Football Zips Past Akron For Homecoming Victory

MUNCIE, Ind. - - Kiael Kelly accounted for four touchdowns and the Ball State defense came up with a pair of clutch interceptions following an hour-long weather delay to lead football to a 42-28 homecoming win over Akron in front of 12,248 fans Saturday at Scheumann Stadium.

With the victory, the Cardinals (3-4, 2-1 MAC) moved above .500 in Mid-American Conference play and handed the Zips (2-6, 1-3 MAC) a second straight defeat. It was the Cardinals' fourth consecutive victory on homecoming, marking the program's longest homecoming win streak since a record seven-year run in the 1990s.

With Ball State leading 35-25 after Kelly's third rushing touchdown of the game, a one-yard rush around the left side of the offensive line, Akron took the ensuing kickoff down to the one-yard line before heavy rain and lightning in the area led to a one-hour delay.

Coming out of the delay, the Zips were denied a touchdown thanks to a third-and-one stop from linebackers Alfred Chea and Caden Johnson. That forced Akron to settle for a 19-yard field goal, cutting the Ball State advantage to 35-28.

What happened next turned out to be the biggest play of the game, as TJ Horton collected the kickoff at the 10-yard line, broke several tackles in the middle of the field, and ultimately reached the end zone for a 90-yard touchdown to help BSU recapture the two-score lead at 42-28. It was Ball State's first kickoff return for a touchdown since Malcolm Gillie returned one 97 yards on Oct. 5 last season versus Western Michigan.

From there, the defense took over with defensive backs Roman Pearson and Joedrick Lewis sealing the victory with interceptions on the next two drives to halt any attempt at a comeback from Akron.

Overall, Kelly accounted for 121 yards and one touchdown through the air, while adding 58 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. His first score was a three-yard rush on Ball State's second drive to answer an eight-point opening drive from the Zips.

After the defense held Akron to a three-and-out, Kelly busted a third-and-18 play from BSU's 46-yard line for 33 yards, before scoring two plays later on a 26-yard scamper. The effort gave Ball State a 14-8 advantage late in the opening quarter.

However, the Zips were able to reclaim the lead at 15-14 with 1:26 remaining in the opening half.

Ball State's leading rusher on the day, Qua Ashley, would give the hosts the lead for good a little over five minutes into the second half with the game's longest play from scrimmage, a 69-yard run through the Akron defense and then up the right sideline.

Ashley would also add a 27-yard run and finish the game with 143 total yards on the ground, his second-highest rushing total this season.

After an Akron field goal cut the lead to 21-18 with 7:28 remaining in the third quarter, Kelly hooked up with Koby Gross for a 29-yard touchdown to cap a 72-yard scoring drive. The play gave the Cardinals a 28-18 edge with 5:52 remaining in the third.

Gross also hauled in a 42-yard reception, the longest passing play of the game, and led the Ball State offense with 81 receiving yards.

Akron's final touchdown came with 24 seconds remaining in the third, briefly cutting the lead to 28-25, before Kelly's final rushing touchdown set up the final series of events.

On the defensive front defensive end Nathan Voorhis registered his MAC-leading ninth sac of the season and tallied five total tackles, while defensive back Michael Gravely Jr. recorded a team-high seven tackles.

Ball State travels to Northern Illinois next Saturday to continue its Bronze Stalk rivalry series with a 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Huskie Stadium.

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Team Stats

Kiael Kelly

Ty Robinson

Players Mentioned

Qua Ashley

Alfred Chea

Malcolm Gillie

Michael Gravely Jr.

Koby Gross

TJ Horton

Caden Johnson

Kiael Kelly

Joedrick Lewis

Roman Pearson

Nathan Voorhis