 BALL STATE 33, EASTERN MICHIGAN 31
"I am pleasantly surprised with our persistence," Ball State first-year head coach Pete Lembo said. "We have some quality young guys who are making plays. We decided to go for the field goal to make sure bad things didn't happen on one final play. I have confidence in our kicking game. We have a level-headed group of guys kicking for us, and it just comes down to everyone doing their job."
Eastern Michigan held a 28-27 lead midway through the fourth quarter. BSU, however, took a 30-28 lead when Schott made his third field goal of the game, this one from 23 yards at the 6:52 mark.
The Eagles then put together a 13-play drive that gave them a first-and-goal with 2:17 left to play. Ball State's defense held EMU for no gain on the first play and a loss of four on the second snap. With a third and goal from the five yard line, EMU rushed for three yards. Kody Fulkerson came on for the hosts and kicked a 20-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 31-30 lead with 1:11 left in the contest. The lead lasted less than one minute as Ball State drove into field goal position and brought Scott on for the winning boot.
"We practice for that situation all the time," Schott said. "I just tried to do my job. I just keep my mind clear of distractions. I had a feeling they were going to call their timeouts, but I just didn't let it bother me. The snap and hold were good, and the blocking was excellent."
Sophomore quarterback Keith Wenning moved into to fourth place all-time in single season passing yards at Ball State with 2,233 yards after throwing 20 completions on 35 attempts for a total of 284 yards and two touchdowns. Wenning passes Mike Neu, who had 2,148 yards in 1993.
Ball State opened the second half with a score to regain the lead, 27-21, after freshman running back Jahwan Edwards rushed 15-yards for his 10th career touchdown. The Eagles came back with a TD at the end of the third quarter to go up, 28-27, over the Cardinals.
It was an offensive battle in the first quarter, as both teams scored two touchdowns apiece. Ball State got on the board first with a career-long touchdown pass and reception of 94-yards from Wenning to senior wide receiver Torieal Gibson at the 9:38 mark.
Eastern Michigan then tied the game at 7-7 with 6:46 left in the first quarter after a 32-yard TD pass from quarter back Alex Gillett to wide receiver Trey Hunter.
It took less than two minutes for the Cardinals to strike again as Wenning found Barrington Scott for eight yards in the end zone, allowing BSU to gain a 14-7 edge over the Eagles. Just before the end of the first quarter, Eastern Michigan managed to even the score 14-14.
Schott made two field goals in the second quarter, one from 39-yards and one from 29-yards with 1:08 remaining in the half. Only one touchdown was scored in the quarter, and that was after Eastern Michigan scored on a 14-yard Gillett-to- Russell pass with 1:47 remaining.
Schott’s second field goal pulled BSU within one point at 21-20, and it remained that score entering intermission after Joshua Howard blocked the Eagles 53-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the half.
Ball State (6-4, 4-2 MAC) continues Mid-American Conference action Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Northern Illinois. Eastern Michigan (5-4, 3-2 MAC) hosts Buffalo Saturday.
Courtesy of Ball State Athletics
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