Cardinals Stamp Family Weekend Victory Over Stony Brook

Saturday, September 12

Muncie, Ind.

2 p.m.

Ball State University

1-1 , 0-0

Stony Brook

1-2 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Stony Brook	0	3	0	14	17
Ball St.	7	14	0	20	41

Keldric Luster pass attempt versus Stony Brook 9/12/2026

Photo by: Samantha Blankenship / Ball State University

Cardinals Stamp Family Weekend Victory Over Stony Brook

September 12, 2026 | Football

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State football team opened its 2026 home slate Saturday afternoon, topping Stony Brook in the programs' first-ever meeting, 41-17, in front of a Family Weekend crowd of 10,390.

After a late Stony Brook touchdown, TJ Horton ran a career-long 54-yard rush to award the Cardinals (1-1, 0-0 MAC) their final score of the game, stamping an exclamation point on the program's first win of the year. Horton's first rushing touchdown of the season capped a late back and forth between Ball State and the Seawolves (1-2, 0-0 CAA) which also saw Jalen Bonds run the ball 49 yards down the field for a touchdown, earning the longest rush of his career.

Horton had a career-day on the ground inside Scheumann Stadium, starting with a 37-yard rush in the opening quarter which set up Tate Hoover's first touchdown reception at Ball State and Keldric Luster's first career passing touchdown.

Luster and his corps of backs and receivers totaled 486 yards in total offense, the most by a Ball State team since recording 520 yards at Buffalo in 2024.

Luster's offensive efficiency was marked by throwing for 256 yards on 27-of-32 passing. In just the first half alone, Luster's 18 completions eclipsed last year's Ball State season-best total of 17 through an entire game (three times by Kiael Kelly).

With an .843 completion percentage, Luster broke the program record by a quarterback with at least 30 attempts.

Along with the three-yard connection with Hoover, the fourth-year quarterback had a pair of 23-yard TD passes to Jabari Smith and Bonds in the second quarter. Luster's success in the aerial game included a career-long pass of 28 yards to Jamarion McDougle.

Ball State's receiving unit was led by Smith, who grabbed six catches for 72 yards, followed by Isaiah Thacker who totaled 31 yards on five catches. Ten different Cardinals were successful targets and four tallied four or more receptions – the first time since 2024 versus Central Michigan.

Kamron Chamble recorded the first two interceptions of his collegiate career Saturday, with the first creating the opportunity for Bonds' receiving touchdown, following Chamble's 33-yard return. It was Bonds' first career receiving touchdown.

Kaleb Stewart led Ball State's tackling effort, totaling seven. He also shared a sack with Ben Marsh in the fourth quarter. Layton Starks and Ka'Shawn Thomas also had half a sack a piece while four different Cardinals tallied four tackles. Starks led the unit in tackles for loss, finishing with 2.5.

The defensive pressure brought on by the Cardinals limited the Seawolves to 183 rushing yards, with 69 of those yards stemming from two rushing touchdowns in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Ball State's defense also held Stony Brook's Quinn Boyd to 147 passing yards, the first time he's thrown under 300 passing yards this season.

On special teams, Brody Boehm went 2-of-2 with field goals from 38 and 30 yards in the fourth quarter, giving Ball State six points and extending the lead to 27-3, prior to final touchdowns from Bonds and Horton.

The Cardinals are on the road next week as they travel to Lynchburg, Virginia. to battle Conference USA foe Liberty. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, with broadcast available on ESPN+.