by MUNCIE, Ind — Ball State football was blanked 42-0 in week seven against Western Michigan while only recording 88 total yards of offense. The Cardinals didn’t want to repeat that. Period.
Ball State QB1 Kiael Kelly said Tuesday’s practice following the loss was different.
“You could just feel the energy,” Kelly said. “I’ve been on teams in the past where if you take a loss like that in the middle of the season, you don’t respond well. Nobody blinked.”
With that newfound feeling, the Cardinals walked into Scheumann Stadium Saturday afternoon for their homecoming game against Akron. Though they started the contest down 8-0, the Cardinals responded and dropped a season-high mark in points, topping Akron 42-18.
“We always want to try to win every game we play, but it’s important for us to play well at home.” Ball State head coach Mike Uremovich said.
But the Cardinals were faced with some challenges throughout the contest. First, they trailed 15-14 at halftime. This week, multiple team captains said they needed to take accountability and be the leaders the program needed. Uremovich said he heard them talking while he was walking into the locker room.
“There are ups and downs in every game, but when we went in at halftime … I could hear guys talking and saying they needed to execute,” Uremovich said. “When guys are repeating [the coach’s message], that’s what you want.”
After recording 183 offensive yards in the first half, the Cardinals continued to shine throughout the third and fourth quarters.
Uremovich said the team ‘executed’ better, and used plays like a 37-yard pass from redshirt junior receiver Ty Robinson in the first quarter to get things going. That type of play continued throughout as the Cardinals recorded 374 yards — 216 rushing and 158 passing — and six touchdowns in the contest.
But then another obstacle hit them.
Lightning.
This started a one-hour delay as the Cardinals sat in their locker room until the weather cleared. Uremovich said the team handled the stoppage in play well and followed the game plan the coaches had in case this incident was to occur.
“It’s something we do during every training camp, and this week, we prepared for the weather,” he said. “It’s always way better to be at home for one of those games, because you can spread out in your locker room while the visiting team is in the little visitor’s locker room.”
But when they returned to the field, it was like nothing had changed. After a goal-line stand, the Cardinals forced a 19-yard field goal from the Zips. This made the score 35-28.
But then TJ Horton entered the chat.
The redshirt sophomore running back returned the kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Akron had two more chances to find the end zone, but both drives were broken up by two interceptions — the first Ball State picks for redshirt junior defensive back Roman Pearson and redshirt senior defensive back Joedrick Lewis.
This iced the game and gave Ball State football its homecoming victory.
“Another team thinks that they’re better and whatever,” Pearson said. “We’re just going to fight right back. We’re a tough football team.”
Kelly led the Cardinals with four touchdowns — three rushing and one passing. It was the first time he had recorded three scores on the ground in his collegiate career. He said there was one thing on his mind.
“[I was] just refusing to lose. Being in this conference, I know that every game matters, and especially the ones at home,” Kelly said. “So, just ending homecoming the right way, and just bringing the W home, we definitely needed it.”
Kelly also had 58 rushing yards, which was second to redshirt junior Qua Ashley with 143 rushing yards, who also had a touchdown. When asked about this being his last collegiate homecoming game, Kelly took a second to look back on the day.
“I never looked at it like that,” he said. “Ever since I got here, I’ve heard that it’s not homecoming if the football team loses. We took care of business and ended the week right.”
But there were some spots the Cardinals wanted to clean up on going forward. Kelly threw an interception, the Cardinals lost a fumble and Ball State’s QB1 was sacked four times. Akron also had eight tackles for loss and outgained the Red and White in yards with 419.
And there’s another big problem. Ball State is 0-4 on the road and moves on to Northern Illinois, where the Cardinals will play Saturday, Oct. 25, at 3:30 p.m.
“We have to win on the road. You’re not going to win anything in this conference or college football if you don’t win on the road,” Uremovich said. “So we’ll have another opportunity to try to do that next week.”
Yet, the season is not over because it’s a triumph on homecoming weekend, even though Uremovich did take a moment to cherish that aspect. He made a note about the ‘Pride of Mid-America,’ and appreciated their effort.
“Our band is awesome. They came back, and they’re the only people on the other side [of the stadium]. We tried to get them in the locker room after the game, but they wouldn’t fit in there.”
Ball State moves on to Northern Illinois, which the Cardinals will play Saturday, Oct. 25, at 3:30 p.m. Uremovich said that his staff tries to take it week-by-week but believes that the conference season is a bit different.
“You’re trying to stay in it and survive and advance as long as you can to make the games at the end of the year count,” he said. “We’re nowhere near that right now, but obviously, you win this game, and now we get to go try and do it again next week.”
The Cardinals have the mindset that this game was what they needed to avenge last week’s performance, and it could be the kind of game that shows what the program is capable of.
“Just understanding the two different feelings from last week to this week, and just being obsessed with this feeling,” Kelly said. “We know what it takes to win, and it starts in practice. But[it’s about] just sticking to the script, doing the same things that we’ve been doing and just starting tomorrow to prepare for our next opponent.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
