Ball State Post-Game Notes
Ball State Post-Game Notes Ball State 31, Buffalo 21 (Oct. 15, 2016) TEAM NOTES The Cardinals managed to score on their opening drive for the second time this season. The first time was at home against Eastern Kentucky (9/17). -
Ball State had its longest offensive play of the season after a career long 80-yard touchdown run from sophomore RB James Gilbert in the third quarter.
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Ball State is 3-0 on plane trips this season after defeating Buffalo, 31-21. The Cardinals took home wins at Georgia State (Sept. 2) and Florida Atlantic (Sept. 24) earlier in the season.
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The game against Buffalo was the first meeting between the two schools since 2011. With the win, Ball State remains undefeated at UB Stadium, improving to 5-0. The Cardinals also lead the all-time series record over the Bulls, 9-1.
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Ball State will play its 90th Homecoming contest next Saturday against Akron at 3 p.m.
OFFENSIVE NOTES Sophomore RB James Gilbert scored his ninth and 10th touchdowns of the season after a 1-yard run with 10:30 left in the first quarter and a career long 80-yard run at the 3:28 mark in the third quarter. Gilbert now has 18 touchdowns for his career. The last time a Ball State player had an 80-yard run was David Brown on Oct. 2, 2010 at Central Michigan. -
Gilbert rushed for a career-best 264 yards. The last time a Ball State player rushed for 200 yards was former Cardinal Jahwan Edwards against Eastern Michigan on Aug. 30, 2012. Gilbert’s 264 rushing yards are the second most in program history. Former Cardinal MiQuale Lewis holds the record with 301 yards rushing at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 24, 2009.
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Sophomore QB Riley Neal scored his fourth and fifth rushing touchdowns of the season after a 4-yard TD run with 9:16 remaining in the third quarter and a 7-yard TD run at the 13:34 mark in the fourth quarter. Neal now has seven rushing touchdowns for his career. -
Senior WR KeVonn Mabon became the fifth Ball State player to reach 200 career receptions after catching a game high five passes for 84 yards. He has led the Cardinals in receptions in six of the seven games this year.
DEFENSIVE NOTES -
The Ball State defense has only allowed two touchdowns following intermission spanning the last four games.
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Junior LB Terin Solomon registered his first sack of his career.
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For the second straight game, senior LB Sean Wiggins led the team in tackles with 14, one shy of his career high which he set last Saturday at Central Michigan. Senior S Martez Hester was second on the team after recording 13 tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS Sophomore K Morgan Hagee was 1-for-1 on field attempts, connecting from 34 yards with 4:56 left in the contest. He has now made 24 career field goals.
