Ball State University
1-0 , 0-0
Missouri State
0-2 , 0-0
Semonza Throws For 4 TDs and Runs For Another In 100th Season Home-Opening Victory
September 07, 2024 | Football
After preserving his redshirt status in 2023 after starting in three out of the first four games last season, quarterback Kadin Semonza returned to lead the Cardinals, finishing with 28 completions out of 39 attempts for 262 yards and one interception.
He threw for four touchdowns and ran for another. It was the first time a Ball State player threw for four or more TDs since Drew Plitt at Western Michigan in 2021.
Transfer running back Braedon Sloan starred in his first game with the Cardinals, scoring two touchdowns while rushing for 103 yards on 21 attempts. He scored on an 11-yard shovel pass in the third period and capped the Cardinal scoring with a 40-yard run in the final minute.
Despite the 42 points and the victory though, it was a sluggish start for the Cardinals even after possessing the ball for more than 23 minutes in the first half.
On the game's first play from scrimmage, Ball State receiver Ty Robinson left the game with a right shoulder injury, compounding the Cardinals' injury situation after an early-week practice injury to his big-target receiving counterpart Justin Bowick. With both receivers out of commission, the Cardinals still controlled the clock and ran 45 plays in the first half, to just 15 for Missouri State – in what was a 7-7 tie at intermission.
The first score of the game was the result of an unfortunate misstep when Cardinals receiver Cam Pickett bobbled a Semonza pass and the Bears' P.J. Hall picked off the carom for a 59-yard pick-six.
The Cardinals opened the second period with a missed field goal attempt by Jackson Courville, but Ball State got on the board one series later when Semonza got the first rushing TD of his career on a 15-yard scamper up the middle.
Despite the halftime deadlock, Ball State converted a total of 14 first downs compared to the Bears' two. Ball State dominated in possession time and, by game's end, Ball State owned a 17-minute advantage over Missouri State 38:30 to 21:30. The Cardinals also converted 12 of 19 third-down conversions. The Cardinals' defense limited Missouri State to just 3 of 10 conversions.
Both teams scored in the third quarter, with Semonza connecting with Malcolm Gillie on a 41-yard pass to answer Missouri State's Jarcadia Wright who rushed five yards to score.
Joey Stemler, the Cardinals' tackles leader with seven, intercepted a pass from Jacob Clark, but fumbled on the return. Keionte Newson recovered the fumble and moments later, Semonza found Qian Magwood for 16-yard touchdown and a two-touchdown lead.
Clark found Lance Mason for a 57-yard touchdown for Missouri State, but after Semonza threw his fourth TD pass, to tight end Tanner Koziol, Ball State solidified its 14-point edge with seven minutes to play.
Desperate for a comeback, the Bears managed a pair of late touchdowns sandwiched around Sloan's 40-yard TD burst – all in the final two minutes.
The Cardinals travel to Florida next Saturday to play Miami at 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
MO 7, BSU 0
MO - Hall,P.J. 59 yd interception (Obeid,Yousef kick)
MO 7, BSU 7
BSU - Semonza,Kadin 15 yd run (Courville,Jackson kick), 9 plays, 57 yards, TOP 05:10
MO 14, BSU 7
MO - Wright,Jacardia 5 yd run (Obeid,Yousef kick), 9 plays, 47 yards, TOP 03:43
MO 14, BSU 14
BSU - Gillie,Malcolm 41 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Courville,Jackson kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:19
MO 14, BSU 21
BSU - Sloan,Braedon 11 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Courville,Jackson kick) 5 plays, 27 yards, TOP 02:32
MO 14, BSU 28
BSU - Magwood,Qian 16 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Courville,Jackson kick) 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 01:48
MO 21, BSU 28
MO - Mason,Lance 57 yd pass from Clark,Jacob (Obeid,Yousef kick) 5 plays, 83 yards, TOP 02:09
MO 21, BSU 35
BSU - Koziol,Tanner 5 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Courville,Jackson kick) 6 plays, 47 yards, TOP 02:23
MO 27, BSU 35
MO - Robinson,Jmariyae 3 yd run (), 5 plays, 17 yards, TOP 01:54
MO 27, BSU 42
BSU - Sloan,Braedon 40 yd run (Courville,Jackson kick), 3 plays, 46 yards, TOP 00:56
MO 34, BSU 42
MO - Robinson,Jmariyae 14 yd pass from Clark,Jacob (Obeid,Yousef kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:47
