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Top Stories of 2016-17: James Gilbert Runs Wild at Buffalo
June 08, 2017 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – Another athletic year is in the books for the Cardinals. Ball State student-athletes, coaches and teams accomplished several notable feats in 2016-17 and left their mark on the university.
Through much discussion, BallStateSports.com has identified the top 10 storylines of the year. We will reveal the storylines one-by-one each week for the next 10 weeks. In early August, once they have all been announced, fans will be able to vote for their favorite stories of the year.
The stories will be revealed in chronological order, beginning with the fall season and running through the spring. We begin this week with a look back at a memorable football game for running back James Gilbert …
James Gilbert Rushes for 264 Yards in Win at Buffalo
Ball State entered the game at Buffalo on Oct. 15 in desperate need of a win. The Cardinals had just dropped its first two MAC games, both very close affairs to Northern Illinois and Central Michigan.
The first half at Buffalo was not what anyone on the team had hoped for. Ball State scored a touchdown on its opening possession, but was held in check the rest of the half with four punts and three turnovers. There wasn't a hint that Gilbert was going to have a breakout game either. The sophomore was held to just 43 yards on the ground on 14 carries.
However, Gilbert provided the needed spark for the Cardinals in the second half. On Ball State's second possession, he burst through the line for 50 yards down to the Buffalo 2-yard line. The Cardinals scored a touchdown on a Riley Neal run two plays later.
A few minutes later, Gilbert exploded for another huge run. This time, he raced down the right sidelines 80 yards to pay dirt, putting the Cardinals ahead for good, 21-14. That was the longest run by a Ball State player since David Brown produced an 80-yard touchdown run at Central Michigan on Oct. 2, 2010.
Ball State went on to win the game, 31-21. Individually, Gilbert finished with 264 rushing yards, 221 of which came after intermission, and two touchdowns. MiQuale Lewis is the only Ball State player to finish with more rushing yards in a game than Gilbert. Lewis tallied 301 yards at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 24, 2009.
Gilbert went on to score 12 rushing touchdowns in 2016, the most by any player in the MAC. His 1,332 rushing yards were the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Through much discussion, BallStateSports.com has identified the top 10 storylines of the year. We will reveal the storylines one-by-one each week for the next 10 weeks. In early August, once they have all been announced, fans will be able to vote for their favorite stories of the year.
The stories will be revealed in chronological order, beginning with the fall season and running through the spring. We begin this week with a look back at a memorable football game for running back James Gilbert …
James Gilbert Rushes for 264 Yards in Win at Buffalo
Ball State entered the game at Buffalo on Oct. 15 in desperate need of a win. The Cardinals had just dropped its first two MAC games, both very close affairs to Northern Illinois and Central Michigan.
The first half at Buffalo was not what anyone on the team had hoped for. Ball State scored a touchdown on its opening possession, but was held in check the rest of the half with four punts and three turnovers. There wasn't a hint that Gilbert was going to have a breakout game either. The sophomore was held to just 43 yards on the ground on 14 carries.
However, Gilbert provided the needed spark for the Cardinals in the second half. On Ball State's second possession, he burst through the line for 50 yards down to the Buffalo 2-yard line. The Cardinals scored a touchdown on a Riley Neal run two plays later.
A few minutes later, Gilbert exploded for another huge run. This time, he raced down the right sidelines 80 yards to pay dirt, putting the Cardinals ahead for good, 21-14. That was the longest run by a Ball State player since David Brown produced an 80-yard touchdown run at Central Michigan on Oct. 2, 2010.
Ball State went on to win the game, 31-21. Individually, Gilbert finished with 264 rushing yards, 221 of which came after intermission, and two touchdowns. MiQuale Lewis is the only Ball State player to finish with more rushing yards in a game than Gilbert. Lewis tallied 301 yards at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 24, 2009.
Gilbert went on to score 12 rushing touchdowns in 2016, the most by any player in the MAC. His 1,332 rushing yards were the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
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