First quarter
Ball State wins the toss and elects to receive.
The Cardinals start on their own 25-yard line. On fourth-and-1 from the Golden Eagles 30, junior quarterback Riley Neal runs for the first down on a 2-yard QB sneak. Ball State takes a 7-0 lead after Neal throws a touchdown pass to redshirt freshman tight end Nolan Givan on first-and-goal from the 3.
Tennessee Tech moves the ball into Ball State territory on its first drive, but redshirt senior Anthony Winbush sacks redshirt freshman quarterback Andre Sale and forces a fumble. The Golden Eagles recover but have to punt.
The Cardinals take over on their own 17 yard-line and gain 20 yards on two plays. Junior running back James Gilbert is stopped on third-and-2 from the 37. Tennessee Tech calls a timeout. Ball State punts.
The Golden Eagles start on their own 10 and gain 27 yards before losing yards on first and second down. On third-and-16 from Tennessee Tech's 33-yard line, freshman defensive end Christian Albright sacks Sale and forces another fumble.
Second quarter
Ball State starts the quarter with the ball, but Neal is intercepted by Tennessee Tech senior linebacker Elliott Normand.
The next Golden Eagles drive doesn't last much longer — freshman linebacker David Reuth pressures junior quarterback Luke Ward on third-and-9, and Ward's pass is intercepted by redshirt junior cornerback Josh Miller.
Gilbert breaks off a 48-yard run on first-and-10 from Ball State's 37-yard line. A few plays later, Neal passes to freshman wide receiver Justin Hall for an 8-yard touchdown. Ball State leads 14-0.
Tennessee Tech doesn't cross the 50 on its next drive, then Ball State goes three-and-out.
Sale connects with sophomore running back Andrew Goldsmith on first-and-10 from their own 40-yard line. Goldsmith scores on a 3-yard touchdown run to cap the drive and cut Ball State's lead to 14-7.
Ball State goes three-and-out.
Goldsmith breaks off a 33-yard run on third-and-8 from Tennessee Tech's 28-yard line. Sale's pass on the ensuing first down bounces off Ball State sophomore safety Lamar Anderson's foot and Reuth intercepts it. The Cardinals take over on their own 32-yard line with 1:17 left in the half.
Neal marches Ball State downfield and hits Gilbert for a 17-yard touchdown pass with nine seconds left in the half. Gilbert's first career receiving touchdown puts the Cardinals ahead 21-7 at halftime.
Third quarter
Tennessee Tech receives and works a 16-play, 62-yard drive that takes 7:21 off the clock, but Winbush sacks Sale on third-and-11 from Ball State's 17-yard line. Golden Eagles junior kicker Nick Madonia kicks a 37-yard field goal to cut the Cardinals' lead to 21-10.
Ball State picks up a first down, then Neal is intercepted by Tennessee Tech sophomore linebacker Clay Davis.
The Golden Eagles make it to the red zone again. On third-and-goal from the four-yard line, Sale's pass to junior wide receiver Alex Carling in the end zone is ruled incomplete as Carling bobbles the ball on his way out of bounds. Madonia hits a 21-yard field goal to make it 21-13.
The Cardinals only need 36 seconds to score on their next drive thanks to a 66-yard touchdown by sophomore running back Malik Dunner. Ball State leads 28-13.
Tennessee Tech goes three-and-out but Madanio's 58-yard punt puts Ball State at its own 10-yard line.
Fourth quarter
Ball State's drive takes 6:32 off the clock to open the final quarter, but junior kicker Morgan Hagee's 52-yard field goal attempt is blocked.
Tennessee Tech goes for it on fourth-and-3 from Ball State's 42-yard line on the next drive, and Sale's pass falls incomplete.
The Cardinals move into the red zone on their next possession. The drive stalls when freshman running back Caleb Huntley loses a fumble on the Golden Eagles 13-yard line.
On first down Sale connects with senior receiver Dontez Byrd on a 46-yard pass to move into Ball State territory. Tennessee Tech makes it inside Ball State's 10-yard line, but a third-down sack by redshirt senior David Moore makes it fourth-and-goal from the 24 yard-line. The fourth-down pass falls incomplete.
The Cardinals run out the clock to seal the 28-13 win.
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