Ball State University
1-3
NC State
3-1
Defensive Effort Gives Cardinals Chance in 34-23 Loss at NC State
September 21, 2019 | Football
BSU outgains ACC opponent on the road, Wolfpack changes game on special teams
The Cardinals forced the first two NC State turnovers of the season, turned the Wolfpack over on downs another time and couldn't be faulted for any second-half points.
But two NC State touchdown drives before the break and two huge special teams plays in the second half propelled the Wolfpack to a 34-23 victory at Carter-Finley Stadium.
"Really proud of the effort of our defense; I thought in the second half they were fantastic," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "We were really defending a lot of plays in the first half, and our guys did a good job coming out in the second half and getting off the field."
Cosby with the diving snag. Cards get the ball back trailing 27-16 with 11 minutes to play in Raleigh.#OTM | #1AAT pic.twitter.com/dzGcsgpiYJ
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) September 22, 2019
A Caleb Huntley touchdown run with 4:49 left pulled Ball State (1-3) back within two scores, and Ray Wilborn recovered Ryan Rimmler's well executed onside kick that followed. BSU looked primed to pull even closer after moving into the red zone on Drew Plitt's 35-yard hookup with Yo'Heinz Tyler.
But Plitt's throw to the end zone three plays later was batted around and picked off. It was the end of the night for the Ball State offense, which managed the first touchdowns surrendered by the Wolfpack in their last three home games.
Plitt, the nation's third-leading passer entering the weekend, surpassed 300 yards for the third straight game. He attempted a career-high 57 passes and hit 35 of them. Ball State outgained NC State (3-1) in total yards but lacked a little balance, managing just 84 yards rushing on 30 attempts, though Huntley averaged 4 yards a pop on 13 carries.
Rimmler made three second-half field goals, including two from 43 yards, to keep Ball State within striking distance. But it was also in the special teams area where NC State did its damage.
Thayer Thomas returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown less than two minutes into the third quarter, and Max Fisher blocked a punt to swing the fourth-quarter momentum seemingly moments after the BSU defense had come up with a big fourth-down stop.
NC State quarterback Matthew McKay ran in for a touchdown three plays later to give the Wolfpack at 34-16 lead with 8:41 left.
"We had a couple opportunities where we needed to finish the deal, and we didn't get that done," Neu said. "The effort is fantastic, the heart, all that stuff is good. Each guy knows that we have a few plays that we need to make in order to have a chance to change that outcome."
Ball State led 7-6 after midway through the second quarter thanks to Justin Hall's touchdown on a jet sweep and a defensive performance that held NC State to field goals on two red zone trips. Ray Wilborn also picked off a tipped pass for the first takeaway this season by an NC State opponent (secondary mate Bryce Cosby had another interception in the second half).
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— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) September 21, 2019
Justin Hall. TD. Cards lead. #OTM #1AAT pic.twitter.com/cetVFKaEnt
But things flipped down the stretch in the second quarter. The Cardinals offense, which moved the ball to the tune of 134 yards on its first three drives, managed just 33 yards over its final three first-half possessions. NC State, meanwhile, began to find its footing.
The Wolfpack put together touchdown drives of 55 and 82 yards to turn a one-point deficit into a 20-7 lead at the half. They stretched the lead to 27-7 on Thomas' punt return touchdown.
McKay scored two of NC State's touchdowns with his legs and finished 17-of-30 for 175 yards through the air. Ricky Person Jr. ran for a game-high 71 yards and accounted for the Wolfpack's other offensive touchdown.
Hall and Riley Miller both caught eight passes to lead the Ball State receivers. And one game after setting a career-high with 17 tackles against Florida Atlantic, Ball State senior linebacker Jacob White broke it with 18.
The Cardinals are off next week before opening Mid-American Conference play with back-to-back road games at Northern Illinois (Oct. 5) and Eastern Michigan (Oct. 12). BSU is not home until its Homecoming game Oct. 19 against Toledo.
Team Stats
BALL 0, NCSU 3
NCSU - Dunn, C. 39 yd field goal 9 plays, 23 yards, TOP 3:18
BALL 7, NCSU 3
BALL - HALL, Justin 11 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:01
BALL 7, NCSU 6
NCSU - Dunn, C. 34 yd field goal 12 plays, 62 yards, TOP 5:14
BALL 7, NCSU 13
NCSU - Person, R. 3 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:29
BALL 7, NCSU 20
NCSU - McKay, M. 5 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 10 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:14
BALL 7, NCSU 27
NCSU - Thomas, T. 76 yd punt return (Dunn, C. kick)
BALL 10, NCSU 27
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 43 yd field goal 11 plays, 49 yards, TOP 3:22
BALL 13, NCSU 27
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 43 yd field goal 7 plays, 16 yards, TOP 2:45
BALL 16, NCSU 27
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 28 yd field goal 8 plays, 59 yards, TOP 2:26
BALL 16, NCSU 34
NCSU - McKay, M. 3 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 3 plays, 7 yards, TOP 1:17
BALL 23, NCSU 34
BALL - HUNTLEY, Caleb 2 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:52
