Fourth Quarter
Gilbert punched it in for the Cardinals from 5 yards out, bringing an end to the 20-play, 85-yard drive. With the score, the Cardinals led 21-17 with 12:55 remaining.
Another three-and-out by the defense gave Ball State the ball back, resulting in another Gilbert rushing touchdown. This score, from a yard out, was Gilbert's second of the game and gave the Cardinals a 28-17 advantage.
The Eagles were mounting a good drive after a couple short yardage passes from Roback, but missed a 34-yard field goal that would have made it a one-possession game. The Cardinals took over with the lead with 5:46 remaining in the game.
After a Ball State punt, Eastern Michigan began to move the ball, but Wiggins stepped in front of a pass for an interception with just under three minutes remaining.
Eastern Michigan used all of its timeouts on the next drive, forcing another Ball State punt. But a sack by Anthony Winbush and another Wiggins pick sealed the game for the Cardinals.
The offense ran the clock out and capped off the 28-17 win.
Third Quarter
Neal stayed in for the Cardinals and continued his trend of moving the ball against defenses. After a touchback put the Cardinals at the 20-yard line, Ball State was forced to punt.
Ball State held Eastern Michigan to 24 yards on its next drive, forcing a punt. Ball State began its drive at its own 15-yard line.
After a third down pick-up by Mabon to move the chains, the Cardinals faced a third-and-9. Neal threw to Jordan Williams for 14 yards to put Ball State near midfield. After the Eagles sniffed out a halfback screen for a loss of 8 yards, the Cardinals picked up 16 yards.
James Gilbert kept the drive alive twice with fourth down conversions. The Cardinals finished the quarter trailing 17-14 on the Eastern Michigan 32-yard line.
Second Quarter
The Cardinals were forced to punt, and after a botched kick put the Eagles at midfield, Brogan Roback threw a deep pass to Kris Strange for a 27-yard pickup. Darius Jackson picked up 19 yards on the ground for the first touchdown of the game to bring the score to 10-0 with 12:51 remaining in the half.
The Cardinals drove 58 yards in 10 plays, the biggest pickup coming on a 14-yard reception from Lacanaria. The Cardinals would elect to go for it on fourth down in field goal range, but came up a yard short for a turnover on downs.
The Eagles took advantage of the turnover, going 83 yards in five plays for the touchdown. Jackson's second touchdown, this one from 63 yards out, extended the lead to 17-0 with 7:23 remaining in the half.
Ball State answered with a touchdown drive of its own. Neal scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 41-yard keeper. It was reviewed, but the play stood up.
The defense forced a quick three-and-out that gave the Cardinals the ball back at their own 6-yard line. Green broke one off for 23 yards and Neal followed up with a 22-yard completion to KeVonn Mabon to put Ball State at midfield. Neal finished the drive with a strike to Williams that went for a 26 yards to bring the score to 17-14 with 38 seconds left in the half.
Neal finished the half with 109 yards through the air and 83 more on the ground. Green had 10 carries for 97 yards.
First Quarter
The Cardinals elected to defer and kicked off with the wind to start the game.
After a three-and-out, Ball State ran the same opening play it did against Texas A&M with Darian Green, carrying the ball up the middle for 42 yards.
Receiver Corey Lacanaria later went down after a tough hit to the upper body in the end zone while going for the ball, but would return.
After an offensive pass interference put the Cardinals in a fourth-and-goal situation at the 35-yard line, Morgan Hagee came up short on a field goal attempt. Offensive lineman Jalen Schlachter was hurt on the play.
Sean Wiggins killed the Eagles' drive with a sack, but Lacanaria fumbled the ensuing punt return and gave the Eagles the ball back just 20 yards from the end zone. The defense held its own, and Eastern Michigan settled for a field goal to make the score 3-0.
Riley Neal entered the game at quarterback to end the quarter.
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