This was Ball State's (4-7, 3-4 MAC) first overtime game since knocking off the same Western Michigan (6-5, 4-3) squad in 2012.
"This was the best way we could go out for our seniors," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "I told them today that no matter what you do in your football career, you always remember the last one. I'm not sure if there's any better way for these guys to have their last one here at Scheumann Stadium."
Tuesday's home finale for Ball State was a back-and-forth affair all night, featuring ties at 7, 14, 28 and 35. The Cardinals went ahead 35-28 on a Malik Dunner 12-yard touchdown run with 5:36 remaining only to see WMU even the score with 1:48 left.
The Cardinals got first crack with the ball in overtime and utilized a pair of creative plays to find the end zone. A reverse pass from wide receiver Corey Lacanaria to a wide-open Riley Miller on the first play moved the ball down to the one-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Drew Plitt completed a jump pass to tight end Kyle Schrank for the touchdown. A Morgan Hagee PAT made the score, 42-35.
Western Michigan needed five plays to find the end zone on its possession. Quarterback Kaleb Eleby ran the ball in from one yard out to bring the Broncos within one point, 42-41. The Broncos then elected to go for two points and the win. However, linebacker Jimmy Daw and safety Bryce Cosby broke through the middle of the line and tripped up running back LeVante Bellamy well short of the goal line.
"That's a good football team with an experienced offensive line," Neu added. "Yes, they run the ball well, but all that mattered is we had the biggest stop of the year that we needed when it mattered most. They decided to go for two and what a great response from our defense to get that done."
Plitt, making his second straight start for an injured Riley Neal, completed 80.8 percent (21-of-26) of his pass attempts and connected on three touchdown passes. Wide receiver Justin Hall finished with a season-high 117 yards, including a 61-yard catch and run to set up a touchdown in the second quarter. Running back James Gilbert chipped in with a pair of touchdown runs for the second time this season.
For Western Michigan, Bellamy and Jamauri Bogan combined for 318 yards on the ground. The Broncos have now lost three straight league games after winning their first four MAC contests. Western wraps up its regular season next Tuesday when it hosts Northern Illinois (7 p.m. ET)
Ball State concludes its season next Tuesday night, Nov. 20, at Miami (Ohio). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of BSU Athletics)