Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
2-4 , 1-2
Northern Illinois
3-3 , 1-1
NIU Wins Shootout Over Ball State, 59-41
October 11, 2015 | Football
DeKALB, Ill. – Host Northern Illinois retained possession of the Bronze Stalk Trophy Saturday afternoon with a 59-41 win over the Ball State football team.
With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference. Northern Illinois kept its perfect home record intact (3-0) and improved to 3-3 and 1-1.
“I really thought we were aggressive early in the game and tried to throw all we had at them,” head coach Pete Lembo said. “We needed to get some stops in the second half and weren't able to do that.”
A 26-yard field goal from freshman kicker Morgan Hagee and a four-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Riley Neal to sophomore wide receiver Jordan Hogue, gave the Cardinals an early 10-0 advantage at the start of the second quarter.
But that was the last time Ball State would be in control of the ball game. Northern Illinois answered with four straight touchdown drives which gave the Huskies a 28-13 advantage with 1:58 left to play in the opening half.
The Cardinal offense put some life back into the team right before intermission. Freshman running back James Gilbert scored from two yards out with nine seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to eight points, 28-20.
Neal hit junior KeVonn Mabon on a 48-yard scoring strike for Ball State's first touchdown of the second half to keep the Cardinals within reach (35-27) of the Huskies. However, Northern Illinois scored on its ensuing four possessions to pull away.
Today's game marked Neal's first 300-yard passing game of his collegiate career. The true freshman finished 31-of-53 passing for 393 yards and four touchdowns. Senior wide out Jordan Williams reached 100 yards receiving for the third straight game and led all players with 108 receiving yards.
Ball State will take a break from MAC play next Saturday, Oct. 17 and host Sun Belt foe Georgia State at Scheumann Stadium beginning at 3 p.m.
For the most up-to-date news on the football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @Pete_Lembo.
Team Stats
BALL 3, NIU 0
BALL - HAGEE, Morgan 26 yd field goal 8 plays, 32 yards, TOP 2:57
BALL 10, NIU 0
BALL - HOGUE, Jordan 4 yd pass from NEAL, Riley (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 12 plays, 83 yards, TOP 4:46
BALL 10, NIU 7
NIU - GOLLADAY, Kenny 3 yd run (HAGAN, Christia kick), 11 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:26
BALL 13, NIU 7
BALL - HAGEE, Morgan 28 yd field goal 12 plays, 43 yards, TOP 3:56
BALL 13, NIU 14
NIU - MAXWELL, Desroy 13 yd pass from HARE, Drew (HAGAN, Christia kick) 6 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:02
BALL 13, NIU 21
NIU - BOUAGNON, Joel 1 yd run (HAGAN, Christia kick), 3 plays, 9 yards, TOP 1:12
BALL 13, NIU 28
NIU - HUFF, Jordan 17 yd run (HAGAN, Christia kick), 5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 1:26
BALL 20, NIU 28
BALL - GILBERT, James 2 yd run (HAGEE, Morgan kick), 12 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:49
BALL 20, NIU 35
NIU - HUFF, Jordan 1 yd run (HAGAN, Christia kick), 14 plays, 77 yards, TOP 4:16
BALL 27, NIU 35
BALL - MABON, KeVonn 48 yd pass from NEAL, Riley (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:43
BALL 27, NIU 38
NIU - HAGAN, Christia 38 yd field goal 6 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:30
BALL 27, NIU 45
NIU - HARE, Drew 4 yd run (HAGAN, Christia kick), 14 plays, 97 yards, TOP 4:50
BALL 34, NIU 45
BALL - LACANARIA, C. 5 yd pass from NEAL, Riley (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 11 plays, 64 yards, TOP 3:04
BALL 34, NIU 52
NIU - GOLLADAY, Kenny 34 yd pass from HARE, Drew (HAGAN, Christia kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:48
BALL 34, NIU 59
NIU - BOUAGNON, Joel 1 yd run (HAGAN, Christia kick), 12 plays, 58 yards, TOP 5:42
BALL 41, NIU 59
BALL - BROWN, C. 53 yd pass from NEAL, Riley (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 4 plays, 81 yards, TOP 1:23
