Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- A 79-yard drive in the final minutes of the game helped Ball State squeak past Western Michigan, 27-23, spoiling the Broncos' Homecoming weekend. Brandon West rushed for a career-high 171 yards on 21 carries in the loss.
Western Michigan (3-5, 2-2 MAC) had the ball and a 23-20 lead with 5:22 left in the game but two incomplete passes with WMU needing seven yards forced the Broncos to punt the ball away. Ball State took possession at its own 21-yard line and managed to march down the field, stealing the victory. After a five-yard rush by Nate Davis, the sophomore quarterback completed three-straight passes of seven, 20 and nine yards to get the chains moving for the Cardinals. A 25-yard run by Frank Edmonds got BSU in the red zone and an 11-yard completion put the ball at the two. Edmonds had back-to-back rushes of a yard, the last one for the touchdown. A Jake Houge point-after kick had WMU facing a 27-23 score in the wrong favor with 1:07 remaining.
The Brown & Gold had one last drive, but a comeback wasn't in the cards for WMU. Tim Hiller completed a 19-yard toss to Jarmarko Simmons on fourth and one from the Bronco 20, but his next pass would be intercepted by Alex Knipp at the BSU 31 to seal the victory.
Western Michigan had Ball State nipping at its heels for the majority of the day. BSU didn't take its first lead until a little over 10 minutes remaining in the game. Trailing, 16-13, the Cardinals' Dante Love lateralled the ball to quarterback Nate Davis, who was lined up in the slot, and Davis found Robert Eddins streaking down the right side line for a 45-yard touchdown. The three-play drive pushed the Cardinals ahead, 20-16.
Western Michigan wouldn't let Ball State enjoy the advantage for long, responding with a 50-yard touchdown strike of its own 23 seconds later. Redshirt freshman Jordan White caught a Hiller pass over the middle at the BSU 40-yard line and found his way to the end zone for his first career touchdown. The career-long catch put the Broncos back on top momentarily, 23-20, until the Cardinals came up with the fatal last drive.
The Broncos started the afternoon with a 10-0 lead, opening scoring with a career-long, 45-yard field goal by Mike Jones at 7:07 in the first quarter. They extended the advantage early in the second quarter, on a one-yard keeper by Hiller. The Brown & Gold came through with a key fourth and one conversion inside the 15 on the possession.
Ball State (5-3, 3-2 MAC) finally broke its silence 11:38 in the second quarter. After a long official review reveled the Broncos had not come up with a fumble, Davis hurled a 34-yard pass to Joe Everett in the right corner of the end zone. A 40-yard field goal by Houge less than five minutes later tied the game at 10-10.
Brandon West helped WMU push ahead, 13-10, before halftime with a career-long 66-yard rush to the Ball State 10. Jones converted with a 33-yard field goal. West averaged 8.1 yards a carry on the day, finishing with 171 yards ? his second 100-plus yard game of the season and fourth of his career.
The two teams traded field goals after the half to set up the late fourth quarter dramatics. Ball State tied the game at 13-13 before the end of the third quarter and Jones hit his field goal of the day with 10:48 to go in the game. It was WMU's second-straight loss to BSU at home.
Hiller finished with 21 completions out of 38 attempts for 237 yards, but was picked off three times. Simmons registered 110 yards on nine catches, while White tallied 80 yards on four receptions.
Western Michigan will look to rebound against Eastern Michigan next week, hosting the Eagles at 3:30 p.m.
