Ball State’s 28-point second quarter drives Cardinals to first MAC championship game triumph

Ball State stepped up huge when it expected to and on Friday night the Cardinals defeated No. 23 Buffalo to win their first Mid-American Conference title game.

Drew Plitt tossed three touchdown passes and was 20-for-32 with 263 yards and one interception in the game. He additionally had one rushing touchdown in the 38-28 triumph.

Ball State scored 28 points in the second quarter covered off by a Christian Albright 34-yard bumble recuperation for a touchdown with 48 second leftover in the first half.

Ball State’s defense constrained two turnovers with Antonio Phillips intercepting a pass from Buffalo quarterback Kyle Vantrease.

It’s their first conference title win since 1996.

Vantrease was 29-for-42 with 365 passing yards and one touchdown. His solitary touchdown pass went to Trevor Wilson.

In spite of the Ball State defense holding solid for the game, Buffalo’s Wilson and Antonio Nunn each had 100 or more yards receiving. Nunn had 13 catches for 182 yards and Wilson had six catches for 118 yards.

Buffalo was truly missing running back Jarret Patterson, who formed into one of the best running backs in the country over the last few weeks.

Patterson had a touchdown yet left the game because of an injury in the second from last quarter. He returned however just managed 45 yards on 17 carries. Kevin Marks Jr. led the path with 93 yards on nine carries.

Ball State kind of seeks retribution on Buffalo from their 2008 matchup. The Bulls extinguished the Cardinals, 42-24, in that game. Ball State was positioned No. 12 around then.

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