Second-Half Surge Leads Football Past Western Illinois

MUNCIE, Ind. - Strong defensive play and a second-half offensive surge helped the Ball State football team open the 2021 season with a 31-21 victory over Western Illinois Thursday night under the lights at Scheumann Stadium.

In picking up its eighth straight victory, the Cardinals (1-0) rebounded from a slow start to score 24 second-half points in front of 13,149 fans in the first game in the state of Indiana not to limit fan attendance since 2019.

"It's so cool to see that, people walking into the stadium and just to get that vibe and energy," head coach Mike Neu said about Thursday night's crowd. "I want that so much for our players. I know how hard they've worked, and it means more to them than anything to have fans in the stands. To have a full house here at Scheumann Stadium. There's nothing better than playing when you have people and there's energy and there's buzz like tonight."

The teams gave fans plenty to cheer about over the course of the game, including some solid defense in the opening half which saw the teams play to a 7-7 stalemate.

After the break, however, it was a little offensive fireworks that would get the fans going, starting with a momentum-building drive for the Cardinals. BSU would open the second half by going 68 yards in 10 plays over 4:27 in a drive that was capped by a 21-year scoring run from redshirt senior running back Will Jones.

Jones finished the night with a game-high 93 yards on 18 carries and his one touchdown.

After the Leathernecks (0-1) answered with a 75-yard touchdown strike following the kickoff, tying the score at 14, Ball State responded with three straight scores to take control.

"Western Illinois is a good football team," Neu said. "They've got some talent, they play hard, and they play physical. You have to give them credit, they have some good play makers on their football team. It was good to get a win."

BSU's first strike came on the next possession when redshirt fifth-year senior quarterback Drew Plitt found fifth-year senior wide receiver Justin Hall for a 48-yard touchdown, the second of the game for the duo who both took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Plitt and Hall also connected for a 49-yard touchdown in the first quarter to open the scoring in the game. Hall, who has caught a pass in every game of his career, extended his FBS-leading receptions streak to 44 straight games and finished the night with 137 yards on 11 receptions. Even more impressive, his 79 total yards after the catch.

Plitt would finish the night with 17 completions and 188 total yards on 28 attempts.

Leading 21-14 with 2:39 left in the third, it was the defense's turn to make another big play, and junior cornerback Nic Jones did not disappoint. He came up with his first career interception, aided by a quarterback hurry from fifth-year senior Christian Albright, and would go on to finish the night with four tackles and a pair of pass breakups.

The next momentum play for the Cardinals came from freshman running back Carson Steele, when he busted through the defensive line for a 37-yard scamper ending in his first collegiate touchdown. It was also the longest running play of the game by either squad.

Overall, Ball State out-gained Western Illinois 216 to 70 on the ground.

Ball State capped its scoring on the next possession courtesy of a 35-yard field goal from redshirt senior kicker Jake Chanove.

While WIU added a touchdown with a little over a minute left, they never threatened after Hall's second score of the day.

"Obviously we are 1-0, and that is the most important thing that happened tonight," Neu added. "But we have a lot of things we need to clean up. We didn't play a great first half and put the defense in a bad position. However, I was proud of the way we came back out in the second half, established the line of scrimmage, and did a great job of controlling the clock."

Next up for the Cardinals, a trip to Happy Valley to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in a 3:30 p.m. tilt on Saturday, Sept. 11. The game will be televised live nationally on FS1.

Second-Half Surge Leads Football Past Western Illinois

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Team Stats

Drew Plitt

Players Mentioned

Christian Albright

Jake Chanove

Justin Hall

Nic Jones

Will Jones

Drew Plitt

Carson Steele

Players Mentioned

Christian Albright

Jake Chanove

Justin Hall

Nic Jones

Will Jones

Drew Plitt

Carson Steele