UPDATED 4:18 P.M.
YPSILANTI, Mich. – A 44-yard field goal by Steven Schott with nine seconds left in the game gave Ball State a 33-31 victory at Eastern Michigan and made the Cardinals bowl eligible for the first time since 2008.
Quarterback Keith Wenning led Ball State (6-4) on a game-winning nine-play, 46-yard drive to the 27-yard line with 13 seconds left. Coach Pete Lembo sent Schott out for the kick instead of trying to get a few extra yards before attempting a field goal.
Eastern Michigan coach Ron English called a timeout just as Ball State was snapping the ball for the field goal, which was good. But the Eagles were awarded the timeout, forcing Schott to attempt the kick again.
The second kick wobbled a little on its way through the uprights but had enough distance. Schott said he thought the kick was tipped at the line. When the kick was ruled good, Ball State's sideline erupted in celebration, a scene that was repeated after Eastern Michigan quarterback Alex Gillett's Hail Mary attempt was knocked to the turf to end the game.
Senior wide receiver Tori Gibson, who caught seven passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, said he never doubted Schott.
"After he made the first, I knew the second would be good because that's Schott," Gibson said.
Eastern Michigan had taken a 31-30 lead little more than a minute before Schott's kick. Kicker Kody Fulkerson kicked a 20-yard field goal with 1:18 left in the game to give the Eagles the lead.
But it could have been a bigger lead. The Eagles had a first down at the Cardinals' one-yard line, but were unable to get into the end zone. Ball State's late goal-line stand then set the scene for the late-game heroics.
Continue to read bsudailynews.com for more about the victory.
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