Disappointing is the word that will stick to the 2012 Miami University football season.

The RedHawks entered the campaign with a veteran team and high expectations, yet finished 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference East Division for the second straight year under head coach Don Treadwell.

The final blow came Friday afternoon when MU lost to visiting Ball State 31-24 at Yager Stadium, its sixth defeat in seven games.

“As a head coach who has worn the red and white and played on the battlefield, no one has higher expectations for our football program than me,” Treadwell said. “So any critics can take a backseat.

“What matters most … is how we respond, and I think that’s where it sits. That talks about coaches as well as players. That in itself will be the resolve to move this program forward.”

Miami rallied from a 31-14 deficit with 10 fourth-quarter points, the last coming on Kaleb Patterson’s 23-yard field goal with 3:44 remaining.

The Cardinals (9-3, 6-2 MAC West), down to their third-string quarterback most of the second half because of injuries, faced third-and-6 at their own 26 on the ensuing possession, then got a 16-yard run up the middle by Horactio Banks.

BSU ultimately had to kick the ball away, but the RedHawks’ Andy Cruse muffed the punt. Quintin Cooper recovered at the MU 13 with 0:24 on the clock to seal Ball State’s sixth consecutive win.

“We put our all in this program, and we know the coaches put their all in this program,” RedHawks senior defensive end Jason Semmes said. “We know those young guys are going to be working hard starting Monday morning, but going out as a senior, this one weighs on you a little bit.”

Semmes, Chris Wade and Pat Hinkel each had two tackles for loss for Miami. Wade and Jaytee Swanson totaled 14 and nine tackles, respectively.

“As far as being a senior and not having the year that you were expecting, that can prove to be profitable for someone else besides a senior,” said Swanson, a senior linebacker. “For a younger generation, it’s a learning experience to see that you can play as hard as you can, and if you’re not there every single play doing your job, (you see) how quickly that can run away from you.”

Zac Dysert finished his MU career by completing 26 of 40 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns (to Dawan Scott and Jamire Westbrook). Scott added a scoring run.

“We’re going to miss a lot of great seniors,” Treadwell said. “Our kids did compete. I certainly believe because of what they have done, even though it doesn’t show on the win and loss columns, they’ve done a tremendous amount as we continue to build the culture of our football program.”