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DETROIT — Ball State traveled to Detroit for a Friday matchup in the Mid-American Conference championship game against Buffalo.
The Cardinals made it to the title game for the first time since 2008. They were going against a Bulls team that beat them more than a decade ago in that previous championship contest. They had a chance to be the first BSU team to win a conference title since 1996.
© Carlos Osorio, AP Ball State wide receiver Justin Hall (11), defended by Buffalo cornerback Isaiah King (4) catches a 9-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)And that's just what Ball State coach Mike Neu and company did. The Cardinals won 38-28, leading ever since late in the second quarter. They finish the season 6-1, with a six-game winning streak, and dropped the Bulls to 5-1.
Here's how BSU went about capturing the MAC title:
First quarter
Buffalo didn't take long to score first after Ball State won the toss and deferred, reaching the end zone with 11:59 left in the first quarter and getting the extra point to go up 7-0. The Bulls scored on a three-yard run by Jaret Patterson. Their drive lasted six plays and 71 yards and took 2:56 off the clock, with the sparking play being a 54-yard pass.
Ball State did respond quickly, though, tying the score at 7-7 after an 11-play and 75-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Drew Plitt to Yo'Heinz Tyler — and an extra point. The Cardinals' drive lasted 4:12.
Buffalo then took the lead again with 3:41 left in the first quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Vantrease to Trevor Wilson. The score capped off a drive that lasted eight plays and 69 yards and took 3:59 off the clock. After the extra point, it was 14-7.
After Buffalo's defense forced a three-and-out, Ball State failed to hold the Bulls on fourth and short and Buffalo's drive continued into BSU territory as the first quarter came to a close.
Stats: pic.twitter.com/iKdnBpvII5
— Jordan Guskey (@JordanGuskey) December 19, 2020Second quarter
© Carlos Osorio, AP Ball State head coach Mike Neu talks to his team during the first half of the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game against Buffalo, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)Buffalo came close to scoring again, not long into the second quarter, but this time it was a field goal and that field goal attempt did not end up making it through the uprights. The 27-yard attempt from Alex McNulty was blocked and gave BSU the ball back with 11:52 left before halftime. It was the Cardinals' first field goal block since 2011, and it was credited to Jimmy Daw.
Ball State was able to tie the score at 14-14 after a one-yard touchdown run from Drew Plitt, and then an extra point, with 8:49 left in the second quarter. Plitt's score finished a drive that lasted 10 plays and 80 yards and took 3:03 off the clock. And the drive included a number of critical completions from Plitt to his receivers.
Buffalo then quickly took the lead again, this time on a one-yard touchdown run from Kyle Vantrease. The score, and ensuing extra point, put the Bulls up 21-14 with 7:31 left in the second quarter. Buffalo's drive garnered most of its yards on a 57-yard pass from Kyle Vantrease to Trevor Wilson, and lasted only three plays as it went 76 yards in 1:11.
Ball State then tied things up again with 5:55 left in the second quarter on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Drew Plitt to Justin Hall and an extra point. The six-play, 75-yard drive took 1:36 off the clock, made it 21-21 and also featured key plays from Yo'Heinz Tyler and Tye Evans.
Ball State then took advantage of a Buffalo three-and-out to take a 28-21 lead with 1:30 left in the second quarter. The Cardinals scored on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Drew Plitt to Jalen McGaughy, and then an extra point. The drive lasted six plays and 83 yards and took 2:42 off the clock.
Ball State extended its lead on a 34-yard fumble return for touchdown with 0:48 left in the second quarter. Jimmy Daw forced a fumble on a sack that was recovered and taken to the end zone by Christian Albright.
Stats: pic.twitter.com/tz1HJhsrQ8
— Jordan Guskey (@JordanGuskey) December 19, 2020Third quarter
© Carlos Osorio, AP Ball State running back Tye Evans (30) rushes during the first half of the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)Ball State began the quarter with the ball and took a lot of time off the clock before sending out Jacob Lewis for a 21-yard field goal. Lewis hit the attempt with 9:10 left in the quarter to put the Cardinals' up 38-21. BSU's drive lasted 16 plays, 76 yards and 5:45.
After two stops each for Ball State and Buffalo defensively, the Bulls scored on a 67-yard rushing touchdown by Kevin Marks with 1:16 left in the quarter. After the extra point, Ball State's lead dropped to 38-28. Buffalo's drive lasted two plays, 78 yards and 0:25.
Stats: pic.twitter.com/Tb672mGIVj
— Jordan Guskey (@JordanGuskey) December 19, 2020Fourth quarter
© Carlos Osorio, AP Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt looks downfield during the first half of the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game against Buffalo, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)On the first play of the quarter, Ball State's Antonio Phillips intercepted a deep pass thrown by Buffalo's Kyle Vantrease. And then on BSU's next drive, BSU's Drew Plitt threw an interception that was caught by Buffalo's James Patterson.
On a Buffalo drive that lasted until midway into the quarter, the Bulls elected to go for it on fourth down with the ball on the Ball State 14-yard line. With two yards between Buffalo and a first down, the Bulls went to the air. However, the receiver dropped the pass to give Ball State the ball back.
Mac Championship Game 2020 Schedule
Buffalo was unable to score the rest of the quarter. Ball State failed to score again, too. And that meant a 38-28 Cardinals victory.
Stats: pic.twitter.com/uG3WIdcK9J
— Jordan Guskey (@JordanGuskey) December 19, 20202020 Mac Football Championship
Jordan Guskey covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high schools at the Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5813, jmguskey@muncie.gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
Mac Championship Game 2020 Game Time
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: MAC Championship 2020: Ball State vs. Buffalo Bulls football live updates