MIAMI 17, BALL STATE 15 -- CLICK HERE to continue
KENT, OH -- Trailing by three in the fourth quarter, Northern Illinois scored the game's final 10 points to pull out a hard-fought win over Kent State Saturday at Dix Stadium.
With the win, NIU (6-6, 5-3 MAC) reaches bowl eligibility. The Flashes finished 2023 1-11 overall and 0-8 in MAC play.
The two teams combined for nearly 800 yards of offense and KSU held a lead on three occasions. The upset-minded Flashes led 17-10 at intermission, 20-17 midway through the third quarter and 27-24 after Devin Kargman hit Jameel Gardner on a 50-yard TD strike with 10:23 remaing to play.
Northern Illinois responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive. Quarterback Rocki Lombardi's 1-yard run moved the visitors back in front for the final time at 4:45. Jacob Finley recovered a fumble on the final play for six more points.
Lombardi completed 9 of 18 passes, good for 183 yards with one TD. Gavin Williams recored 103 yards, while Antario Brown added 89 yards with a TD for a ground game that totaled 243 yards. Lombardi had two rushing scores.
Kargman, a sophomore apearing in his third game of 2023, connected on 14 of 26 aerials totaling 237 yards with two TDs. Jameel Gardner Jr. led Kent State receivers with three catches totaling 111 yards and a touchdown. Luke Floriea caught nine balls for 83 yards with a score.
By MIKE SMITH
MUNCIE, IN -- Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin called it an ugly win, but they still count those things, and so MU recorded its first 10-win regular season since 2003 as the RedHawks edged Ball State 17-15 Saturday at Scheumann Stadium.
The hosting Cardinals out-gained MU by nearly 150 yards (365-216) and owned a 21-12 advantage in first downs.
Most of the damage came on the ground as RB Marquez Cooper (31 carries) and QB Kiael Kelly (20 carries) ran for 137 yards each. The Cardinals totaled 274 yards on the ground and another 91 through the air as Kelly completed 14 of 19 for 91 yards.
He also threw two interceptions, and those helped Miami grab a lead that it held most of the game. However, when MU returned the favor with two Aveon Smith interceptions, Ball State took advantage and was in position to win at the end.
Smith's crucial interceptions . . . CLICK HERE to continue