Photo by: Bobby Ellis/Ball State University
Ball State Defense Delivered Another Statement in Homecoming Win
October 21, 2025 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State's defense delivered in the clutch on homecoming, forcing a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions to seal a 42–28 victory over Akron this past weekend at Scheumann Stadium.
Defensive backs Roman Pearson and Joedrick Lewis picked off passes on consecutive Akron drives to close the game. Pearson's interception, returned seven yards, marked the longest return of his career. The Bucknell transfer had recorded four interceptions during his previous tenure but had never posted positive return yardage.
Lewis followed on the Zips' next possession with a 16-yard interception return, the third-longest of his career. The Southeast Missouri State transfer previously logged returns of 28 and 27 yards in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Coincidentally, the performance marked the first time since Ball State's 2024 homecoming win over Northern Illinois that the Cardinals recorded two unique interceptions in a single game. In that contest, Joey Stemler and George Udo each recorded interceptions, with Stemler's late takeaway setting up the game-winning field goal in a 25–23 victory.
Ball State meets NIU at Huskie Stadium in a battle for the Bronze Stalk Trophy Oct. 25. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.1 FM with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT. Tickets to the Cardinals' mid-week MACtion game versus Kent State Nov. 5 are available here.
Defensive backs Roman Pearson and Joedrick Lewis picked off passes on consecutive Akron drives to close the game. Pearson's interception, returned seven yards, marked the longest return of his career. The Bucknell transfer had recorded four interceptions during his previous tenure but had never posted positive return yardage.
Lewis followed on the Zips' next possession with a 16-yard interception return, the third-longest of his career. The Southeast Missouri State transfer previously logged returns of 28 and 27 yards in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Coincidentally, the performance marked the first time since Ball State's 2024 homecoming win over Northern Illinois that the Cardinals recorded two unique interceptions in a single game. In that contest, Joey Stemler and George Udo each recorded interceptions, with Stemler's late takeaway setting up the game-winning field goal in a 25–23 victory.
Ball State meets NIU at Huskie Stadium in a battle for the Bronze Stalk Trophy Oct. 25. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and WLBC 104.1 FM with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT. Tickets to the Cardinals' mid-week MACtion game versus Kent State Nov. 5 are available here.
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