Tuesday, November 22
Oxford, Ohio
7:00 PM
Ball State University
4-8 , 1-7
20
at
21
Miami
6-6 , 6-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Ball State
7
10
3
0
20
Miami
7
0
7
7
21
RB James Gilbert
Photo by: Jessica Lyle
Cardinals Drop Heartbreaker to Miami in Season Finale, 21-20
November 22, 2016 | Football
OXFORD, Ohio – Host Miami scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:44 remaining and proceeded to hold off the Ball State football team, 21-20, Tuesday night at Yager Stadium.
Miami, which began the year 0-6, won its sixth straight game to finish the regular season 6-6 overall and 6-2 in Mid-American Conference play. Ball State ends its 2016 season with a 4-8 record and 1-7 in the league.
"It was a disappointing way to finish the season," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "I hate it for the group of 23 seniors in the locker room. You want to send them out on a high note. Those are some excellent young men."
The Cardinals took a 20-14 lead into the fourth quarter only to see Miami string together a nine-play, 75-yard drive to take the lead for good. The RedHawks scored on a 3rd-and-14 play as quarterback Gus Ragland found Sam Shisso open for a 27-yard touchdown strike.
It appeared Ball State would quickly answer as senior wide receiver KeVonn Mabon returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. However, the Cardinals were flagged for holding near midfield, negating the touchdown. Ball State did move the football into Miami territory on the drive, but stalled at the 48-yard line. Facing a 4th-and-2 with 2:42 left and all three timeouts, Ball State elected to punt the ball.
Miami then converted a pair of third downs to run out the clock. The RedHawks snapped a three-game losing streak to Ball State and became bowl eligible for the first time since 2010.
Ball State scored back-to-back touchdowns late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter to go in front of Miami, 14-7. Mabon got the Cardinals on the board first with a 25-yard catch-and-run to the end zone. He finished with 11 receptions to pass Dante Ridgeway (2002-04) and become Ball State's all-time leader in receptions (244).
Sophomore quarterback Riley Neal scored on a three-yard option run to make the score, 14-7.
The Cardinals reached Miami's red zone on their next three possessions, but only came away with six points. A Miami interception in the end zone put a halt to one drive. Sophomore kicker Morgan Hagee converted two field goal attempts, one at the end of the first half and another midway through the third quarter, to give Ball State the slim 20-14 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
Sophomore running back James Gilbert capped his season with his seventh 100-yard rushing performance. He racked up 117 yards on the ground and totaled 1,332 rushing yards for the season, good enough for fourth spot on Ball State's single-season chart. Meanwhile, Neal added a career-high 96 yards rushing on 16 attempts. The quarterback also threw for 188 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, the Cardinals racked up seven sacks, their second most of the season. Junior defensive end Anthony Winbush had 2.5 sacks while sophomore defensive tackle Kevin Thurmon posted two sacks.
Miami's Ragland totaled a personal-high 380 yards passing and three touchdowns. He connected with wide receiver Rokeem Williams twice for scores, including a 74-yard pass on the first play of the second half.
The final offensive stats were nearly identical, just like the scoreboard, with Miami holding a slight edge in total yards, 442 to 435.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Miami, which began the year 0-6, won its sixth straight game to finish the regular season 6-6 overall and 6-2 in Mid-American Conference play. Ball State ends its 2016 season with a 4-8 record and 1-7 in the league.
"It was a disappointing way to finish the season," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "I hate it for the group of 23 seniors in the locker room. You want to send them out on a high note. Those are some excellent young men."
The Cardinals took a 20-14 lead into the fourth quarter only to see Miami string together a nine-play, 75-yard drive to take the lead for good. The RedHawks scored on a 3rd-and-14 play as quarterback Gus Ragland found Sam Shisso open for a 27-yard touchdown strike.
It appeared Ball State would quickly answer as senior wide receiver KeVonn Mabon returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. However, the Cardinals were flagged for holding near midfield, negating the touchdown. Ball State did move the football into Miami territory on the drive, but stalled at the 48-yard line. Facing a 4th-and-2 with 2:42 left and all three timeouts, Ball State elected to punt the ball.
Miami then converted a pair of third downs to run out the clock. The RedHawks snapped a three-game losing streak to Ball State and became bowl eligible for the first time since 2010.
Ball State scored back-to-back touchdowns late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter to go in front of Miami, 14-7. Mabon got the Cardinals on the board first with a 25-yard catch-and-run to the end zone. He finished with 11 receptions to pass Dante Ridgeway (2002-04) and become Ball State's all-time leader in receptions (244).
Sophomore quarterback Riley Neal scored on a three-yard option run to make the score, 14-7.
The Cardinals reached Miami's red zone on their next three possessions, but only came away with six points. A Miami interception in the end zone put a halt to one drive. Sophomore kicker Morgan Hagee converted two field goal attempts, one at the end of the first half and another midway through the third quarter, to give Ball State the slim 20-14 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
Sophomore running back James Gilbert capped his season with his seventh 100-yard rushing performance. He racked up 117 yards on the ground and totaled 1,332 rushing yards for the season, good enough for fourth spot on Ball State's single-season chart. Meanwhile, Neal added a career-high 96 yards rushing on 16 attempts. The quarterback also threw for 188 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, the Cardinals racked up seven sacks, their second most of the season. Junior defensive end Anthony Winbush had 2.5 sacks while sophomore defensive tackle Kevin Thurmon posted two sacks.
Miami's Ragland totaled a personal-high 380 yards passing and three touchdowns. He connected with wide receiver Rokeem Williams twice for scores, including a 74-yard pass on the first play of the second half.
The final offensive stats were nearly identical, just like the scoreboard, with Miami holding a slight edge in total yards, 442 to 435.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Team Stats
BALL
MIAMI
Total Yards
435
442
Pass Yards
188
380
Rushing Yards
247
62
Penalty Yards
34
25
1st Downs
26
20
3rd Downs
8
8
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
29:01
30:59
1st Quarter
BALL 0, MIAMI 7
MIAMI - WILLIAMS, R. 36 yd pass from RAGLAND, Gus (DOWD, Nick kick) 4 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:12
BALL 7, MIAMI 7
BALL - MABON, KeVonn 25 yd pass from NEAL, Riley (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 4 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:54
2nd Quarter
BALL 14, MIAMI 7
BALL - NEAL, Riley 3 yd run (HAGEE, Morgan kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:48
BALL 17, MIAMI 7
BALL - HAGEE, Morgan 31 yd field goal 14 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:05
3rd Quarter
BALL 17, MIAMI 14
MIAMI - WILLIAMS, R. 74 yd pass from RAGLAND, Gus (DOWD, Nick kick) 1 plays, 74 yards, TOP 0:12
BALL 20, MIAMI 14
BALL - HAGEE, Morgan 25 yd field goal 13 plays, 57 yards, TOP 5:16
4th Quarter
BALL 20, MIAMI 21
MIAMI - SHISSO, Sam 27 yd pass from RAGLAND, Gus (DOWD, Nick kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:16
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
22
TD
1
YDS
188
INT
1
Players Mentioned
RB
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PK
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WR
/ FootballQB
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DT
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DE
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