Ball State University
3-7 , 2-4
Buffalo
6-4 , 4-2
Cardinals Suffer Overtime Defeat in MACtion Battle at Buffalo
November 12, 2024 | Football
Ball State's first overtime matchup in more than two years came under the Tuesday-night lights in frigid Western New York conditions. The Cardinals, who opened the extended period with possession, were unable to prevail in the overtime MACtion battle. The red and white fell to Buffalo, 51-48, despite leading by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter.
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The Cardinals were held short of finding the endzone on their first overtime drive, but Jackson Courville's 36-yard boot kept their hopes alive and gave them a three-point edge. Buffalo answered with more force, however, as a 14-yard strike from C.J. Ogbonna to Lamar Sperling gave the Bulls a decisive touchdown blow.
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The loss dropped the Cardinals to 3-7 (2-4 MAC) on the year, while Buffalo's win advanced its season mark to 6-4 (4-2 MAC).
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Despite the setback, the nationally televised clash featured a number of shining individual performances for the Cardinals. DD Snyder II produced the finest outing of his collegiate years, posting a career-best tackles mark (11) and snatching a career-high two interceptions. On the offensive end, Cam Pickett produced 111 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and Justin Bowick hauled in seven catches for 148 yards and a pair of scores — his second-straight game with at least 140 receiving yards and one touchdown.
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Ball State's offense also collectively produced its highest yardage total (520) and points mark (48) of the 2024 season.
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Buffalo hung the first points on the scoreboard, cashing in on the evening's opening drive. Ogbonna found a path into the endzone to cap off a 16-play, 75-yard drive, which chiseled seven minutes off the clock.
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The Cardinals responded to the home side's long-lasting march with a swift score to even the contest at seven points apiece. Kadin Semonza led the offense 81 yards in a little more than three minutes and delivered a 23-yard strike on the run to Bowick for the concluding touchdown.
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After forcing a Bulls three-and-out, the red and white produced another explosive offensive drive, which was headlined by Semonza's career-long, 53-yard scamper. The Semonza-Koziol connection capped off the series with a 2-yard link — the duo's seventh touchdown of the season.
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An Upton Bellenfant 27-yard field goal cut the Ball State lead to four, but the Cardinals quickly answered back. Using a 53-yard reception from Bowick to advance the ball down the field, Vaughn Pemberton punched in a touchdown from close range, advancing the score to 21-10.
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On the second play of Buffalo's ensuing possession, Thailand Baldwin recovered a Bulls fumble to set up a Ball State drive in enemy territory. The Cardinals were unable to capitalize, though, which led to a Buffalo scoring drive. The home squad found paydirt on a six-yard rush by Al-Jay Henderson.
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The Cardinals then moved the score to 28-17 with 1:12 remaining, with a 22-yard Semonza strike to Bowick in the corner of the endzone. Twenty-eight points marked the highest single-half scoring total for Ball State in a MAC contest this season.
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Ball State then found the ball back in its hands after a quick stalled Buffalo drive, but the Cardinals then returned possession back to the Bulls on an interception. After a long return and a pair of offensive plays, Buffalo closed out the half with another touchdown. Ball State headed into the halftime locker room with a 28-24 edge.
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Buffalo carried over its late first-half momentum into the third period. The Bulls stymied the Cardinals' offense on their opening drive and later scored on their first chance with the ball. Henderson's four-yard touchdown burst brought the hosts back into the lead (31-28).
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Each offense then exchanged a pair of three-and-outs, a spell that was then broken by Pickett's 65-yard touchdown catch on the following possession. The connection marked Ball State's longest touchdown pass of the year and moved the Cardinals in front, 35-31. A Snyder II interception then followed on the next drive to set the stage for a scoring drive that ended in a 9-yard jet sweep touchdown rush by Pickett.
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Snyder II's heroics came out again on Buffalo's next drive, as he snatched another interception. The Cardinals converted on the ensuing possession as Jason Courville nailed a 27-yard field goal to put the red and white up 45-31.
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Buffalo's offense manufactured a touchdown on its next time out, which was earned by Ogbonna's 26-yard run. The Bulls then added another touchdown after holding next Ball State's drive and converted on a two-point conversion to knot the score at 45. A failed two-minute drive for the Cardinals sent the contest into overtime.
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Up next for Ball State is its final home contest of the 2024 campaign. The Cardinals are set to welcome Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 23. A kickoff time is still to be announced.
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Team Stats
BSU 0, BUF 7
BUF - Ogbonna,C.J. 3 yd run (Bellenfant,Upton kick), 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:13
BSU 7, BUF 7
BSU - Bowick,Justin 23 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Courville,Jackson kick) 7 plays, 81 yards, TOP 03:08
BSU 14, BUF 7
BSU - Koziol,Tanner 2 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Courville,Jackson kick) 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:16
BSU 14, BUF 10
BUF - Bellenfant,Upton 27 yd field goal 7 plays, 53 yards, TOP 02:39
BSU 21, BUF 10
BSU - Pemberton,Vaughn 1 yd run (Courville,Jackson kick), 7 plays, 77 yards, TOP 03:45
BSU 21, BUF 17
BUF - Henderson,Al-Jay 6 yd run (Bellenfant,Upton kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:42
BSU 28, BUF 17
BSU - Bowick,Justin 22 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Courville,Jackson kick) 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:20
BSU 28, BUF 24
BUF - Snow,Victor 2 yd pass from Ogbonna,C.J. (Bellenfant,Upton kick) 2 plays, 2 yards, TOP 00:09
BSU 28, BUF 31
BUF - Henderson,Al-Jay 4 yd run (Bellenfant,Upton kick), 9 plays, 63 yards, TOP 04:41
BSU 35, BUF 31
BSU - Pickett,Cam 65 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Courville,Jackson kick) 2 plays, 65 yards, TOP 00:16
BSU 42, BUF 31
BSU - Pickett,Cam 9 yd run (Courville,Jackson kick), 4 plays, 19 yards, TOP 02:13
BSU 45, BUF 31
BSU - Courville,Jackson 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 58 yards, TOP 05:00
BSU 45, BUF 37
BUF - Ogbonna,C.J. 26 yd run (), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:25
BSU 45, BUF 45
BUF - Jenkins,JJ 33 yd pass from Ogbonna,C.J. (Orlando,Jake pass) 6 plays, 73 yards, TOP 01:27
BSU 48, BUF 45
BSU - Courville,Jackson 36 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 00:00
BSU 48, BUF 51
BUF - Sperling,Lamar 14 yd pass from Ogbonna,C.J. () 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
