Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
9-2 , 7-0
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Western Michigan
1-10 , 1-6
Football Wins Season Finale 22-17 at Western Michigan
November 25, 2009 | Football
Ball State forced Western Michigan quarterback Tim Hiller into a career high four interceptions, including two by the Cardinals Sean Baker, with one coming on the final play of the game to seal a 22-17 Ball State victory at Western Michigan.
"We just kept grinding things out and the football Gods made things work out for us," Ball State head coach Stan Parrish says. "We hung in there and for the first time in three years we won our last game of the season. We played with a lot of character all year and this team will take that into the offseason and learn from the experience."
The victory improved the Cardinals to 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference, while Western Michigan fell to 5-7 overall and 4-4 in league play.
After Ball State took a 3-0 early in the game on a 31-yard field goal by Ian McGarvey, Jason Pinkston halted a Western Michigan drive with his third interception of the season. The Pinkston pick set up McGarvey's second field goal of the game -- a 45-yarder with 4:03 to go in the first quarter -- to put the Cardinals ahead 6-0, which is where the score stood after one quarter.
The Cardinals were seven plays and 37 yards into a drive as the second quarter began when Tanner Justice connected with Daniel Ifft on a 19-yard pass to the 3-yard line. MiQuale Lewis took it from there and romped around the right end untouched for the score The McGarvey point after gave Ball State a 13-0 lead with 14:36 to play in the half.
The touchdown was Lewis' fifth rushing TD of the year and the 30th rushing score of his career. He is now tied for third all-time in Ball State annals for rushing TDs in a career.
A 29-yard Western Michigan field goal at the 4:33 mark of the second quarter closed the Cardinals lead to 13-3.
After WMU blocked Ball State's punt with just over three minutes remaining in the half, Brandon Crawford forced a Broncos' quarterback Hiller to fumble and Drew Duffin recovered the first fumble of his career to give the Cardinals the ball on the WMU 47-yard line. It marked the ninth forced fumble of Crawford's career.
But, just two plays later, Western Michigan intercepted a Justice pass with 1:56 to go in the half and WMU took over near midfield. Nine plays later the Broncos scored on a one-yard run and reduced the Cardinals lead to 13-10 at the half.
Ball State was forced to punt on its opening possession of the second half, but Travis Freeman made his first career interception with just over 11 minutes to go in the third quarter.
After a 49-yard Scott Kovanda punt forced Western Michigan to start a drive at the Cardinals 21-yard line, Baker registered his third interception of the season and ninth of his career to give Ball State the ball back. The ninth career pick for Baker moved him into a tie for 11th in Ball State's career record books, while the third Hiller interception of the game tied his career high.
Four plays later, McGarvey tied his career long with a 48-yard field goal and tied his career high of three field goals in the same game as the Cardinals lead increased to 16-10 with 7:13 left in the third.
Western Michigan answered back and scored a touchdown with 14:48 to play in the game to take a 17-16 lead.
Charlie Todd then provided the biggest fireworks of the night and returned a WMU punt 87 yards for a score with 7:57 to play. It marked the first punt return for a TD for Ball State since B.J. Hill in 2005. The Cardinals went for the two point conversion but failed and held a 22-17 lead over the Broncos.
With just under six minutes to play, the Broncos went for a fourth and six on the Ball State 23-yard line and the Cardinals' defense forced Hiller out of the pocket and into an incomplete pass.
Ball State's Cory Sykes gained seven yards on a third and six and the clock ticked under four minutes with the Cardinals still in possession. After a WMU timeout at the 3:21 mark, MiQuale Lewis rushed for eight yards on a third and seven to keep Ball Staet's drive alive.
The Broncos called their final timeout with 2:47 to play and Ball State got into a third and nine on their own 46-yard line. After a two-yard gain by Lewis, Ball State was forced to punt with 1:13 to play. WMU took over on their own 13-yard line with 1:03 to play.
Baker tallied his second interception of the game and the 10th of his career on the final play of the game to seal the victory and move him to 11th on Ball State's career chart.
"We finally won a close game," Parrish says. "We were banged up, but our young offensive line learned a lot this season. Defensively, we got good pressure on Hiller and played with determination. Brandon Crawford told this team to be "All In, All The Time", and that is what we did. We were focused and wanted to turn in a good performance after the way we played in the Central Michigan game. We were tackling hard and gave a good, aggressive effort."
The Cardinals will open the 2010 season Thurs., Sept. 2, with a home game vs. Southeast Missouri State.
Team Stats
CMU 7, BSU 0
CMU - ANDERSON, Bryan 10 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (AGUILA, Andrew kick) 6 plays, 51 yards, TOP 2:06
CMU 14, BSU 0
CMU - LeFEVOUR, Dan 1 yd run (AGUILA, Andrew kick), 6 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:26
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CMU 14, BSU 3
BSU - MCGARVEY, Ian 20 yd field goal 10 plays, 59 yards, TOP 4:46
CMU 21, BSU 3
CMU - BROWN, Antonio 82 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (AGUILA, Andrew kick) 3 plays, 81 yards, TOP 0:45
CMU 28, BSU 3
CMU - BLACKBURN, D. 3 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (AGUILA, Andrew kick) 11 plays, 90 yards, TOP 4:25
CMU 35, BSU 3
CMU - BLACKBURN, D. 11 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (AGUILA, Andrew kick) 6 plays, 81 yards, TOP 1:52
