by MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State football traveled to Connecticut to end its 2025 non-conference schedule with an afternoon contest with UConn. After four quarters of play, the Cardinals fell to the Huskies 31-25.
Here are three notes from the game.
Limited mistakes in the first half
The referees didn’t have to do much in the first half as there was only one penalty in the first 30 minutes of action. But the play was also a factor as both teams had a fair share of positive possessions.
While UConn led by 10 after a 30-yard field goal and a two-yard touchdown pass, the Cardinals did not let the hole impact them. At the 14:53 minute mark of the second quarter, redshirt senior QB1 Kiael Kelly handed the ball to redshirt senior receiver Quian Magwood. However, Magwood then turned and threw the ball to his quarterback.
Kelly made a man miss and then scored a 19-yard passing touchdown. It was the first of Magwood’s career.
But it wasn’t just the Ball State offensive unit that looked solid. The defense forced UConn to punt three times in the half.
Second half miscues
While the first half was fairly limited in errors, the second half was different. Ball State’s defense allowed multiple big plays, and the Cardinals were called for four penalties.
One of those penalties was on redshirt senior linebacker Jack Beebe, who was flagged for roughing the passer as UConn threw an incomplete pass on third down. This gave the Huskies a fresh set of downs, and this led to a touchdown, giving them a 17-7 lead.
To open the fourth quarter, the Cardinals left UConn redshirt junior receiver Skyler Bell wide open on third-and-long. The Huskies’ receiver made the reception and picked up a first down. That drive ended in a touchdown from UConn redshirt sophomore running back Cam Edwards.
The issues continued as Ball State had UConn to third-and-nine with 1:50 left in the game, but Edwards took off for a 67-yard score, sealing the game.
Ball State’s pass game had its moments
Kelly finished the first half going five-for-eight with 79 passing yards, and in the second half, he continued despite some mistakes.
He finished the half with a solid stat line of 12-for-14 and had 130 passing yards — which brought his final stat line to 17-for-24 for 209 yards — but he missed two throws that were too short and high.
In the loss, Kelly was sacked four times, with a few of those coming from behind as he tried to scramble. Kelly also threw his first interception of the season in the fourth quarter. But following the pick, he led the Cardinals to a touchdown drive that included a 28-yard completion on a fourth-and-five scenario.
Following Edwards’ late score, Kelly and the Cardinals didn’t have enough time to make something happen, even though they scored another touchdown on their final drive of the game.
The Cardinals will kick off the Mid-American Conference season Sept. 27 as they face Ohio. The game will begin at noon.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
