Ball State football vs. No. 17 Western Michigan quarter updates

The Cardinals run onto the field before the game against Akron on Oct. 22 in Scheumann Stadium. Ball State lost 25 to 35. Grace Ramey // DN
The Cardinals run onto the field before the game against Akron on Oct. 22 in Scheumann Stadium. Ball State lost 25 to 35. Grace Ramey // DN

Fourth Quarter

Western Michigan scored first in the fourth quarter, tacking on a 23-yard field goal to extend the lead to 45-20.

After a Ball State punt, the Broncos put together a 5-play, 68-yard drive for another touchdown, this time by Fabian Johnson. The extra point gave Western Michigan a 52-13 lead over the Cardinals with 6:20 to play.

Ball State got back on the scoreboard with 45 seconds remaining, as quarterback Jack Milas hit freshman wideout Damon Hazelton Jr. in the right corner of the end zone from 14 yards out. The extra point made it 52-20.

Western Michigan ran out the clock, and sealed the 52-20 victory.

Third Quarter

On the first play of the second half, Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell hit wide receiver Corey Davis for a 62-yard touchdown, his third score of the game. The extra point pushed the Broncos' lead to 35-10.

Ball State's next drive stalled, but senior Kyle Schmidt pinned the Broncos down at their own 4-yard line with a 66-yard boot.

It didn't matter. Terrell hit Davis for 23 yards to get out of the shadow of their own end zone, and later found a wide-open Michael Henry for 29 yards. Broncos running backs Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan took it from there. Franklin punched it in from two yards out to extend the lead to 42-10 after the extra point.

Quarterback Jack Milas channeled his inner Riley Neal with a 47-yard run up the middle on the second play of the Cardinals' drive. It stalled in Western Michigan territory, however. Morgan Hagee split the uprights with a 42-yard field goal to make it 42-13.

Western Michigan has the ball at the Ball State 47-yard line as the time expires.

At the end of the third quarter, the Broncos lead the Cardinals 42-13.

Second Quarter

Ball State marched it down the field and lined up to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the Western Michigan 18, but the Broncos called timeout. When play resumed, sophomore James Gilbert was stopped in the backfield for a loss and a turnover on downs.

The Cardinals' defense got a key stop, however, and the Broncos punted it back to the Ball State offense.

A holding penalty pushed Milas and Co. back, and they were unable to pick up a first down. Sophomore Morgan Hagee made his 39-yard field goal attempt to cut the lead to 21-10 with 5:06 remaining in the first half.

That score was all Western Michigan needed to get its offense going once again. Quarterback Zach Terrell hit receiver Corey Davis for 12, and then 22 more on a deep pass down the middle. Three plays and a false start later, Terrell found Davis down the right sideline for a 35-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Broncos took a 28-10 lead.

Wide receiver KeVonn Mabon took the kickoff out to the 48-yard line, but quarterback Jack Milas tossed an interception deep downfield to free safety Justin Ferguson. Ball State's defense forced a three-and-out, however, to give the ball back to the offense with 1:47 left.

Milas completed four passes for 32 yards, but the drive stalled. Sophomore Morgan Hagee's kick was blocked on fourth down, giving the Broncos another chance to score.

Ball State got pressure on Terrell throughout the drive, forcing a punt. The Cardinals were in good position to score after a connection from Milas to freshman Damon Hazelton Jr., but he lost a fumble to end the half.

At halftime, Western Michigan leads Ball State 28-10.

First Quarter

Ball State won the toss, and chose to receive. The Cardinals started their opening drive on the 25-yard line after a touchback.

Redshirt junior Jack Milas got the start at quarterback because sophomore Riley Neal has a knee injury. Sophomore running back James Gilbert crossed the 1,000-yard plateau with a 4-yard carry on the opening drive. Milas had the offense moving in Western Michigan territory, but was picked by junior corner Darius Phillips who returned it for six.

After the extra point, Western Michigan had a 7-0 lead with 12:08 left in the quarter.

The Cardinals answered back right away. Freshman Malik Dunner spelled Gilbert out of the backfield a few plays into the next drive, and got past the defense for a 50-yard score. His first career touchdown and the extra point tied the game at 7-7.

Ball State got some pressure on Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell on the Broncos' next possession, and forced a punt.

Western Michigan got it back after a Ball State punt, and turned to its run game to get things going. Junior running back Jarvion Franklin capped off an 8-play, 80-yard drive with a 23-yard score to put the Broncos up 14-7 with 4:59 left in the first.

The Cardinals decided to go for it on fourth down at the Western Michigan 43, but Milas' pass was well incomplete. 

Terrell found star receiver Corey Davis on the next play, putting the Broncos up 21-7 with 2:45 remaining in the opening period.

Ball State is facing a 3rd-and-1 from its own 49-yard line as the clock runs out.

After one, No. 17 Western Michigan leads Ball State 21-7.

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