Six Veteran Cardinals Set for Final Home Opener Saturday
September 12, 2025 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – While first year head coach Mike Uremovich looks forward to leading Ball State inside Scheumann Stadium for the first time against FCS powerhouse New Hampshire, six Cardinals look to play in their last home opener Saturday afternoon.
An addition to the Ball State roster in the Fall of 2020, wide receiver Qian Magwood is the only remaining member from the Cardinals' 2020 MAC Championship team. Ball State's 2023 leading receiver caught three targets for 14 yards in the Cardinals' 45-7 home opener against in-state foe Indiana State. In 2024, the redshirt senior scored the second of the team's four touchdowns in the fourth quarter during the Cardinals' opener at Scheumann, beating Missouri State 42-34. Magwood totaled two receptions for 20 yards in the contest.
Linebackers Jack Beebe, Joey Stemler and Jackson Wiegold joined the defensive unit during the Fall of 2021, taking their redshirts and building an unbreakable bond on and off the field ever since. The three found themselves in rotation during Ball State's 2023 victory over ISU, with Wiegold and Beebe combining for three tackles. While that family weekend win was Beebe and Wiegold's first home opener, Stemler appeared in his first a year prior in Ball State's setback to Western Michigan, 37-30.
That defeat is the Ball State's only blemish in its home opener in the last 15 seasons.
In 2024, Stemler was the Cardinals' leading tackler in the home opener against Missouri State, totaling seven, and was credited with an interception for four yards in the win. That same afternoon, Beebe and Wiegold aided the defense effort, tallying four tackles.
Defensive Tackle Drew Hughes came to the Cardinals in 2021 and took his redshirt as well, making his lone appearance of the 2022 season during the home opening defeat versus the Broncos. Against the Sycamores, Hughes completed four tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. In 2024, Hughes anchored the defensive line in his first collegiate start versus Missouri State.
Ball State's primary signal caller Kiael Kelly went 1-1 in the passing game versus ISU in 2023, along with 40 yards gained in the run game in six attempts. Against Missouri State at home last season, he ran three yards in two attempts.
Ball State hosts New Hampshire at Scheumann Stadium Sept. 13, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. ET.
An addition to the Ball State roster in the Fall of 2020, wide receiver Qian Magwood is the only remaining member from the Cardinals' 2020 MAC Championship team. Ball State's 2023 leading receiver caught three targets for 14 yards in the Cardinals' 45-7 home opener against in-state foe Indiana State. In 2024, the redshirt senior scored the second of the team's four touchdowns in the fourth quarter during the Cardinals' opener at Scheumann, beating Missouri State 42-34. Magwood totaled two receptions for 20 yards in the contest.
Linebackers Jack Beebe, Joey Stemler and Jackson Wiegold joined the defensive unit during the Fall of 2021, taking their redshirts and building an unbreakable bond on and off the field ever since. The three found themselves in rotation during Ball State's 2023 victory over ISU, with Wiegold and Beebe combining for three tackles. While that family weekend win was Beebe and Wiegold's first home opener, Stemler appeared in his first a year prior in Ball State's setback to Western Michigan, 37-30.
That defeat is the Ball State's only blemish in its home opener in the last 15 seasons.
In 2024, Stemler was the Cardinals' leading tackler in the home opener against Missouri State, totaling seven, and was credited with an interception for four yards in the win. That same afternoon, Beebe and Wiegold aided the defense effort, tallying four tackles.
Defensive Tackle Drew Hughes came to the Cardinals in 2021 and took his redshirt as well, making his lone appearance of the 2022 season during the home opening defeat versus the Broncos. Against the Sycamores, Hughes completed four tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. In 2024, Hughes anchored the defensive line in his first collegiate start versus Missouri State.
Ball State's primary signal caller Kiael Kelly went 1-1 in the passing game versus ISU in 2023, along with 40 yards gained in the run game in six attempts. Against Missouri State at home last season, he ran three yards in two attempts.
Ball State hosts New Hampshire at Scheumann Stadium Sept. 13, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. ET.
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