Fourth Quarter
Rush lead Central Michigan's offense deep into Ball State territory, but had to settle for a field goal. Central Michigan extended their lead 20-14.
The next play, wide receiver KeVonn Mabon returned the kick 89 yards for the score. This marked Ball State's first return touchdown in five years.
Martez Hester made a tackle in the open field to force a fourth down for Central Michigan. They had to settle for a field goal again, but managed to retake the lead 23-21.
Ball State's offense started to get going a little, bit but stalled out near midfield. On fourth down, Neal threw a shovel pass to wide receiver Corey Lacanaria, but it resulted in a loss of 1-yard. Central Michigan got the ball at Ball State’s 49-yard line.
Central Michigan converted a crucial third down, but a few plays later, a wide-open receiver bobbled the football and Dedrick Cromartie intercepted it.
Ball State managed to drive down the field some, but eventually turned it over on downs.
Central Michigan won its first game against Ball State in six years with a 23-21 victory. The Cardinals drop to 2-6 on the season.
Third Quarter
Ball State opened the second half with the football, but were forced into their third three-and-out on the day.
Central Michigan opened up their first drive of the second half with a 45-yard run from Martez Walker, his longest run of the season for the Chippewas.
Penalties on back-to-back plays caused Central Michigan to face a first-and-25 from midfield. A few plays later, LaMont McPhatter sacked Rush for his first sack as a Cardinal.
The Ball State defense continued to impress after the first quarter, forcing Central Michigan to punt once again.
Ball State, though, gave the ball right back after punting it away.
Cooper Rush proceeded to drive the Chippewas right down the field. After he sliced the Cardinals’ secondary up, David Moore and Martez Hester made great plays near the goal line. On third down from the 4-yard line, Rush found Kroll for a touchdown.
A miscommunication between Moore and Cromartie led to Kroll being uncovered in the endzone. Central Michigan took back the lead, 17-14, with 4:33 left in the third quarter.
Second Quarter
Central Michigan started off the quarter with a 21-yard screen pass. Another big chunk play put the Chippewas across midfield. Cooper Rush is still perfect in this game thus far.
Cardinals linebacker Zack Ryan could have had a pick-6 if he reeled it in. Ball State got the ball back with a chance to take the lead.
The Cardinals started their drive with a lot of running back Darian Green before Neal hit Chris Shillings for a first down. Ball State would not get past midfield, though.
A bad punt from Central Michigan gave the Cardinals the ball at their own 35-yard line as the rain started to become a factor at Scheumann Stadium.
Running back James Gilbert ran for an 18-yard gain down to the CMU 38-yard line. A few plays later, the Cardinals did not think they got the first down and Neal snuck it on first down.
On fourth down, Gilbert converted, but the very next play, Neal lowered his shoulder and fumbled on a run inside the 10-yard line.
The Chippewas did not do anything with the ball, though. They punted and gave it back to Ball State at their own 37-yard line.
Neal lobbed a deep pass down field in Jordan Williams' direction, and he snagged it over the CMU defender. A swing pass to Teddy Williamson put them inside the 10-yard line.
Back-to-back fade routes into the end zone — one which was called for pass interference — put the Cardinals inside the 1-yard line. The next play, they ran the exact same play to no avail.
On fourth down, with just three seconds left in the half, Lembo called a gutsy play. Gilbert ran it in as time expired to give the Cardinals a 14-10 halftime lead.
The Cardinals will receive the ball after half time.
First Quarter
The Central Michigan Chippewas started with the ball and drove down the field with ease against the struggling Ball State defense in less than three minutes.
Central Michigan's quarterback, Cooper Rush capped off the six-play, 75-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Corey Willis.
Ball State took over at the 23-yard line, but could not do anything with it. Central Michigan forced a three-and-out as quarterback Riley Neal overthrew running back Jordan Williams deep. Neal was hit as he threw, which caused the overthrow.
Strongside linebacker Aaron Taylor was ejected for a targeting penalty. Taylor hit Rush in the head as he threw which drew the penalty.
This is the first time the Cardinals have been hit with the targeting penalty, with an ejection, since the rule's inception three years ago.
A breakdown in coverage lead to Rush throwing a first down into Ball State's red zone. On the following play, Nick Beamish was penalized that took the Chippewas out of the redzone.
The defense holds on third-and-3, but the Chippewas added on a 29-yard field goal. Central Michigan extended their lead to 10-0, with 5:38 left.
Ball State received the kick but could not do anything with it again. They open the game with back-to-back three and outs.
On a 17-yard run, linebacker Sean Wiggins held up the running back and stripped the ball out. Wiggins also recovered the ball.
Neal orchestrated a great drive after the Wiggins strip. Led by his running ability, he drove down the field quick. As time expired in the first quarter, Neal found a wide-open Corey Lacanaria for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
At the end of the first quarter, Central Michigan leads 10-7.
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