza) "It kind of developed as the game went. They were leaving the middle of the field wide open and he's a nice big target; easy to hit. I just kept giving it to him.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• This weekend was the first visit to Muncie, Indiana, for every member of the Colgate football team and coaching staff. Muncie is located 63 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
• Dan Hunt is coaching his 20th season with the Raiders and Saturday was his first to coach from the sideline after 19 seasons in the press box.
• Colgate's helmets this year include a "72" decal on the back in honor of former All-Patriot League offensive lineman Brian Crockett '13, who died in March.
• Saturday's attendance was 9,659. Time of the game was 3:14.

Up Next
• Colgate is off next week and plays Sept. 13 at Delaware (0-1) in a 6 p.m. start. Delaware lost 62-0 Saturday at Pittsburgh.