Credit Source: Ball State University Athletics
NEXT STOP: DETROIT!!!
Cardinals come back to beat WMU for first MAC West Division title since 2008
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
MUNCIE, Ind. — For the first time in 12 years, the Ball State football team is headed to Detroit! The Cardinals scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter Saturday to win 30-27 over Western Michigan at Scheumann Stadium.
Ball State (5-1, 5-1 MAC) clinched the MAC West Division title with its fifth straight victory and will play in the MAC Championship game Friday, Dec. 18 against East champ Buffalo. The conference announced the Cardinals and Bulls will also represent the MAC in bowl games.
“Such a credit to the team because nobody panicked on the sideline,” head coach Mike Neu said. “We hung together. We just kept battling and fighting … Really the credit goes to the players. They earned a ticket to Detroit. Our ultimate goal is not to win the MAC West. Our ultimate goal is to win the MAC Championship.”
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
Ball State scored the winning points Saturday in the final minute on a 22-yard field goal from Jack Knight, capping a dominant fourth quarter. But the rally truly started late in the third. With Western Michigan driving near midfield and looking to go up three scores, BSU’s defense made a game-changing play. Christian Albright tipped WMU quarterback Kaleb Eleby’s pass in the flat, and Chris Agyemang picked it off. Momentum swung in the Cardinals’ favor at that point.
Drew Plitt threw a touchdown pass to Yo’Heinz Tyler early in the fourth quarter to cut the WMU lead to 27-19. The defense then made a stop, and BSU drove for the game-tying score. Plitt, who finished the day with 249 yards passing and three touchdowns, found Justin Hall for a short pass that Hall took 55 yards to the end zone. Tyler added a 2-point conversion to tie the game.
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
After a red zone defensive stand for the Cardinals and punts by both teams, BSU took over near midfield with 2:46 to play. The Cardinals methodically worked the ball to the 5-yard line, and Knight came on to send the game-winner through the uprights.
It wasn’t over quite yet. Pandemonium broke out as WMU (4-2, 4-2 MAC) lateraled the ball around the field in desperation on the final play. BSU appeared to stop the play, and both teams came onto the field. A Western Michigan player ended up with the ball and ran for the end zone. Just as that happened, many viewers at home had their ESPN feed cut. The officials reviewed the play, which featured multiple penalties, including an illegal forward pass that officially ended the game. Then, a different type of pandemonium, broke out.
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
The Cardinals joined in celebration at midfield, the culmination of a year-long mission to reach Detroit. Now the mission in even bigger, as they go in search of the program’s first MAC championship since 1996.
“My hat is off to the seniors for staying in there during those tough years, and we all saw the same thing in each other and we knew that we could have a moment like this,” Neu said. “It’s a great accomplishment right now, but it’s not our ultimate goal.”
Hall caught 10 passes for a career-high 175 yards and two touchdowns. Early in the game, he surpassed the school record for career receptions formerly held by KeVonn Mabon. Hall now has 252 career receptions. Tye Evans scored BSU’s first touchdown of the day on a 7-yard run in the first quarter.
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
Ball State’s defense buckled down after allowing 325 yards and 20 points in the first half. After Western Michigan scored again on its first possession of the second half, the Cardinals held the Broncos without a score on their final five possessions.
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
Senior inside linebacker Jaylin Thomas led the way with a career-high 16 tackles, while Brandon Martin had 14 and Bryce Cosby 11.
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel H Sports/McIntyre Imaging
Fans can follow the Cardinals in the days leading up to the championship game with Ball State Football Championship Week presented by Northwest Bank and Community Hospital of Anderson. The MAC Championship game will kick off Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN from Ford Field.
