Ball State University
4-7 , 3-4
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Western Michigan
6-5 , 4-3
What a Senior Night! Cardinals Pull Out Overtime Win over Western Michigan, 42-41
November 13, 2018 | Football
This was Ball State's (4-7, 3-4 MAC) first overtime game since knocking off the same Western Michigan (6-5, 4-3) squad in 2012.
"This was the best way we could go out for our seniors," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "I told them today that no matter what you do in your football career, you always remember the last one. I'm not sure if there's any better way for these guys to have their last one here at Scheumann Stadium."
Tuesday's home finale for Ball State was a back-and-forth affair all night featuring ties at 7, 14, 28 and 35. The Cardinals went ahead 35-28 on a Malik Dunner 12-yard touchdown run with 5:36 remaining only to see WMU even the score with 1:48 left.
The Cardinals got first crack with the ball in overtime and utilized a pair of creative plays to find the end zone. A reverse pass from wide receiver Corey Lacanaria to a wide-open Riley Miller on the first play moved the ball down to the one-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Drew Plitt completed a jump pass to tight end Kyle Schrank for the touchdown. A Morgan Hagee PAT made the score, 42-35.
Western Michigan needed five plays to find the end zone on its possession. Quarterback Kaleb Eleby ran the ball in from one yard out to bring the Broncos within one point, 42-41. The Broncos elected to go for two points and the win. However, linebacker Jimmy Daw and safety Bryce Cosby broke through the middle of the line and tripped up running back LeVante Bellamy well short of the goal line.
"That's a good football team with an experienced offensive line," Neu added. "Yes, they run the ball well, but all that mattered is we had the biggest stop of the year that we needed when it mattered most. They decided to go for two and what a great response from our defense to get that done."
Plitt, making his second straight start for an injured Riley Neal, completed 80.8 percent (21-of-26) of his pass attempts and connected on three touchdown passes. Wide receiver Justin Hall finished with a season-high 117 yards, including a 61-yard catch and run to set up a touchdown in the second quarter. Running back James Gilbert chipped in with a pair of touchdown runs for the second time this season.
For Western Michigan, Bellamy and Jamauri Bogan combined for 318 yards on the ground. The Broncos have now lost three straight league games after winning their first four MAC contests.
Ball State concludes its season next Tuesday night, Nov. 20, at Miami (Ohio). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Postgame thoughts from @BSUCoachNeu ???? pic.twitter.com/YGTA73M222
— Ball State Sports (@BallStateSports) November 14, 2018
JUMP PASS BY @dp_TheTruth! ??@BallStateFB scores first in OT!
— Ball State Sports Link (@bsusportslink) November 14, 2018
WATCH: ESPN2 | #WeFly | #ItsTime pic.twitter.com/COiavj4OHS
Team Stats
WMU 0, BALL 7
BALL - MILLER, Riley 22 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:10
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WMU 7, BALL 7
WMU - BOGAN, JAMAURI 3 yd run (PEDDIE, GAVIN kick), 13 plays, 87 yards, TOP 7:13
WMU 14, BALL 7
WMU - BOGAN, JAMAURI 2 yd run (PEDDIE, GAVIN kick), 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 5:33
WMU 14, BALL 14
BALL - LACANARIA, C. 11 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:46
WMU 14, BALL 21
BALL - GILBERT, James 17 yd run (HAGEE, Morgan kick), 2 plays, 27 yards, TOP 0:31
WMU 17, BALL 21
WMU - PEDDIE, GAVIN 31 yd field goal 10 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:18
WMU 17, BALL 28
BALL - GILBERT, James 12 yd run (HAGEE, Morgan kick), 6 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:02
WMU 20, BALL 28
WMU - PEDDIE, GAVIN 20 yd field goal 13 plays, 72 yards, TOP 6:57
WMU 28, BALL 28
WMU - BELLAMY, L 2 yd run (RICCI, GIOVANNI pass), 5 plays, 40 yards, TOP 1:26
WMU 28, BALL 35
BALL - DUNNER, Malik 12 yd run (HAGEE, Morgan kick), 8 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:52
WMU 35, BALL 35
WMU - RICCI, GIOVANNI 9 yd pass from ELEBY, KALEB (PEDDIE, GAVIN kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:48
WMU 35, BALL 42
BALL - SCHRANK, Kyle 2 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
WMU 41, BALL 42
WMU - ELEBY, KALEB 1 yd run (BELLAMY, L rushfailed), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
