MUNCIE, IN -- Down 27-13 after three quarters, the Ball State Cardinals rallied for 17 points in the final stanza Saturday to edge Western Michigan 30-27 and earn a ticket to next week's MAC Championship game. They will face East Division champ Buffalo in a rematch of the 2008 conference title contest.
BSU senior quarterback Drew Plitt . . .
Western Michigan responded with a 12-play drive that stalled deep in Cardinal territory. A 29-yard field goal attempt failed. When Ball State got its own field goal opportunity several possessions later, it converted a game-winning 22-yard kick with 29 seconds remaining.
The Broncos final possession lasted four plays. Western Michigan was at its own 49 when its final snap led to a series of desperation laterals back and forth across the field. It appeared at one point that a Ball State player had recovered the ball and was on the ground. That brought the entire Cardinal contingent onto the field. However, the ball had squirted out. It was picked up by a Bronco player, and at one point a WMU player was carrying the ball through dozens of Cardinals now on the field. Eventually, a Bronco carried the ball into the end zone while his own teammates began to celebrate.
The scene was somewhat reminiscent of a 1982 Cal touchdown that went through the Stanford Band. However, this lateral-rama did not stand. Officials ruled that Western Michigan was guilty of an illegal forward pass on the play, allowing Ball State to leave with a trip to Detroit (and the MAC title game) in its near future.
Host Western Michigan actually led in several statistical areas. Overall, the Broncos had 49 yards of offense, while Ball State totaled 352 yards. WMU also had a 34-17 edge in first downs and held the ball for 37:22.
Western Michigan, however, committed the game's only two turnovers, missed a critical field goal and gave up a pair of long touchdown passes.
Broncos quarterback Kaleb Eleby completed 24-of-37 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. D'Wayne Eskridge and Skyy Moore combined for 17 receptions229 yards and a score.
Western Michigan also thrived on the ground with 218 yards rushing. La'Darius Jefferson led the way with 25 trips for 159 yards and a score.
Hall led BSU receivers with 10 catches for 175 yards and two TDs. Will Jones, meanwhile, provided 71 of Ball States 103 rushing yards.