Ball State University
5-3-0 , 3-2
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Western Michigan
3-5-0 , 2-2
Football Wins in Final Minutes at Western Michigan, 27-23
October 21, 2007 | Football
A one-yard touchdown run by Frank Edmond's with 1:07 left in the game, and an interception by Alex Knipp which was deflected by Derrick Henry with 20 seconds left helped
The Cardinals improved to 5-3 (MAC West 2-1, MAC Overall 3-2) while the Broncos fell to 3-5 (MAC West 2-1, MAC Overall 2-2).
Knipp's interception was his second of the season, and the third for the Cardinals against Western Michigan in the game. It marked the second time this year
“This is a hard place to play and they are a good football team,” said Ball State Head Coach Brady Hoke. “Our kids really care about each other and that is a key to this team. We have character on this team.”
But just as the game dictated from the beginning, a big play by the Broncos put them back in front just seconds later.
After a series of punts, Ball State started its final drive with 3:57 to play and nine plays and 79 yards later, Edmonds one-yard touchdown run gave the Cardinals the 27-23 lead with just 1:07 left in the contest. The Broncos came right back and the defense responded. A WMU pass fell incomplete. Brandon Crawford sacked Western Michigan for a loss of two. WMU called a timeout and then completed a 19-yard pass to move the Broncos to their own 37-yard line.
But as the game unfolded the whole day, the Cardinals big play defense responded. With 20 seconds left on the clock Burk deflected a pass to Knipp and the game was over.
Nate Davis completed 25-of-48 passes for 358 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Dante Love led all receivers with 11 catches for 101 yards, while Louis Johnson added three catches for 110 yards and one TD and Darius Hill managed five receptions for 82 yards. Ball State's Chris Miller, the No. 2 ranked punter in the nation, managed 10 punts for 453 yards, including five which forced Western Michigan to start its drives inside its own 20-yard line.
The win kept Ball State alive in the Mid-American Conference West Division race as it enters two non-conference games.
Ball State Game Scoring Summary:
Western Michigan took a 16-13 lead with 10:48 to play in the game after mounting a 13-play drive which culminated on a 29-yard field goal for the Broncos.
After trading possessions early in the third quarter,
The first half saw Western Michigan dominate early, holding Ball State to only one first down in the first quarter and taking a 10-0 lead with 13:57 to go in the half. But the Cardinals took advantage of some big plays to tie the game at 10-10 with 6:44 to go. After the Broncos took the first half lead,
Team Stats
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BSU 0, WMU 3
WMU - JONES, Mike 45 yd field goal 11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:24
BSU 0, WMU 10
WMU - HILLER, Tim 1 yd run (JONES, Mike kick), 11 plays, 44 yards, TOP 4:39
BSU 7, WMU 10
BSU - EVERETT, Joe 34 yd pass from DAVIS, Nate (HOGUE, Jake kick) 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:19
BSU 10, WMU 10
BSU - HOGUE, Jake 40 yd field goal 8 plays, 45 yards, TOP 4:02
BSU 10, WMU 13
WMU - JONES, Mike 33 yd field goal 7 plays, 82 yards, TOP 1:26
BSU 13, WMU 13
BSU - HOGUE, Jake 22 yd field goal 8 plays, 37 yards, TOP 1:34
BSU 13, WMU 16
WMU - JONES, Mike 29 yd field goal 13 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:48
BSU 20, WMU 16
BSU - JOHNSON, Louis 44 yd pass from DAVIS, Nate (HOGUE, Jake kick) 3 plays, 66 yards, TOP 0:47
BSU 20, WMU 23
WMU - WHITE, Jordan 50 yd pass from HILLER, Tim (JONES, Mike kick) 2 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:23
BSU 27, WMU 23
BSU - EDMONDS, Frank 1 yd run (HOGUE, Jake kick), 9 plays, 79 yards, TOP 2:50
