Fourth Quarter
Running back James Gilbert started the quarter with a 21-yard gain, but was stuffed on 4th-and-2 later in the drive. Akron took over at its own 18 following the loss.
Ball State thought it had a fumble recovery after a first-down run, but the officials reviewed it and determined running back Manny Morgan was down prior to losing the ball. Akron took advantage, as a running back pass from Manny Morgan to Austin Wolf ended in a 14-yard score.
Akron extended its lead to 28-17 after the extra point.
The Cardinals' next drive went for naught, as they were forced to punt. Akron took over at its 24-yard line with 8:56 left in the game, leading 28-17.
Ball State forced an Akron punt, and took over at the 30. Quarterback Riley Neal hit senior KeVonn Mabon down the left sideline for 33 yards to the Akron 27-yard line, and then senior Aaron Hepp for a 17-yard score. Neal tucked it and ran in for the 2-point conversion, making it 28-25 with 5:18 on the clock.
Akron went for it on 4th-and-1 from the Ball State 49, and backup quarterback Tra'Von Chapman picked it up. Ball State thought he fumbled, but it was reviewed and confirmed. Woodson hit Natson for 38 yards down the right sideline, and later Jerome Lane for a short touchdown pass.
The extra point gave Akron a 35-25 lead with 2:22 left in the game.
Riley Neal put the Cardinals in Akron territory, but was picked to end the game.
Akron defeats Ball State, 35-25.
Third Quarter
On a 3rd-and-2 from its own 43, Akron was gifted a first down by a Ball State offsides penalty. Quarterback Thomas Woodson kept the drive alive on third down with a 14-yard completion to junior wideout Austin Wolf.
Akron went for it on 4th-and-4 from the Ball State 29-yard line, and the pass was caught off a deflection down the right sideline. Backup quarterback Tra'Von Chapman ran it in from a yard out on the next play, and cut the lead to 17-14 after the extra point.
Ball State faced a 4th-and-1 from its own 46, but elected to punt after wide receiver Jordan Hogue came up short on the previous play. After the punt and return, the Zips took over at their own 17-yard line.
The Zips started a promising drive, but back-to-back penalties forced them into a 1st-and-25. Woodson saved the drive, however, with a 20-yard completion to Jojo Natson down the middle of the field to the Ball State 37.
Akron withstood another penalty and third down before Natson got behind the coverage for a 23-yard score. The extra point was good, and Akron took its first lead by a score of 21-17.
Sophomore running back James Gilbert ran for a first down before the clock ran out.
After three quarters, Akron holds a 21-17 lead over Ball State.
Second Quarter
On the first play of the quarter, sophomore kicker Morgan Hagee converted a 21-yard field goal to give Ball State a 10-0 lead.
Akron answered on its next drive, converting two third downs on its way to the end zone. Quarterback Thomas Woodson threw for 38 yards, including a 16-yard pass to Jerome Lane to put the Zips in Ball State territory. Running back Van Edwards finished the drive with a 45-yard touchdown around the right side.
With the extra point, Akron cut Ball State's lead to 10-7 with 12:24 left in the half.
The Cardinals responded to the Zips' first score with an 8-play, 67-yard drive capped off by a 18-yard James Gilbert touchdown. Gilbert kept the drive alive with a 4th-and-1 conversion earlier in the drive, and Riley Neal turned a broken play into a 16-yard run.
Hagee's extra point was good, and Ball State increased its lead to 17-7 with 9:36 left in the half.
The Zips marched onto Ball State's side of the field, but the drive stalled and they were forced to punt. The Cardinals took over at their own 12-yard line.
Behind Neal and Darian Green, Ball State got into Akron territory. But the Cardinals elected to punt on 4th-and-6 from the 40, and it was downed at the 2-yard line.
Akron running back Van Edwards carried the ball for 18 yards to the Ball State 43 with one second left, but the pass on the final play fell incomplete.
At the half, Ball State leads Akron 17-7.
First Quarter
Akron won the toss, and deferred its choice to the second half. Ball State began its first drive on the 26-yard line after the kickoff.
Sophomore running back James Gilbert got the drive going with four straight rushes for 32 yards. A couple of receptions by senior KeVonn Mabon and junior Jordan Hogue put Ball State deep in Akron territory, and quarterback Riley Neal capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run.
After Morgan Hagee's extra point, Ball State had an early 7-0 lead.
Ball State forced an Akron 3-and-out, but defensive end Joshua Posley was called for a roughing the passer penalty that kept the drive alive. Akron quarterback Thomas Woodson put the Zips in Cardinals territory, but Ball State recovered a fumble on the left sideline and got the ball back.
Neal got the next drive going with his arm and legs. A 19-yard pass to tight end Sam Brunner put the Cardinals at midfield, and Gilbert converted a 4th-and-1 at the Akron 30 later in the drive.
After a couple big runs by Neal and junior Darian Green, Neal missed a wide-open Brunner in the end zone on 1st-and-goal. The Cardinals are facing a 4th-and-goal as the quarter ends.
After one, Ball State leads Akron 7-0.
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