NIU football (4-4, 2-3 MAC) granted the Ball State University Cardinals (3-5, 2-2 MAC) a homecoming victory after falling 25-23. 2 turnovers and 170 rushing yards allowed held the Huskies back.
FIRST HALF
Jump started by a 37-yard kick return, the Cardinals created a 7-0 lead on their opening possession after a 10-play, 62-yard drive. Ball State redshirt freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza connected with junior tight end Tanner Koziol on a goal line fade for the 3-yard passing touchdown.
After trading punts, NIU senior running back Antario Brown evened the game late in the first quarter, shedding a defender en route to a 34-yard rushing touchdown.
Ball State responded on its next drive, creating a 10-7 lead with a 24-yard field goal at the foot of sophomore kicker Jackson Courville. Profiting off a Holst interception, Courville struck again with a 47-yard field goal later in the second quarter and extended the Cardinals lead to 13-7.
Holst picked up his second turnover of the game on the Huskies’ ensuing drive after fumbling the ball in Cardinal territory. Ball State took advantage, creating a 19-7 lead after Semonza and Koziol connected for a 6-yard touchdown – the duo’s second of the day.
Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton took over for Holst late in the second quarter. Hampton scored in six plays, landing a 54-yard pass in the hands of redshirt sophomore Cam Thompson for a touchdown.
SECOND HALF
Midway through NIU’s first drive, Holst returned to the helm of the Huskies’ offense and took over for Hampton. NIU failed to convert, resulting in a punt.
On Ball State’s next possession – a 16-play, 10 minute drive – the Cardinals were also forced to punt. Redshirt junior defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard set up the fourth-and-long after reaching the backfield and putting Semonza in the turf for a 9-yard loss.
Hampton returned to the game on the following drive, marking NIU’s third quarterback change of the day.
Ball State opened the second half scoring with 8:52 left in the fourth quarter following Courville’s third field goal of the game. The 50-yard boot marked the first of his career from 50 yards or more and granted the Cardinals a 22-14 fourth quarter lead.
Originally putting themselves into punting position, NIU was given life following a pair of penalties committed by the Cardinals’ defense. The Huskies took advantage as Brown scored his second touchdown of the afternoon.
Failing to convert the two-point conversion, The Huskies cut the Cardinals’ lead to 22-20 with just under five minutes remaining.
After forcing Ball State to punt late in the fourth quarter, Hampton committed a costly interception. The turnover handed Ball State the ball on the Huskies’ 23-yard line. The Cardinals’ left the drive scoreless after Gill-Howard blocked Courville’s field goal attempt and gave NIU the ball with a 2-point deficit.
After marching 50 yards down the field, senior kicker Kanon Woodill striked the 47-yard game winning kick through the uprights with 18 second remaining to put NIU in winning position.
With 18 seconds left, Ball State set up a 52-yard game-winning field goal with a 3 play, 39 yard drive to earn the 25-23 victory.
