Appearing to use an injury to linebacker Tony Martin as motivation, Ball State rallied to take a 13-7 lead into halftime against Akron.
The Cardinals scored 13 consecutive points after Martin was taken away from the game in an ambulance after making a tackle. Martin gave a thumbs up as he was going into the ambulance.
Akron turned the ball over on downs after on the play after Martin was injured. On the first play of Ball State's drive quarterback Keith Wenning threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Jack Tomlinson to tie the game at seven.
The Cardinals would later add field goals of 23 and 44 yards by Ian McGarvey. The 44-yard field goal matches McGarvey's longest of the season. He also made a 44-yarder in overtime against Eastern Michigan.
After turning the ball over three times in the first 10 minutes, Ball State was able to hold onto the ball in the second quarter.
Wenning went 7-of-14 for 149 yards and two interceptions in the first half. He also leads the Cardinals in rushing with 40 yards.
Akron is led on offense by running back Alex Allen with 43 rushing yards. Quarterback Patrick Nicely is 7-of-17 for 74 yards and a touchdown. It was just Nicely's fourth touchdown pass of the season.
Continue to read bsudailynews.com for updates throughout the game.
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