DETROIT, MI -- After falling short as a favorite in the 2008 MAC Championship game against Buffalo, the Ball State Cardinals reversed roles with a 38-28 win over UB Friday at Ford Field.
In a matchup that brought two powerful offenses to the Motor City, defensive play eventually played a key factor. Ball State limited Buffalo’s vaunted rushing attack to 134 yards. The Cardinals also turned one of two UB turnovers into a 34-yard fumble return that topped a momentum-turning second quarter.
Ball State scored 28 points in the . . .
Brandon Martin and Amechi Uzodinma II combined for 23 tackles, while Christain Albright notched the fumble return to lead a swarming Ball State defense that stopped the Bulls on all three fourth down conversion attempts. Buffalo was also limited to 4-of-13 on third down conversions.
With Ball State determined to limit the Bulls run game, quarterback Kyle Vantrease opened up UB’s passing attack. It worked earlier this season in a key win over defending MAC East champ Miami, and yielded early dividends against Ball State.
Two plays into Friday’s contest Vantrease hit Antonio Nunn over middle, and the senior turned into a 54-yard gain. Four Jaret Patterson runs later, Patterson scored on a three-yard run.
Mixing run and pass, Ball State responded with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Quarterback Drew Plitt hit Yo’Heinz Tyler with a back-shoulder throw for the final 10 yards.
Plitt finished the evening with 20 completions on 32 attempts, good for 273 yards with three TDs and one interception. However, the Cardinals registered another 166 yards rushing, despite playing without senior Caleb Huntley. He had been injured earlier in the season recently opted out. Tye Evans, a 6-0, 240-pound sophomore got the call and carried 18 times for 94 yards to lead BSU rushers against Buffalo.
The Bulls quickly went back in front on their second possession as Vantrease found Trevor Wilson on a 24-yard strike deep down the middle.
After a Ball State punt, Buffalo again drove into Cardinal territory -- this time stalling at the BSU 10. Alex McNulty came on for a 27-yard field goal attempt, but his boot was blocked by Chris Agyemang.
Ball State took over and moved 80 yards in 10 plays to tie the score at 14-all. Plitt completed four passes along the way, including a 23-yarder to Tyler and 25-yard aerial to Justin Hall. Plitt’s one-yard run finished the drive.
Buffalo regained the lead one last time with a Vantrease one-yard run with 7:31 remaining. The rest of the period, however, would belong to Ball State.
Plitt got the Cardinals rolling with a nine-yard pass to Justin Hall at 5:55. The senior was one of three Ball State receivers with at least five catches. Heinz led the way with six receptions for 91 yards and a score.
The Cardinals took a 28-21 lead with 1:30 remaining when Plitt found a wide-open Jalen McGaughy for a 56-yard TD. It was the first time Buffalo trailed this year, and that deficit would soon double.
Three plays into UB’s next drive, Vantrease was stripped of the football, which bounced to Christian Albright. He scampered 34 yards for a defensive score that gave Ball State a 35-21 advantage.
While the teams combined for 56 points in the first half, they managed a total of 10 after intermission. Ball State picked up three on its first possession. Buffalo scored on a 67-yard run by Kevin Marks Jr. The five remaining UB possessions finished with: an interception, punt, downs, downs and end of game.