Broncos Hold Off Ball State 45 to 42

Broncos Hold Off Ball State 45 to 42

written by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/Football Writers Association of America

photos by: Bobby Ellis/Ball State University/Excel H Sports

On a sunny, warm afternoon in Muncie, Indiana at Scheumann Stadium, the home-standing Cardinals and their opponent the West Michigan Broncos did battle for a Mid-American Conference win.

The Broncos got off to a fast start as they put up fourteen points before the Cardinals were able to break into the scoring column.

The Broncos hit early when Jaden Nixon strolled into the end zone from 21 yards out and after a Luke Zurak extra point. The drive took a tick over four-minutes, totaling 85 yards on nine plays.

Western quarterback Hayden Wolff then connected on his first touchdown pass of the game when he connected with Blake Bosma from ten yards out and again, after a Zurak extra point placing the Broncos on top fourteen to zero.

Ball State would then start their scoring when Malcolm Gillie accepted a kick-off and swept around the defense and strolled in on a 97-yard kick-0ff return closing the gap.

An extra point from Jackson Courville closed the gap to seven at fourteen to seven.

Ty Robinson would score soon after taking in a 21-yard pass from Kadin Semonza and a Courville extra point and tying the game at fourteen points apiece.

The first quarter scoring ended with, yet another Nixon run as he sprinted in from 57 yards and a Zurak kick to put the Broncos on top by seven, 21 to 14.

The second quarters only score came from Ball State as Cam Pickett would score on a run from four yards out and a Zurak extra point to knot things up at 21 apiece.

Both teams placed 24 more points on the board in the third quarter as Wolff would record his second touchdown pass as he hit Malique Dieudonne in stride for a 43-yard strike to end a six play, 69-yard drive.

Ball State would counter with a Bradeon Sloan 22-yard pass to Zionsville, Indiana’s Christian Abney.

Cardinal quarterback Semonza would throw his second touchdown pass of the day when he connected with Drew Hughes from two yards out and after Zurak was successful on a extra point Ball State would take their first lead of the day 35 to 28.

After a 14 play, 53-yard drive, Luke Zurak was successful from 39 yards to draw within four at the end of the third stanza, 35 to 31.

Western Michigan took the lead back in the fourth quarter, as once again Nixon hit a quick opener and scooted into the end zone from 23 yards out to push the Bronco lead to 38 to 35. Zurak would connect on the extra point.

Wolff then would once again throw a touchdown pass, his third of the game with a one-yard pass to Anthony Sambucci and a Zurak extra point to put the visiting Broncos up by ten, 45 to 35.

photo by: Bobby Ellis, Ball State University/Excel H Sports

With two minutes and thirty-seven seconds left on the clock, Ball State would drive the field in nine plays and eighty-five yards in a minute and two seconds to narrow the gap to three at 45 to 42.

The Cardinals Cam Pickett caught a 27-yard pass from Semonza for the final score of the game.

Ball State has now dropped their two Mid-American conference games by a total of five points.

Stats for the game included Semonza hitting on 21 of his 34 points for three scores and 307 yards.

Braedon Sloan would lead the Cardinals rushing attack with 65 yards on eighteen carries.

Cardinal receivers with big days Tanner Koizol’s 102 yards on nine receptions, Sloan’s three catches for 90 yards and Robinson’s 44 yards on three catches.

Keionte Newson led the defense with eleven total tackles including seven solos.

Western Michigan was led by Hayden Wolff’s 26 of 29 passing effort for 264 yards.

Jaden Nixon led the Broncos rushing attack with 124 yards on fourteen carries.

Anthony Sambucci led the Bronco receivers with nine catches for 74 yards along with team-mate,

Kenneth Womack’s 68 yards on seven receptions.

Donald Willis led the Bronco defense with nine total tackles.