Ball State beat Illinois State 51-28. Read Sports Reporter Mat Mikesell's three thoughts to take away from the game.
Third quarter
Ball State 37, Illinois State 21
Jamill Smith nearly started the second half by returning the opening kickoff back for a touchdown.
He was brought down by the last Illinois State defender at his 45-yard line. Two plays later, Keith Wenning found Willie Snead underneath for a 50-yard reception.
Snead hauled in his first touchdown catch of the season on a nine-yard pass to the corner, giving Ball State a 23-21 lead after two and a half minutes into the third quarter.
The lead was the first of the night for the Cardinals.
Illinois State first drive got to midfield before three straight runs were stopped. Jared Barnett was stopped on a 3rd and 14 to end the drive.
After a quick Ball State possession, Illinois State got the ball back but only to move backward. C.J. Laros punted from his own goal line, only for the kick to go 27 yards and set up Ball State with excellent field position.
The Cardinals took advantage of the field position when Wenning found Snead for the second time in the quarter for a touchdown. Snead made a quick slant route, beating Redbird defender Mike Banks, for a 40-yard reception to give Ball State a 30-21 lead.
Ben Ingle picked off Barnett on the next drive. Ingle was hit on the helmet by center Charles Cowley, who was ejected per the targeting rule.
Ball State started at the Illinois State 7-yard line and Wenning ran for his second touchdown on from three yards.
Second quarter
Ball State kicker Scott Secor missed his second kick of the night after a miss from 48-yards early in the quarter.
Illinois State took the ball and drove into Ball State territory and looked at a scoring chance. On second down from the Ball State 34-yard line, Illinois State's Jared Barnett was flagged for intentional grounding that stalled the drive.
Keith Wenning was off on a deep throw to receiver Willie Snead as Ball State and was forced into a three-and-out.
Barnett continued to find success throwing the ball over the middle after a completion to James O'Shaughnessy and Chick Chatham on consecutive plays put the Redbirds to the five-yard line.
One play action set up Barnett for a five-yard pass to Matt Meyers, putting the Redbirds up 21-9 late in the second quarter.
Wenning pushed the offense for points before the half and converted on a key third down.
The Cardinals got a much needed 16-yard touchdown reception by Jordan Williams with four seconds left on the clock. The score put Ball State within five points as the teams went to halftime.
First quarter
Jared Barnett worked a nearly perfect opening drive as Illinois State easily marched downfield to take a 7-0 lead.
The Redbirds drive was capped off by a one-yard run from tail back Collin Keoshian. Barnett was 3-for-3 passing on the drive, with two receptions from former Ball State wide receiver Phil Dudley.
Ball State responded with its own scoring drive as Keith Wenning moved the offense for a touchdown. Wenning punched in the touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak.
The Cardinals couldn't tie the score as Scott Secor missed his first career PAT try off the right post.
Wenning went 4-for-5 for 50 yards on Ball State's first drive.
On the second Illinois State drive, Barnett managed to complete a ball to Anthony Warrum for a 47-yard touchdown throw. The pass was intended for another Redbirds receiver, and the touchdown put the visitors up 14-6.
Jamill Smith had a huge 90-yard kickoff return to the Illinois State 10-yard line, but the Cardinals could only manage a 22-yard Secor field goal.
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