Ball State Stops South Florida

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State football team (3-1) knocked off South Florida (2-2) with a 31-27 victory Saturday night at Scheumann Stadium.

South Florida scored a touchdown with 4:12 left in the game and completed the two-point conversion to take the 27-24 lead over Ball State, junior quarterback Keith Wenning would then orchestrate a 10 play, 75 yard drive that would lead to a 19-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Willie Snead. The Bulls got the ball back inside the 50 but corner back Eric Patterson intercepted the ball to seal the win for the Cardinals.

Ball State's offense managed 413 yards on the day, Snead had 11 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown while Wenning threw for 244 yards (36-of-24) and two touchdowns.

The Cardinals opened the second half off with a Wenning touchdown after a 1-yard quarterback sneak that gave Ball State a 17-9 advantage over South Florida. Wenning's TD was the sixth rushing touchdown of his career and first of the season.

For the second time in the game, the Cardinals defense held the Bulls to only a field goal. On Ball State's ensuing possession Wenning found senior wide receiver Jamill Smith for a five-yard touchdown pass which made it a 24-12 contest with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter. South Florida would close out the quarter with a touchdown.

The Ball State defense managed to hold South Florida to only a field goal after the Bulls shaved 7:34 off the play clock at the start of the first quarter. The Cardinals answered right back to tie the game at 3-3 after senior kick Steven Schott arose to the occasion and nailed a 39-yard field goal for Ball State with 3:09 on the clock.

The Cardinals got the first touchdown of the game after sophomore halfback Jahwan Edwards ran for three-yards to give Ball State the 10-3 edge with 7:18 to go in the second quarter. After South Florida marched down the field for a touchdown, junior defensive tackle Joel Cox blocked Maikon Bonani's extra point to make the score 10-9. The blocked extra point was Cox's third of his career and second of the season.

The Ball State football team will start Mid-American Conference action again Saturday when it travels to Kent State with a noon kickoff.