Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
4-8 , 3-5
Miami University (OH)
7-5 , 6-2
Ball State Falls to RedHawks in Season Finale
November 29, 2025 | Football
After back-and-forth scores throughout the first quarter which saw the game at 21-10, the RedHawks (7-5, 6-2 MAC) came up with 17 unanswered points throughout quarters two and three, widening a margin that became too large for the Cardinals (4-8, 3-5 MAC) to fight back from. A pair of late-game touchdowns from Qua Ashley and Eric Weatherly were able to shrink the gap momentarily, but a fumble recovered by Miami in the endzone with under a minute and a half to play proved to be the exclamation point.
The Cardinals were pressured by Miami's defense throughout, taking six sacks from the RedHawks, as well as five forced fumbles.
Ball State's offense tallied career milestones during its first-quarter scoring drives. In response to Miami's opening rush to the endzone, Kiael Kelly took the ball on a career-long 56-yard dash down the middle, creating opportunity for freshman Jalen Bonds to earn his first career touchdown at the end of a two-yard rush. Donovan Hamilton followed in the Cardinals' next drive with a career-best 47-yard grab, setting up a 43-yard field goal by DC Pippin, his third field goal over 40 yards this season.
Hamilton led the receiving unit with four receptions for 72 yards, while Kelly led the ground game with 61 yards on 16 attempts.
With his 12th sack in the second quarter, defensive standout Nathan Voorhis earned the most by a Cardinal since Anthony Winbush recorded 11.5 in 2017. Caden Johnson and Joey Stemler matched with six tackles to lead the defensive unit.
Team Stats
BSU 0, MIA 7
MIA - Isom,Braylon 23 yd pass from Gotkowski,Thomas (Dzioban,Dom kick) 7 plays, 52 yards, TOP 02:58
BSU 7, MIA 7
BSU - Bonds,Jalen 2 yd run (Pippin,DC kick), 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 00:55
BSU 7, MIA 14
MIA - Isom,Braylon 10 yd pass from Gotkowski,Thomas (Dzioban,Dom kick) 5 plays, 69 yards, TOP 01:39
BSU 10, MIA 14
BSU - Pippin,DC 43 yd field goal 7 plays, 53 yards, TOP 03:49
BSU 10, MIA 21
MIA - Brunson,Jordan 12 yd run (Dzioban,Dom kick), 4 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:00
BSU 10, MIA 28
MIA - Perry,Kam 55 yd pass from Gotkowski,Thomas (Dzioban,Dom kick) 1 plays, 55 yards, TOP 00:08
BSU 10, MIA 31
MIA - Dzioban,Dom 33 yd field goal 11 plays, 41 yards, TOP 03:20
BSU 10, MIA 38
MIA - Jones,D'Shawntae 1 yd run (Dzioban,Dom kick), 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 05:05
BSU 17, MIA 38
BSU - Ashley,Qua 2 yd pass from Kelly,Kiael (Pippin,DC kick) 13 plays, 74 yards, TOP 05:13
BSU 17, MIA 45
MIA - Agee,Jermaine 0 yd fumble recovery (McLaughlin,Kellan kick)
BSU 24, MIA 45
BSU - Weatherly,Eric 35 yd pass from Kelly,Kiael (Pippin,DC kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:55
