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BALL STATE 37, AKRON 30 (2 OT)

Nicely pushed the game into overtime when he hit Jeremy LaFrance on an 11-yard TD strike with 1:36 left in regulation, which ended at 23-all.

Just two plays into overtime, Nicely gave Akron its first lead since the opening quarter when he again found LaFrance for a score – this time from 22 yards out. Igor Ivelijic added the extra point.

The Zips defense then put Ball State on the ropes by yielding just one rushing yard while forcing two incompletions. Facing fourth and nine, the Cardinals called time out. When action resumed, BSU quarterback Keith Wenning found Jack Tomlinson on a 24-yard pass play for the TD. Ian McGarvey’s PAT knotted the score at 30-30.

Given first possession in the second overtime, BSU and Wenning came right back for another score. This time Wenning hit David Schneider with a 19-yard TD pass three plays into the drive. McGarvey again converted the PAT.

“That play was not supposed to go to Schneider,” Ball State head coach Stan Parrish said. “He was the third option of three, but Wenning got flushed out of the pocket and saw him open and made the throw.”

Schneider’s touchdown put the pressure back on Akron, and within three plays, BSU was in celebration mode.  Junior safety Joshua Howard sealed the verdict with an interception at the BSU 17.

With the victory, Ball State raised its record to 3-7 overall (2-4 MAC). The win also ended a four-game losing streak that included an overtime loss to previously winless Eastern Michigan.

Akron, on the other hand, falls to 0-10 overall (0-6 MAC). Both its remaining games are at home. It faces Miami (5-4, 4-1 MAC) November 17 before finishing with a matchup against Buffalo (2-7, 1-4 MAC).

Both Akron and Ball State struggled with offensive consistency. Each team threw three interceptions and the Cardinals also lost a pair of fumbles. The two teams were a combined 10-for-33 on third down conversions.

Overall, BSU enjoyed a 389-358 advantage in total offense. But Akron registered 19 first downs to the Cardinals 15.

Akron’s offense was balanced almost down to the yard (180 rushing, 178 passing). Allen averaged 6. 6 ypc while piling up 165 yards on 25 carries. Nicely completed 18-of-39, including four TDs and three picks.

Most of Ball State’s offense came via the pass (266 yards). Wenning completed 14-of-27 for 217 yards, with three TDs and three interceptions. Kelly Page had just one completion in two attempts, but that one completion went to Jack Tomlinson for 49 yards and a touchdown.

“Kelly Page is hurt, but when we needed his number and called it, he produced,” Parrish said. “Wenning got banged up, and Page came in and did a great job.”

“I have (said) from the beginning, Tomlinson has a chance to be special,” Parrish said. “If he had not gotten injured in the summer and been slowed through fall practice, you would have seen it sooner.”

Jalil Carter put the Zips up early with a 12-yard TD pass from Nicely.  Ball State, however, posted the next four scores. Following Tomlinson’s 63-yard TD reception, McGarvey kicked two field goals (23, 44) before intermission and added another with 5:22 left in the third quarter.

“We got off to a rough start with three turnovers in the first three possessions,” Parrish said. “The defense was playing well, and we kept the game within range.

The Zips were also able to keep the game within range, and pulled even with a pair of third quarter scores. Richard Hall gathered in an 11-yard TD pass from Nicely at 2:52, but the PAT attempt failed.

Akron got another chance to score before the end of the quarter, however, when the Zips recovered an on-side kick. Unable to make a first down, Akron settled for a 36-yard Iveljic field goal. That left the teams tied at 23-all, and each squad added seven points in regulation.

“If you wanted excitement and plays, this was the game,” Parrish said. “Neither team played particularly well, but it was a good football game to watch.”

Ball State travels to Buffalo Friday (7 p.m.). The game will be televised on ESPNU.