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Ohio Stays In MAC East Hunt With Win Over BSU |
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Written by Mike Smith
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MUNCIE, IND. - Matt Weller fought through windy conditions at Scheumann Stadium to tie a school record with four field goals, and Terrence McCrae caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Theo Scott Saturday as Ohio pulled out a 20-17 victory over Ball State.
Weller had field goals in all but the third quarter and converted three kicks from at least 39 yards out. His long for the day was a 52-yarder as time expired in the first half, and a 41-yard boot with 11:27 remaining in the contest gave Ohio a 12-10 lead.
Ball State, which earned its first win of 2009 a week earlier, made a bid to make it two straight with a go-ahead TD at 5:52. Tanner Justice hit Jeremy Hill with a 35-yard pass for the score and Ian McGarvey added the PAT to give BSU a 17-12 lead.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Ball State pushed the kickoff back to the 15-yard line. McGarvey drove his kickoff to the Ohio 17, but L.J. Flintall returned it 25 yards to the Bobcats 42.
Scott started the decisive drive with a nine-yard pass to LaVon Brazill and completed four of five in the seven-play 58-yard scoring drive. After hitting McCrae with the TD, he again found the junior with a pass for two points on the conversion.
Another Cardinals penalty - this one for holding - resulted in Ball State starting a a final drive from its own 20. But after it drove to the Ohio 37-yard line, BSU lost two yards on a McQuale Lewis run to bring up a third and four situation.
Justice's pass attempt for a first down was not only incomplete, it drew an intentional grounding penalty. Tanner hit Lewis for 10 yards on fourth down, but it was far short of the needed 22 yards. Ohio took over and ran out the clock to perserve its sixth win overall and fourth MAC victory in five league outings.
Scott, who was ill during Ohio's loss to Kent State a week earlier, completed 17-of 27 passes for 161 yards with one TD and two interceptions against BSU.
Brazill led Ohio receivers with six catches for 82 yards.
Chris Garrett paced OU rushing with 48 net yards. The Bobcats had 155 yards on the ground.
Ohio nearly doubled BSU in first downs (20-11) and owned a 316-247 advantage on total offense. Most of the Cardinals offense came on the ground where BSU gained 169 yards. Eric Williams led the way with 59 yards. Fifty-five of that total came on a second quarter scamper that set up William's one-yard TD run to give the Cardinals a 7-6 halftime lead.
NOTES:
- Ohio returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 10 when it travels to Buffalo.
- Ball State also hits the road for its next game. The Cardinals will meet Northern Ilinois Thursday, Nov. 12. |
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