By DOUG ZALESKI
dzaleski@muncie.gannett.com

(Published Friday, Nov. 20 2009) MUNCIE — The smattering of fans who attended Ball State’s final football home game of the season Wednesday might have been surprised to hear a player belt out his rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. But backup center Jordan Applegate’s teammates have enjoyed his musical talents before.

“He has some good songs that I have in my iPod,” Cardinals quarterback Tanner Justice said. “He plays the piano with the best of them. He’s really talented.”

Applegate helped his fellow seniors remember their final home game by standing in the middle of the field to sing the National Anthem before the Cardinals’ game against Central Michigan in Scheumann Stadium.

Justice said Applegate sings a wide range of music — gospel, jazz, hip-hop, rhythm & blues — and has numerous tracks available online.

“I think after football, that’s something he is going to pursue,” Justice said.

Goal-line stand

The Cardinals turned in an impressive goal-line stand against Central Michigan early in the second quarter. The Chippewas gained a first down at the 1-yard line, then ran four straight plays for no gain to turn the ball over to the Cardinals.

On the fourth-down play, Ball State linebacker Davyd Jones stripped the ball from Bryan Schroeder and teammate Charlie Todd recovered.

“That was some good stuff,” BSU coach Stan Parrish said. “That was a great-goal line stand. Tremendous effort by the kids.”

Best team in MAC?

Ball State has the unique distinction of having played the four main challengers for the Mid-American Conference championship: Central Michigan and Northern Illinois in the West Division, and Temple and Ohio in the East.

The Chippewas were the preseason title favorite. So were they the best MAC team Ball State played?

“I can’t speak about the teams we haven’t played, but from the teams we played, definitely,” Justice said.

The Cardinals lost 35-3 to Central Michigan, but they held their own against the others, falling 26-20 to Northern Illinois, 24-19 to Temple and 20-17 to Ohio.

Injury report

Cardinals starting tight end Zane Fakes might not be available for the final game of the season Tuesday at Western Michigan (7 p.m. on ESPN2).

Fakes limped off the field early in the third quarter against Central Michigan after rolling an ankle. Parrish said Thursday he didn’t know what Fakes’ status would be for next week’s game.

If Fakes can’t play, the Cardinals have no other tight ends available for action. That means they would play with four wide receivers or two running backs and three wideouts in their base offense.

Contact sports writer Doug Zaleski at 213-5813.