Football Wins a 41-38 Overtime Thriller at Ball State

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MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) — At long last Eastern Michigan University Head Coach Ron English and his team were able to sing the fight song after an Eagles victory! The Eagles, who overcame a sluggish start and a 21-point hole, rallied past Ball State University for 41-38 overtime victory here Saturday afternoon, Oct. 16, at Scheumann Stadium, in a Mid-American Conference West Division battle.

In the extra period, Ball State started with the football but was unable to advance the football. Ian McGarvey was called upon for a 44-yard field goal try that sailed through to make it 38-35.

With EMU needing a score of its own, sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde)continued to make plays for the Eagles. On 3rd-down in the overtime session, Gillett lofted a pass for senior tight end Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hackett Catholic Central), who was able to secure the nine-yard aerial for the game-winning touchdown grab.

The overtime session was set up after the Eagles took a slim 35-28 lead on an Gillett two-yard touchdown run with 4:43 to play the fourth quarter. Not to be outdone, the Cardinals answered with a touchdown of their own to force overtime.

With the victory the Eagles improve to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in Mid-American Conference play. Meanwhile, Ball State drops to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in league play. The win also marks the first career win for English and snaps the 18-game losing skid that dated back to the 2009 campaign.

Additionally, the overtime contest was the Eagles' first since 2006 and its first overtime victory since a 23-20 thriller at Central Michigan, Sept. 25, 2005, and gives EMU a 4-4 record in extra frames.

The Eagles 21-point comeback is also the biggest in school history. The only other EMU team to rally for 20 points or more was the 2000 squad that came back from a 32-12 deficit to score 27 unanswered points to defeat Northern Illinois, 39-32, Nov. 11, in Rynearson Stadium.

Gillett led the Eagles offensively, going 10-for-18 for 225 yards via the air with three scores. The Green Springs, Ohio native also ran the ball 35 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns, the most single-game carries and rushing yards for a quarterback in school history. Sophomore Kinsman Thomas (Bennettsville, S.C.-Marlboro County) caught six balls for 87 yards, while Thayer grabbed three passes for 65 yards and two scores. In total, the Eagles racked up 490 yard in 73 plays

For Ball State, quarterback Keith Wenning ran the ball six times for 10 yards and a touchdown while going 16-for-29 for 145 yards and three scores via the air.

Miscues plagued both teams on their opening drives. Following a short punt that gave EMU the ball in BSU territory, the Eagles could not capitalize with Sean Graham's (Orchard Lake, Mich.-Orchard Lake St. Marys-Florida State) 32-yard field goal attempt missing wide left.

The Green and White would promptly get the ball back though in great scoring position, after a missed handoff by BSU was recovered by Andy Mulumba (Montreal, Quebec, Canada-Vieux Montreal). Graham would again be called upon to try to draw first-blood, but again a 40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with 7:13 still showing on the first quarter clock.

After escaping a pair of scoring threats, Ball State would crack the scoreboard with 5:25 still showing on the first-quarter clock. Wenning found a streaking Daniel Ifft for a 24-yard touchdown reception and the PAT followed by Ian McGarvey to make it 7-0. The scoring drive was set up at the EMU 20-yard line after a muffed punt gave the Cardinals tremendous starting position.

The BSU lead would climb to 21 points midway through the second quarter. First the Cardinals scored on the ground with Wenning using his offensive line to push into the end zone from one-yard out. The touchdown scamper capped a 12-play, 70-yard drive that consumed more than six minutes. Ball State then took to the air for an eight-yard touchdown reception by MiQuale Lewis from Wenning at the 7:42 mark.

Eastern's offense was then able to string together a nearly perfect drive that covered 85 yards in 10 plays. On the quarterback keeper, Gillett crossed the goal line from six-yards out with 3:07 remaining. Graham tacked on the extra point to make it 21-7.

Despite a sluggish offensive start for both sides, the offensive shootout was on. Ball State's Eric Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to again give the Cardinals the 21-point cushion, 28-7.

Eastern would answer with a quick strike of its own on the very next drive. A high pass from Gillett was hauled in on a finger-tip catch by Garrett Hoskin (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston) near midfield. Hoskins was able to shake off a defender and cruise 73 yards for the touchdown to make it 28-14. The 73-yard play is the longest play this season by EMU, surpassing a 71-yard touchdown strike earlier this season from Josh LeDuc (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) to Thomas at Miami, Sept. 11.

The EMU momentum continued to grow following the intermission. Gillett was able to move the chains on 4th-and-4, finding Thomas across the middle for a 13-yard pickup at the 20-yard line. Four plays later, Corey Welch (Akron, Ohio-Green) was able to scoot around the left side and dive for the pylon for another EMU touchdown. Graham followed for the PAT to pull the Eagles within a score, 28-21, with 9:30 to play in the third.

Eastern would knot the score at 28-28 less than four minutes later, overcoming the 21-point second quarter hole. Thayer scampered 33-yards on the pass completion from Gillett to complete the 80-yard drive that needed just four plays.

With Ball State's offense seemingly stuck in neutral, a quick four-and-out by the Cardinals promptly gave the ball back to Eastern. However, the field position battle was flipped with the Green and White starting in the shadows of their own goal post. An Eagle punt retuned the football to the Cardinals, but again the EMU defense stood up to the challenge forcing BSU to punt as well.

Pinned at its own four-yard line with14:42 left in the ball game, Gillett was able to methodically direct the Eagles down the field most via his own elusiveness. On third-and-short at the BSU six-yard line, Gillett pushed forward for another first down to make it first-and-goal with the clock rolling under the six-minute mark.

The drive would stall at the three-yard line sending Graham in for the 21-yard field goal. His third kick of the day would again fly wide left, however, Ball State was flagged for a roughing the kicker penalty to keep the EMU offense on the field. Gillett would capitalize on the opportunity, calling his own number from two-yards out for the touchdown. Graham tacked on the PAT to give Eastern its first lead at 35-28 with 4:43 remaining. Eastern controlled the ball for 19 plays on the drive for a total of 93 yards.

Needing a touchdown and with time winding down, the Cardinals marched into scoring position helped via a pair of 15-yard penalties against the Eagles. Then on 2nd-and-goal and just 34 ticks left in regulation, Winning found Briggs Orsbon in the front corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The play was reviewed by instant replay and eventually confirmed. The all important extra point by McGarvey split the uprights to tie the game at 35 and force overtime.

Eastern returns to non-conference action Saturday, Oct. 23, against the University of Virginia. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. WEMU (89.1 FM) and WCHB (1200 AM) will carry the game on the radio with ESPN3.com video streaming the game.

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Team Stats

Alex Gillett

Players Mentioned

Alex Gillett

Sean Graham

Josh LeDuc

Andy Mulumba

Ben Thayer

Kinsman Thomas

Corey Welch

Players Mentioned

Alex Gillett

Sean Graham

Josh LeDuc

Andy Mulumba

Ben Thayer

Kinsman Thomas

Corey Welch

Eastern Michigan Athletics