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Fourth Quarter
Ball State 20, Arkansas State 23
Ball State opened the fourth quarter with a lengthy drive that ended with a field goal to narrow Arkansas State’s lead to just three points. On the third down of the drive, Keith Wenning’s pass to Willie Snead was almost intercepted, but dropped by the defensive back.
The Cardinals’ defense halted the Red Wolves and forced a punt to give the ball back to the offense.
Ball State’s offense took back over with just more than 10 minutes left in the game. On the third play of the drive, Wenning’s pass was intercepted by Arkansas State’s defense and returned to Ball State’s 8-yard line.
Ball State returned the favor as Eric Patterson intercepted Arkansas State in the end zone on third down.
Jahwan Edwards carried the ball for a first down on the next Ball State play. Ball State continued to march down the field with a combination of short passes from Wenning and rushes by Edwards.
On a first and 10, Wenning ran out of the pocket for a first down, evading tacklers in the process. Wenning hit Snead for a first down on a third and four in Arkansas State territory.
On a pivotal third and 5, Wenning hit Jordan Williams for a first down to bring Ball State to the 1-yard line.
After a fumbled snap and an Edwards run, Ball State had third and goal inside the 1-yard line. Wenning handed it off to Edwards, who dove into the end zone to give Ball State a 19-16 lead. The extra point was good, giving Ball State a 20-16 lead with 1:33 to go.
Arkansas State got the ball back with 1:25 to go in the game, down four at its own 41. Arkansas State picked up 11 on the first play of the drive. The Red Wolves’ Fredi Knighten then ran for three yards, but got out of bounds with 1:06 to go.
Arkansas State hit a receiver for a 26-yard gain to get the ball to the 19. Knighten then hit Allen Muse for a 12-yard touchdown, giving Arkansas State the lead with 32 seconds to go.
Ball State got the ball back with 29 seconds to go and three timeouts at its own 36-yard line.
Two incomplete passes brought up third and 10 for Ball State. On third down, Wenning hit Smith for a gain, bringing Ball State to the 46-yard line with 11 seconds left. A flag was thrown for a late hit, giving Ball State 15 more yards.
Ball State attempted a field goal, but it was blocked.
Third Quarter
Ball State 10, Arkansas State 16
Coming out of halftime, Arkansas State’s offense blazed a trail down the field, but was stopped short on the goal line.
Ball State seniors Jonathan Newsome and Joel Cox made the tackle to force a fourth down. Arkansas State connected on the field goal and took the lead 13-10.
Following a Ball State punt, Arkansas State kicked another close field goal to go up 16-10.
On Ball State’s next drive, Willie Snead couldn’t grab a pass from Keith Wenning on third down to continue the drive.
However, the Cardinals were bailed out by a facemask penalty and given new life on the drive. Wenning continued the drive on a second down by evading a lineman and shoveling a pass to Zane Fakes.
Arkansas State moved the ball, but was forced to punt after a quarterback run came up short. The third quarter ended with Ball State having the football at the Arkansas State 31-yard line, down 10-16.
Second Quarter
Ball State 10, Arkansas State 10
Ball State began the second quarter with the ball at the 5-yard line. Two runs from Jahwan Edwards led to a third and 7 for Ball State, where Keith Wenning was sacked at the one-yard line.
Following the punt, Arkansas State had the ball at the Ball State 43-yard line. Ball State stuffed a run attempt on a third and four at the Ball State 24. Arkansas State attempted a 41-yard field goal, The kick would’ve been good from 61 yards, as Arkansas State got on the board, but still down 7-3.
After the kickoff, Ball State took possession at the 24-yard line. Edwards got Ball State into Arkansas State with a 20-yard run to the 45-yard line. Wenning completed a 25-yard pass to Willie Snead to get Ball State into the red zone at the 4-yard line. After a run from Edwards and a bad snap, Wenning couldn’t complete a pass to Snead in the end zone, leading to a Ball State field goal. The kick was good as Ball State extended its lead to 10-3 with 4:09 left in the first half. The drive lasted 14 plays, 67 yards and took 6:09 off the clock.
Arkansas State picked up three straight first downs, the third of which on a trick play fooling the Ball State defense. Arkansas State used single-wing formations to move the ball into Ball State’s red zone. Ball State’s defense stopped Arkansas State, leading to a fourth and one from the one. Arkansas State’s Sirgregory Thornton scored the touchdown, tying the game for the Red Wolves.
With 48 seconds left in the half, Ball State received the ball at the 25-yard line.
Heading into halftime, the score was tied 10-10.
First Quarter
Ball State 7, Arkansas State 0
Ball State’s first drive fell far short of expectations as a pair of Keith Wenning incompletions led to third down. On third down, Wenning was sacked by Arkansas State’s Rocky Hayes, forcing a Ball State punt.
Arkansas State’s first drive started at the Ball State 36-yard line after a 19-yard punt. The Red Wolves missed a 34-yard field goal after an incomplete pass on third down, giving Ball State the ball back at the 20-yard line.
Ball State’s second drive of the game went similarly to the first. Wenning was almost intercepted on first down as the Arkansas State defensive line read the screen attempt. On second down, Wenning completed his first pass of the game on a 5-yard completion to tight end Zane Fakes. Another incompletion led to another Ball State punt.
Ball State’s defense forced a punt by Arkansas State on the ensuing drive. The Cardinals were aided by a holding penalty on second down, leading to a second and 17 that the Red Wolves couldn’t recover from.
On Ball State’s next drive, the team got some offense going. Ball State’s junior running back Jahwan Edwards picked up his team’s first first down of the game with a 22-yard scamper along the left sideline. On a third and 1, Wenning picked up the first down with a quarterback sneak. Ball State continued pounding the ball with the run game throughout the drive, including using freshman Teddy Williamson. Ball State ended the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Wenning to junior Willie Snead. The drive lasted 14 plays, 89 yards and took 6:30 off the clock.
Arkansas State’s drive lasted until the end of the first quarter. On a third down, an intentional grounding call moved the ball back to the 43-yard line.
When the second quarter begins, Ball State will have the ball at the Arkansas State 5-yard line.
Ball State headed into the second quarter with a 7-0 lead.
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