Ball State University
4-8 , 3-5
Miami
6-6 , 6-2
Miami Flips Momentum, Runs Past Cardinals in Season Finale
November 20, 2018 | Football
Cardinals can’t hold 14-point lead, RedHawks become bowl eligible
Through most of the first half, Ball State was clicking on offense and making plays on defense, building a two touchdown lead. Then it all shifted. Just 13 minutes of game time later, BSU found itself two touchdowns behind, and Miami went on to score 35 unanswered points.
The RedHawks became bowl eligible with a 42-21 victory, getting to 6-6 (6-2 MAC) and keeping their MAC Championship Game hopes alive (Miami needs an Ohio win and a Buffalo loss). Ball State saw its season come to an end at 4-8 (3-5 MAC).
Miami ran for 364 yards, including 207 for Alonzo Smith who scored three times. The RedHawks threw only two passes in the second half, pounding out their yardage on the ground.
"It really came down to self-inflicted wounds at the end of the first half," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "That allowed them to get the score tied at halftime. The second half, we struggled to stop the run. They controlled the clock, and it was hard."
Ball State held a 21-7 lead late in the second quarter after a first half that featured the Cardinals' playmakers doing just that … making plays.
Justin Hall ran 22 yards for a score on a jet sweep, Drew Plitt scored on an option run one play after catching a throwback from Corey Lacanaria, and Plitt found Riley Miller for a one-handed grab in the corner of the end zone.
Get excited, @ferdjvy!!!
— Ball State Sports (@BallStateSports) November 21, 2018
Justin Hall speeds 22 yards around the end to put @BallStateFB on the board first at Miami.
??????#ChirpChirp | #WeFly pic.twitter.com/Nuj3VdisSh
Ball State was in position to take a lead into the half, but the momentum swung quickly in Miami's direction. On a fourth down with 3:39 showing on the first-half clock, the RedHawks needed 1 yard to keep their drive alive. Instead, they got 56. Smith busted out of a tackle and broke free down the sidelines for a score, changing the feel of the game.
A botched kickoff return and two three-and-outs later, Miami had the ball near midfield less than a minute before the half. The RedHawks moved into scoring position, and Dom Robinson caught a deflected pass from Gus Ragland with 5 seconds left to send the teams to the locker room all knotted up.
Miami continued to pound away after the half. Smith got loose for another long touchdown, this one a 47-yarder, and Ragland scored on a quarterback sneak, as the RedHawks took a 35-21 lead through three quarters. Smith tacked on one more score early in the fourth.
The Cardinals, playing the second half without banged up tight end Nolan Givan and running back James Gilbert, were unable to produce a scoring drive after the break.
"We had good balance in the first half," Neu said. "When we had some good drives going, we had a nice mix of 12 and 11 personnel. When we lost Nolan, that kind of took that away."
Plitt threw for 175 yards on 17-of-29 passing and also ran for 53 yards on 13 carries. Malik Dunner ran for 58 yards on seven carries, and Miller finished with five receptions for 71 yards while catching a touchdown for the seventh time in the past eight games.
Ball State freshman John Paddock saw his first collegiate action at quarterback on the Cardinals' final drive and completed 5-of-6 passes.
Those Riley Miller ??at it again!
— Ball State Sports (@BallStateSports) November 21, 2018
Actually, mostly just one ??on this one.
Miller's seventh TD in the past eight games has @BallStateFB up two touchdowns on Miami late in the first half.#ChirpChirp | #SCtop10 | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/sxK5d7nGWQ
Team Stats
BALL 7, MIAMI 0
BALL - HALL, Justin 22 yd run (HAGEE, Morgan kick), 8 plays, 87 yards, TOP 3:10
BALL 7, MIAMI 7
MIAMI - RAGLAND, Gus 1 yd run (SLOMAN, Sam kick), 5 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:31
BALL 14, MIAMI 7
BALL - PLITT, Drew 9 yd run (HAGEE, Morgan kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:14
BALL 21, MIAMI 7
BALL - MILLER, Riley 22 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 6 plays, 39 yards, TOP 2:56
BALL 21, MIAMI 14
MIAMI - SMITH, Alonzo 56 yd run (SLOMAN, Sam kick), 4 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:18
BALL 21, MIAMI 21
MIAMI - ROBINSON, Dom 4 yd pass from RAGLAND, Gus (SLOMAN, Sam kick) 7 plays, 44 yards, TOP 0:41
BALL 21, MIAMI 28
MIAMI - RAGLAND, Gus 1 yd run (SLOMAN, Sam kick), 8 plays, 58 yards, TOP 3:58
BALL 21, MIAMI 35
MIAMI - SMITH, Alonzo 47 yd run (SLOMAN, Sam kick), 6 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:08
BALL 21, MIAMI 42
MIAMI - SMITH, Alonzo 2 yd run (SLOMAN, Sam kick), 12 plays, 95 yards, TOP 7:18
