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OXFORD — As much as Miami University football coach Shane Montgomery would like a sturdy, settled offensive line, the unit could become even more unsettled this week as the RedHawks prepare for Saturday's home game against the Ball State Cardinals.

Last week tackle Charlie Norden was lost for the season with a foot injury. Now starting guard Matt McKeown has suffered another setback and his status for Saturday is unclear. His absence could set off a minor chain reaction.

"Matt McKeown got hurt again in the game Saturday," Montgomery said of his 6-foot-4, 291-pound sophomore from Sycamore High School. "As of right now we're unsure of his situation. It's really day-to-day. He's got a couple different things going on, most notably his shoulder, and we're going to have to see how he is the next two days. ... He probably will not practice much this week.

"Because of McKeown's injury we played Pete Walters again at right guard," the Miami coach said. "We do have a couple younger guys that we felt like earlier in the year were just not ready yet. ... If for some reason (McKeown) can't play, then we're going to decide whether maybe we want to play a couple other guys instead of playing Pete Walters and Steve Sutter on the offensive line the whole game."

Those "other guys" are 6-4, 298-pound sophomore Josh Satterthwait and 6-6, 289-pound redshirt freshman Heath Cartwright.

Montgomery said he's thinking about alternating Satterthwait and Cartwright — if McKeown is unable to play — with Walters and Sutter "not so much series by series, but to keep them fresh. Those guys have been playing a lot of football for us this year."

Surgical update

Norden's foot surgery last week went well, Montgomery said.

"He'll be out for probably four or five months," the Miami coach said. "He'll miss spring practice. We hope to have him back 100 percent in early May so he can have three months of the summer to get ready for his senior year.

"In talking with him and talking with the doctor, everything went well and he should make a full recovery."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.