Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
1-9 , 1-5
Northern Illinois
7-3 , 5-1
Football Loses 26-20 To MAC Rival NIU In Bronze Stalk Game
November 13, 2009 | Football
DEKALB, Ill. - The Ball State football team lost the rivalry Bronze Stalk game 26-20 to Northern Illinois Thursday night in Mid-American Conference action at Huskie Stadium. The Cardinals fall to 1-9 overall and 1-5 in the MAC while the Huskies improve to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in league play.
Ball State and Northern Illinois play each year for the Bronze Stalk in a rivalry game which began with the 2008 contest.
"We are very young and very resilient," Ball State Head Football Coach Stan Parrish says. "I have a great amount of respect for Coach Kill and the Northern Illinois program. Give them all the credit. We have to minimize giving up the big plays. We make no excuses period. We have a lot of different guys take on the job of quarterback but we did not do a good job of protecting him. They are a very good team defensively. We are what we are and we have to be ready to play Central Michigan Wednesday night."
The Cardinals scored on their opening drive after Cory Sykes and MiQuale Lewis rushed for a total of 76 yards, which led to a five-yard touchdown run by Eric Williams. The touchdown was Williams fourth of the season.
With 7:26 remaining in the first quarter the Huskies tied the game 7-7 after quarterback DeMarcus Grady connected with wide receiver Preston Williams for his first career touchdown on his first career catch.
Ball State would get the ball back but the Northern Illinois defense would record a safety to take the 9-7 edge over the Cardinals at the 6:34 mark of the first quarter. The Huskies would increase their lead to 16-7 after Chad Span's six-yard touchdown run with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Back-to-back field goals by Ball State's Ian McGarvey in the second quarter made it a 16-13 ball game with 6:47 left. McGarvey nailed field goals of 38 and 30 yards. The game would remain 16-13 going into the half after strong safety Alex Knipp recorded his first interception of the season and ninth of his career late in the second quarter to halt an NIU drive.
Northern Illinois kicker Mike Salerno made a 41-yard field goal attempt at the 9:53 in the third quarter to put the Huskies up 19-13 over the Cardinals. The Huskies would then take a 26-13 edge over the Cardinals after Chandler Harnish found Marcus Lewis in the end zone for his first career touchdown reception at the 4:56 mark.
Late in the fourth quarter Ball State's quarterback Tanner Justice completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Daniel Ifft with 5:21 remaining making it a 26-20 ball game. It was Ifft's second touchdown reception of the season and sixth of his career.
The Cardinals regained possession in the closing minutes of the game but were unable to score .
The Ball State football team will host Central Michigan Wednesday which will be televised on ESPN2 with an 8 p.m. kickoff.
1st quarter
Ball State 13:05 - Eric Williams 5-yard run (4 plays, 78 yards, 1:55) (Ian McGarvey kick good)
Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 0
Northern Illinois 7:26 - DeMarcus Grady 9-yard pass to Preston Williams (9 plays, 59-yards-5:39) (Mike Salerno kick good)
Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 7
Northern Illinois 6:34- Safety
Northern Illinois 9, Ball State 7
Northern Illinois 3:06- Chad Span 6-yard run (7 plays, 62 yards, 3:28) (Mike Salerno kick good)
Northern Illinois 16, Ball State 7
2nd quarter
Ball State 14:51 - Ian McGarvey 38-yard field goal (7 plays, 16 yards, 3:15)
Northern Illinois 16, Ball State 10
Ball State 6:47 - Ian McGarvey 30-yard field goal (13 plays, 43 yards, 5:54)
Northern Illinios 16, Ball State 13
3rd quarter
Northern Illinois 9:53- Mike Salerno 41-yard field goal (10 plays, 44 yards, 5:07)
Northern Illinois 19, Ball State 13
Northern Illinois 4:56- Chandler Harnish 6-yard pass to Marcus Lewis (5 plays, 34 yards, 2:50) (Mike Salerno kick good)
4th quarter
Ball State 5:27- Tanner Justice 29-yard pass to Daniel Ifft (13 plays, 77 yards, 6:53) (Ian McGarvey kick good)
Northern Illinois 26, Ball State 20
Team Stats
BSU 7, NIU 0
BSU - WILLIAMS, Eric 5 yd run (MCGARVEY, Ian kick), 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:55
BSU 7, NIU 7
NIU - WILLIAMS, Prest 9 yd pass from GRADY, DeMarcus (SALERNO, Mike kick) 9 plays, 59 yards, TOP 5:39
BSU 7, NIU 9
NIU - COFFMAN, Jake 2 yd safety
BSU 7, NIU 16
NIU - SPANN, Chad 6 yd run (SALERNO, Mike kick), 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:28
BSU 10, NIU 16
BSU - MCGARVEY, Ian 38 yd field goal 7 plays, 16 yards, TOP 3:15
BSU 13, NIU 16
BSU - MCGARVEY, Ian 30 yd field goal 13 plays, 43 yards, TOP 5:54
BSU 13, NIU 19
NIU - SALERNO, Mike 41 yd field goal 10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 5:07
BSU 13, NIU 26
NIU - LEWIS, Marcus 6 yd pass from HARNISH, Chand (SALERNO, Mike kick) 5 plays, 34 yards, TOP 2:50
BSU 20, NIU 26
BSU - IFFT, Daniel 29 yd pass from JUSTICE, Tanner (MCGARVEY, Ian kick) 13 plays, 77 yards, TOP 6:53
