Ball State University
3-3 , 2-0
Eastern Michigan
3-3 , 0-1
Road Warrior Cardinals Clip Eagles for 2-0 MAC Start
October 12, 2019 | Football
BSU scores last 15 points to win at EMU, returns to Muncie for Homecoming
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Make it two weeks, two MAC road wins. And now, finally, headed home for two straight.
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Ball State overtook Eastern Michigan in the fourth quarter Saturday and held off the Eagles in the closing seconds for a 29-23 win at Rynearson Stadium. The Cardinals (3-3) backed up last week's Bronze Stalk victory to improve to 2-0 in league play for the first time since 2013 with back-to-back road wins for the first time since the same year.
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"At halftime, we came in, we were down; the mood in the locker room was awesome," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "We've been there before. Obviously, we're not trying to repeat that formula, but it certainly says a lot about this football team when you just continue to fight, especially on the road."
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"It says a lot about this football team when you continue to fight, especially on the road … We found a way."@BSUCoachNeu after a second straight road dub pic.twitter.com/YQtnGsNtXf
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) October 12, 2019
BSU gave Eastern Michigan (3-3, 0-2 MAC) a steady dose of Caleb Huntley, just like it did to Northern Illinois last week. The junior back ran 29 times for 152 yards just seven days after grinding out 157 yards on 35 carries against the Huskies.
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Drew Plitt completed 23-of-32 passes for 255 yards, hitting Yo'Heinz Tyler and Justin Hall for touchdowns. He also scored twice on quarterback sneaks, the second of which gave Ball State its first lead with 11:36 to play.
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The Cardinals' defense finished it off from there. Ball State sacked EMU quarterback Mike Glass three times in the fourth quarter, picked him off for the third time and forced a fourth-down, red-zone fumble on the Eagles' final snap of the game.
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Jordan Williams' strip sack sealed the win after some tense late moments, including a near touchdown catch from Arthur Jackson. The EMU receiver's toe landed barely out of bounds, a call confirmed by replay.
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"We found a way; that's the most important thing," Neu said. "The defense did a great job at the end, bending, not breaking and causing a huge play on fourth down with the fumble. Very proud of the guys. Great effort."
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Running FREE!!!
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) October 12, 2019
That's a quick answer. Hall finds paydirt on his 8th catch of the day, matching his season high. #OTM | #1AAT pic.twitter.com/JvOzzeP9VM
Ball State scored the final 15 points after trailing 23-14 following Glass' second quarterback sneak touchdown with 7:32 to play in the third quarter. The Cardinals' defense surrendered just one second-half score for the third straight game.
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Antonio Phillips and Ray Wilborn picked off Glass in the second half to go along with a Bryce Cosby interception in the endzone that kept Eastern Michigan from scoring on its first drive of the game.
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Hall finished with a season highs of 11 catches and 109 receiving yards. In addition to his touchdown grab, Tyler set up Ball State's first touchdown of the day with a 39-yard catch-and run. Antwan Davis set up the go-ahead score with back-to-back catches.
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Saturday's game was the last of three straight on the road for Ball State. The Cardinals will play at Scheumann Stadium next Saturday for the first time in 35 days, hosting Toledo for a 2 p.m. kickoff on Homecoming. The game will air on ESPN+.
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Team Stats
BALL 0, EMU 7
EMU - GRISSOM, Jarius 2 yd pass from GLASS, Mike (RYLAND, Chad kick) 2 plays, 2 yards, TOP 0:43
BALL 7, EMU 7
BALL - PLITT, Drew 1 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 9 plays, 84 yards, TOP 3:07
BALL 7, EMU 14
EMU - GLASS, Mike 1 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 12 plays, 78 yards, TOP 5:38
BALL 7, EMU 17
EMU - RYLAND, Chad 52 yd field goal 6 plays, 32 yards, TOP 2:25
BALL 14, EMU 17
BALL - TYLER, Yo'Heinz 29 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 11 plays, 90 yards, TOP 3:41
BALL 14, EMU 23
EMU - GLASS, Mike 1 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kickfailed), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:24
BALL 21, EMU 23
BALL - HALL, Justin 46 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 2:37
BALL 29, EMU 23
BALL - PLITT, Drew 1 yd run (MILLER, Riley pass), 11 plays, 61 yards, TOP 3:53
