Ball State wins MAC West, survives wild last play by Western Michigan
MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Ball State reached the Mid-American Conference championship game with a 30-27 victory over Western Michigan that ended with a wild series of laterals, the Cardinals prematurely rushing the field and a potential winning touchdown that was wiped out by penalty.
Ball State (5-1) will attempt to slow down Jaret Patterson and No. 24 Buffalo for the MAC championship on Friday in its first title game appearances since 2008.
Jack Knight kicked a 22-yard field goal with 29 seconds left, to cap a 17-point, fourth-quarter run that gave Ball State the lead.
Then Western Michigan (4-2) tried to pull off a miracle from deep in its own territory. The Broncos pitched the ball around at the clock struck 0:00 and for a moment it looked as if Ball State jumped on a fumble.
The Cardinals rushed the field to celebrate, but it wasn't over yet. The play continued through dozens of players milling around and Western Michigan's Skyy Moore broke away for a touchdown.
Flags had flown and the play was called back because one of the at least seven laterals were ruled to be forward.
Drew Plitt threw for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for Ball State. He connected with Yo'Heinz Tyler from 13-yards out and Justin Hall scored from 55 yards on the first play of the Cardinals' next possession.
Ball State went on a 10-play, 41-yard drive to take 2:17 off the clock and set up Knight's go-ahead kick.
Western Michigan led 20-13 at halftime and went up by 14 early in the third quarter on La'Darius Jefferson's 1-yard run.
Plitt finished 22 for 33 for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Hall had 10 catches for 175 yards and two scores.
Jefferson carried it 25 times for 159 yards and a score for WMU.
No. 11 Coastal Carolina 42, Troy 38
TROY, Ala. (AP) — Jaivon Heiligh caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Grayson McCall with 45 seconds left and No. 11 Coastal Carolina preserved its first perfect regular season with a 42-38 win over Troy on Saturday.
McCall needed just 45 seconds to move the Chanticleers (11-0, 8-0 Sun Belt Conference), who didn't have any timeouts, 75 yards for the winning score. He completed all four of his passes on the drive, three of them to Heiligh.
They survived a sandwich game between an upset of thenNo. 8 BYU and the league title game against No. 17 LouisianaLafayette.
The Trojans (5-6, 3-4) didn't make it easy for the highestteam to visit Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Backup quarterback Jacob Free, who replaced an injured Gunnar Watson in the fourth quarter, hit Tray Eafford on a 6-yard touchdown with 1:20 left. The play was set up with an interception by star middle linebacker Carlton Martial, who also had 21 tackles.
McCall completed 24 of 29 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Heligh caught 11 passes for 138 yards and two TDs.
McCall also ran for a 2-yard score with 5:03 left for a seemingly safe 35-23 lead.
CJ Marable ran for 120 yards and two scores, including an early 59-yarder, and also caught a touchdown pass.
Watson completed 25 of 37 passes for 260 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Free threw an interception on his first series following a goal line stand by Troy, but he later gave the Trojans a chance.
Kaylon Geiger had 103 receiving yards for Troy and Reggie Todd had 101, including a 41-yard touchdown.
Free led Troy down the field to stay alive, setting up Jamontez Woods' 3-yard touchdown run with 2:48 left.
The Trojans made a short kickoff instead of attempting an onside kick and Martial got the sack.
Free fumbled on a sack by Jeffrey Gunter to end any threat on Troy's final drive.
THE TAKEAWAY
Coastal Carolina: Got off to a fast start and kept its special season perfect with gutty play at the end.
Troy: Managed just three points after getting the ball inside Coastal's 25 on the first two drives, but had first-half scoring drives of 13, 14 and 14 plays. Trojans are 1-3 against ranked teams at home.