2020 Ball State Football
Western Michigan (4-2,4-2) vs. Ball State (5-1,5-1)
Date: Dec 12, 2020 • Site: Muncie, Ind. • Stadium: Scheumann Stadium
Attendance: 823
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total
Western Michigan 3 17 7 0 27
Ball State 6 7 0 17 30
Qtr Time Scoring Play V-H
1st 10:50 WMU – KAPPS, T. 35 yd field goal, 10-57 4:10 3 – 0
02:19 BALL – EVANS, Tye 7 yd run (KNIGHT, Jack kick failed), 4-40 0:41 3 – 6
2nd 10:13 WMU – KAPPS, T. 50 yd field goal, 8-35 3:19 6 – 6
06:45 WMU – ESKRIDGE, D. 24 yd pass from ELEBY, K. (KAPPS, T. kick), 4-71 1:16 13 – 6
03:01 BALL – HALL, Justin 32 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (KNIGHT, Jack kick), 11-73 3:39 13 – 13
00:27 WMU – HALL, J. 5 yd pass from ELEBY, K. (KAPPS, T. kick), 12-80 2:34 20 – 13
3rd 09:04 WMU – JEFFERSON, L. 1 yd run (KAPPS, T. kick), 9-67 4:27 27 – 13
4th 13:35 BALL – TYLER, Yo’Heinz 13 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (KNIGHT, Jack kick failed), 5-30 1:39 27 – 19
12:30 BALL – HALL, Justin 55 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (TYLER, Yo’Heinz pass from PLITT, Drew), 1-55 0:12 27 – 27
00:29 BALL – KNIGHT, Jack 22 yd field goal, 10-41 2:17 27 – 30
Kickoff time: 12:05 pm • End of Game: 3:33 pm • Total elapsed time: 3:28
Officials: Referee: Ron Hudson; Umpire: Will Steinke; Linesman: Jeff Johnson;
Line judge: K. Loving Sr.; Back judge: Josh Dascher; Field judge: Jason Frank;
Side judge: Ryan Gannon; Center judge: Tony Romano;
Temperature: 57 • Wind: SW 20 MP • Weather: Mostly Sunny
Individual Statistics (Final)
2020 Ball State Football
Western Michigan vs Ball State (Dec 12, 2020 at Muncie, Ind.)
Western Michigan
Rushing No. Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
JEFFERSON, L. 25 160 1 159 1 16 6.4
KINCAIDE, J. 12 75 0 75 0 13 6.2
ELEBY, K. 9 33 14 19 0 13 2.1
TYLER, S. 4 8 7 1 0 7 0.2
FRENCH, W. 1 0 36 -36 0 0-36.0
Totals 51 276 58 218 1 16 4.3
BALL STATE
Rushing No. Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
JONES, Will 16 72 1 71 0 9 4.4
EVANS, Tye 8 25 0 25 1 7 3.1
HALL, Justin 2 17 0 17 0 17 8.5
MCGAUGHY, Jalen 1 0 1 -1 0 0 -1.0
PLITT, Drew 6 13 22 -9 0 7 -1.5
Totals 33 127 24 103 1 17 3.1
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Passing C-A-I Yds TD Long Sack
ELEBY, K. 24-37-1 273 2 51 0
TEAM 0-1-0 0 0 0 0
Totals 24-38-1 273 2 51 0
BALL STATE
Passing C-A-I Yds TD Long Sack
PLITT, Drew 22-33-0 249 3 55 2
Totals 22-33-0 249 3 55 2
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Receiving No. Yards TD Long
ESKRIDGE, D. 9 124 1 51
MOORE, S. 8 105 0 29
JEFFERSON, L. 3 15 0 6
KINCAIDE, J. 2 18 0 10
BORSKE, B. 1 5 0 5
HALL, J. 1 5 1 5
CALIENDO, M. 0 1 0 0
Totals 24 273 2 51
BALL STATE
Receiving No. Yards TD Long
HALL, Justin 10 175 2 55
DAVIS, Antwan 5 28 0 7
TYLER, Yo’Heinz 3 22 1 13
EVANS, Tye 1 8 0 8
LITTLES, Hassan 1 8 0 8
KOCH, Dylan 1 5 0 5
RUDY, Cody 1 3 0 3
Totals 22 249 3 55
https://www.dropbox.com/s/18x0mh3pya5bu17/121220_BSU.mp4?dl=0
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