Saturday, November 18
Muncie, IN
2 p.m.
Ball State University
4-7 , 3-4
34
vs
3
Kent State
1-10 , 0-7
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Kent St.
0
3
0
0
3
Ball St.
3
10
14
7
34
Cardinals' Offense and Defense Both Dominant in 34-3 Win over Kent State
November 18, 2023 | Football
MUNCIE, lnd. – Ball State led wire-to-wire and beat Kent State 34-3 to win consecutive games for the first time this season. The 31-point victory was its largest against a Mid-American Conference team since a 52-14 win over Toledo in 2021.
Ball State (4-7, 3-4 MAC) won for the third time in four games and amassed 388 yards total offense in the process. Perhaps more impressive, the Cardinals' defense limited the Golden Flashes to just 29 yards rushing and only 97 yards total offense – Ball State's fewest allowed since at least 2000. The Cardinals won for the third time in five games since Kiael Kelly took over as their starting quarterback in Week 7. Kent State (1-10, 0-7 MAC) lost its eight straight.
As has been the case over the past five weeks, the Ball State defense set the tone. Behind a massive pass rush that recorded five sacks for the second time this season, the Cardinals made 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Sidney Houston Jr., led the defensive line surge with 4.5 tackles for loss while playing a part in three sacks. Keionte Newson had a pair of TFL with another sack. Mikhari Sibblis, while making his first start, added another sack and Jack Sape was credited with a half-sack while limiting the Kent State offense to just 29 rushing yards and 68 passing yards.
It was the lowest total yardage figure allowed by a MAC team this season, and the lowest by a Ball State team since at least 2000. The Flashes' 29 yards on the ground were the fewest allowed by the Cardinals since Eastern Kentucky totaled just three in 2016. Kent State managed just 2.0 yards per play, also the lowest in the MAC this year. The Flashes' ten possessions resulted in eight punts, one field goal and a missed fourth-down attempt.
Perhaps another reason for Kent State's rushing woes was the absence of their 1,000-yard ball carrier of the past two seasons. The Flashes' loss was the Cardinals' gain as transfer running back Marquez Cooper ran ragged against his old club, collecting 140 yards on 25 carries. Averaging 5.6 yards per carry, Cooper recorded the 16th 100-yard game of his career and his third this season. He raised his season rushing mark to 907 yards to leave him 93 yards shy of his third consecutive 1,000-yard season.
Cooper teamed with Kelly to cement the Cardinals' 1-2 rushing punch, with Ball State also receiving 61 yards and a touchdown from Vaughn Pemberton in the fourth quarter. Together, the trio averaged 6.1 yards per carry while collecting 289 out of Ball State's 300 net rushing yards. Kelly added 88 yards that included a 22-yard TD. Pemberton's career-high day included a 45-yard run that was the longest of his career and Ball State's longest of the season.
It was the Cardinals' first 300-yard rushing game since a 304-yard day at Eastern Michigan in 2020.
Now 3-2 over their last five games since the Cardinals' re-made offense embraced redshirt sophomore Kelly as its starting quarterback, Ball State has averaged 227 rushing yards per game. By comparison, Northern Illinois leads the MAC in league play with 199 yards per game.
Ball State scored first on a then-career-long 44-yard field goal by Jackson Courville, with 6:58 remaining in the first period. After Cooper's 1-yard plunge on the second play of the second quarter put Ball State on top 10-0, Courville topped his own career high with a 48-yarder four minutes later.
After Kent State's field goal in the final minute of the first half, it was all Cardinals in the second half, with Kelly engineering Ball State to three consecutive touchdowns on long drives of 75, 89 and 88 yards. Second-half dominance was reflected by Ball State's 15 first downs to just three for Kent State. The Flashes' final first down came on the final play of the third quarter.
The Cardinals close the regular season next Saturday while hosting Miami at noon.
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Ball State (4-7, 3-4 MAC) won for the third time in four games and amassed 388 yards total offense in the process. Perhaps more impressive, the Cardinals' defense limited the Golden Flashes to just 29 yards rushing and only 97 yards total offense – Ball State's fewest allowed since at least 2000. The Cardinals won for the third time in five games since Kiael Kelly took over as their starting quarterback in Week 7. Kent State (1-10, 0-7 MAC) lost its eight straight.
