by Ball State has become accustomed to Mid-American Conference games decided by a single score, but that would not be the case this week. With the wind seemingly taken out of the Cardinals’ wings, the team’s final home game was a letdown following the firing of their now former head coach, Mike Neu, last week.
In the cold, cloudy atmosphere of Schuman Stadium, it was apparent that the crowd had lost a little life. Attendance barely eclipsed the team’s season low back on November 5th, but this time, it wasn’t a midweek game on Election night; it was the weekend of Ball State’s final home game.
Across the board, the Cardinals’ most consistent players proved ineffective en route to their 13-38 loss to a Bowling Green squad that had already secured its bowl game eligibility last week.
Junior tight end Tanner Koizol, a semifinalist for the 2024 John Mackey Award that honors the best tight end in college football, finished with a season low of 27 receiving yards on five receptions. Junior wide receiver Justin Bowick, who had broken out in Ball State’s last two contests with a combined 319 yards and three touchdowns, was sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Lastly, senior running back Braedon Sloan, the Cardinals’ leading rusher, saw only seven touches for a total of 28 rushing yards.
Bright spots for Ball State were limited in the 25-point loss. Defensively, graduate defensive lineman Riley Tolsma finished the day with a pair of sacks, but it did little to slow down the Falcons’ offense. The Cardinals’ defense, which has given up over 30 points in eight games this season, allowed the Bowling Green Falcons to eclipse that total once again with 362 yards of total offense.
Redshirt junior Vaughn Pemberton saw an elevated role in the Cardinals’ offense today, leading the team offensively on the ground and through the air with 29 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards. His play was highlighted by a 51-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
For Ball State, the loss comes as the first on the record of Interim Head Coach Colin Johnson ahead of what could be his final game at the helm when the Cardinals conclude their 2024 campaign next Saturday at noon against the Ohio Bobcats.
