Cardinals Face Road Defeat at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – Ball State made its fourth visit to Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday afternoon, falling to Auburn 42-3.

The Cardinals' (0-2, 0-0 MAC) defense was able to get by the Tigers' (2-0, 0-0 SEC) offensive line early in the contest, with redshirt senior defensive tackle Drew Hughes and redshirt junior linebacker DeJuan Echoles Jr. each capturing their first career sacks in the first quarter of play. After a sack a piece from redshirt junior linebacker Caden Johnson and redshirt senior defensive tackle Scott Hudson in the second, the Cardinals tallied four total, the most sacks in a single half since recording six in the second half against Kent State last season.

Echoles' sack was accompanied by his first career forced fumble. Auburn put the ball on the turf five times in all, and the Ball State defense managed five sacks overall. But the offense's inability to sustain drives kept the Cardinals' defense on the field most of the evening..

Despite the early effort, the Tigers broke through for two scores in the first period, followed by a third in the second to put Auburn ahead 21-0 at the half. Auburn went on to reach the endzone three more times in the second half.

Sophomore defensive back Will Yates led the Cardinals with seven total tackles, followed by defensive backs Michael Gravely Jr. and DJ Fields with six, and Johnson with four.

Redshirt senior linebacker Joey Stemler forced and recovered an Auburn fumble in the third, which set up Ball State on the Tigers' 23. Redshirt junior kicker Carson Holmer secured a field goal eight plays later from 22 yards, giving the Cardinals three points on the board.

The Cardinals' longest drive of the night came from a 10-play, 53-yard drive which began late in the first period and included a grab from redshirt junior receiver Eric Weatherly, who led the Ball State receiving corps with five receptions. It was the 25th consecutive game in which he has caught a pass -- spanning three seasons. Only a play later, redshirt senior quarterback Kiael Kelly rambled for a 21-yard gain that was Ball State's longest play of the game, and his longest run of the season. The drive concluded with Kelly's fumble, though, on the following play.

Up next, the Cardinals host New Hampshire for Ball State's home opener at Scheumann Stadium, Sept. 13, with kickoff slated for 2 p.m. Tailgate lots open at 10 a.m. Tickets are available for next week's home opener here.

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Team Stats

Kiael Kelly

Players Mentioned

DeJuan Echoles Jr.

Michael Gravely Jr.

Carson Holmer

Scott Hudson

Drew Hughes

Caden Johnson

Kiael Kelly

Joey Stemler

Eric Weatherly