As has been the case over the past five weeks, the Ball State defense set the tone. Behind a massive pass rush that recorded five sacks for the second time this season, the Cardinals made 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Sidney Houston Jr., led the defensive line surge with 4.5 tackles for loss while playing a part in three sacks. Keionte Newson had a pair of TFL with another sack. Mikhari Sibblis, while making his first start, added another sack and Jack Sape was credited with a half-sack while limiting the Kent State offense to just 29 rushing yards and 68 passing yards.
It was the lowest total yardage figure allowed by a MAC team this season, and the lowest by a Ball State team since at least 2000. The Flashes' 29 yards on the ground were the fewest allowed by the Cardinals since Eastern Kentucky totaled just three in 2016. Kent State managed just 2.0 yards per play, also the lowest in the MAC this year. The Flashes' ten possessions resulted in eight punts, one field goal and a missed fourth-down attempt.
Perhaps another reason for Kent State's rushing woes was the absence of their 1,000-yard ball carrier of the past two seasons. The Flashes' loss was the Cardinals' gain as transfer running back Marquez Cooper ran ragged against his old club, collecting 140 yards on 25 carries. Averaging 5.6 yards per carry, Cooper recorded the 16th 100-yard game of his career and his third this season. He raised his season rushing mark to 907 yards to leave him 93 yards shy of his third consecutive 1,000-yard season.
Cooper teamed with Kelly to cement the Cardinals' 1-2 rushing punch, with Ball State also receiving 61 yards and a touchdown from Vaughn Pemberton in the fourth quarter. Together, the trio averaged 6.1 yards per carry while collecting 289 out of Ball State's 300 net rushing yards. Kelly added 88 yards that included a 22-yard TD. Pemberton's career-high day included a 45-yard run that was the longest of his career and Ball State's longest of the season.
It was the Cardinals' first 300-yard rushing game since a 304-yard day at Eastern Michigan in 2020.
Now 3-2 over their last five games since the Cardinals' re-made offense embraced redshirt sophomore Kelly as its starting quarterback, Ball State has averaged 227 rushing yards per game. By comparison, Northern Illinois leads the MAC in league play with 199 yards per game.
Ball State scored first on a then-career-long 44-yard field goal by Jackson Courville, with 6:58 remaining in the first period. After Cooper's 1-yard plunge on the second play of the second quarter put Ball State on top 10-0, Courville topped his own career high with a 48-yarder four minutes later.
After Kent State's field goal in the final minute of the first half, it was all Cardinals in the second half, with Kelly engineering Ball State to three consecutive touchdowns on long drives of 75, 89 and 88 yards. Second-half dominance was reflected by Ball State's 15 first downs to just three for Kent State. The Flashes' final first down came on the final play of the third quarter.
The Cardinals close the regular season next Saturday while hosting Miami at noon.
Follow the Cardinals
Team Stats
KSU
BSU
Total Yards
97
388
Pass Yards
68
88
Rushing Yards
29
300
Penalty Yards
79
66
1st Downs
9
21
3rd Downs
1
7
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
23:24
36:36
1st Quarter
KSU 0, BSU 3
BSU - Courville,Jackson 44 yd field goal 8 plays, 32 yards, TOP 03:03
2nd Quarter
KSU 0, BSU 10
BSU - Cooper,Marquez 1 yd run (Courville,Jackson kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:40
KSU 0, BSU 13
BSU - Courville,Jackson 48 yd field goal 7 plays, 13 yards, TOP 02:38
KSU 3, BSU 13
KSU - Glass,Andrew 45 yd field goal 9 plays, 23 yards, TOP 03:13
3rd Quarter
KSU 3, BSU 20
BSU - Kelly,Kiael 22 yd run (Courville,Jackson kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:04
KSU 3, BSU 27
BSU - Kelly,Kiael 4 yd run (Courville,Jackson kick), 8 plays, 89 yards, TOP 04:29
4th Quarter
KSU 3, BSU 34
BSU - Pemberton,Vaughn 1 yd run (Courville,Jackson kick), 11 plays, 88 yards, TOP 06:55
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
4
TD
0
YDS
71
INT
0
CMP
3
TD
0
YDS
17
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
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K
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DE/LB
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RB
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