Ball State intensified when it had to, and on Friday night the Cardinals defeated Buffalo in 23rd place to win the first championship game of the Mid-American Conference.
Drew Plitt threw three touchdown passes and was 20-for-32 with 263 yards and an interception in the game. He also had a quick touchdown in the 38-28 victory.
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Ball State scored 28 points in the second quarter, covered by a 34-yard Christian Albright recovery for a touchdown with 48 seconds left in the first half.
Ball State’s defense forced two turnovers, Antonio Phillips intercepted a pass from Buffalo defender Kyle Vantrease.
It is their first victory in the title of the 1996 conference.
Vantrease was 29-for-42 with 365 yards and a touchdown. His lone touchdown pass to Trevor Wilson.
Despite the fact that Ball State’s defense was strong for the game, Buffalo’s Wilson and Antonio Nunn each received 100 yards. Nunn had 13 catches for 182 meters and Wilson had six catches for 118 meters.
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Buffalo really missed Jarret Patterson, who has developed into one of the best runners in the country in the last few weeks.
Patterson had a touchdown, but left the game due to an injury in the third quarter. He returned, but only managed 45 yards on 17 cards. Kevin Marks Jr. led the way with 93 yards on nine cards.
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Ball State took revenge on Buffalo in their 2008 game. The Bulls beat the Cardinals 42-24 in that game. Ball State was in 12th place at the time.