Ball State might have been down with barely any time left, but the Cardinals didn't let up.
With running back Frank Edmonds' 1-yard touchdown run, Ball State capped off a 79-yard drive to pull ahead of Western Michigan with 1:07 left.
The contest went back and forth the whole afternoon, with four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone.
The Cardinals were able to go ahead 19-16 on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis to Louis Johnson. The extra point made it 20-16.
Both Davis (358 yards passing) and Johnson (110 yards receiving) had big days for the Cardinals.
Ball State head coach Brady Hoke complimented Davis for his play, but said he still has to grow.
I think he's going to be a very good quarterback
Hoke said. There's a lot he still has to learn within our offense and what we're trying to do.
Western Michigan (3-5, 2-2 MAC) came right back on the next drive to take the lead, scoring on a 50-yard connection from Tim Hiller to Jordan White.
Although Western Michigan's offense put the team ahead, the defense let Ball State drive the length of the field to seal it with the Edmond's touchdown.
Western Michigan's running back Brandon West finished the game with a career-high 171 yards rushing.
Ball State (5-3) moved to second place in the MAC West with their 3-2 conference record.
Bowling Green (4-3, 2-1 MAC) topped Kent State 31-20 in a MAC East match-up. The Falcons usually don't put up big rushing numbers, but running back Willie Geter put up big numbers for Bowling Green with his 203 rushing yards.
Coach Gregg Brandon said that Bowling Green could have run the ball in earlier games like it did Saturday.
I think we've always had the ability to rush the football. We just haven't worked it as much this year trying to get our passing game going with (quarterback) Tyler Sheehan he said.
Eugene Jarvis, Kent State's star running back, ran for 168 yards on 33 carries, maintaining his spot as the No. 2 rusher in the nation with his 1,103 yards.
Temple upset East leader Miami in their 24-17 victory.
Led by backup quarterback Vaughn Charlton and a stifling defense, the Owls were able to take down Miami in an exciting contest.
Miami (4-4, 3-1 MAC) led a ferocious comeback, scoring a touchdown and a field goal in the last minute to bring the game to 24-17. The RedHawks recovered a second straight onside kick, giving them a chance to tie, but quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh's last-second pass was intercepted, sealing the game for Temple.
Temple, with its 3-2 conference record, is now only a game behind the MAC East leaders and finds itself in new waters. Coach Al Golden has seen the increased attention toward Temple, but said that the team hasn't reached its ultimate goal yet.
(The media attention) is definitely noticeable. (But) our goal isn't just to win three games Golden said. Obviously
I took the job
and many of the staff members and recruits came here to win a MAC championship.
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Will Frasure
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Willie Geter (28) takes a handoff from quarterback Tyler Sheehan for one of his 22 carries against Kent State last week. Geter finished with 203 yards and a touchdown.
