17
5-7 , 3-5
18
6-6 , 4-4
17
18
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
|
|
0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 18 |
Game Recap: Football |
Steele rushes for game-high 180 yards in defeat
OXFORD, Ohio – Ball State saw its bid for a third consecutive bowl berth come up a few minutes short Tuesday night, as Miami rallied late for an 18-17 victory in the Red Bird Rivalry game at Yager Stadium.
Touchdown runs of 48 and 23 yards in the first half from sophomore running back Carson Steele gave the Cardinals (5-7, 3-5 Mid-American Conference) an early 14-0 lead, while a 44-yard field goal from Ben VonGunten pushed Ball State ahead 17-3 five minutes into the third.
Unfortunately, the Redhawks (6-6, 4-4 MAC) countered with the final 15 points, putting up the winning score on a 34-yard completion with 1:42 remaining in the contest.
“Obviously, a tough way to end the season,” head coach Mike Neu said. “I’m proud of our guys for how hard they fought, It’s tough to try and find the words in the locker room to say goodbye to some guys who have who have given a lot to our program. It’s very challenging and difficult to do. Life is full of challenges.
“Tonight is disappointing, but I tried to tell the guys as much as I possibly can to keep their head up and keep their chin up. Life is full adversity and tough times never last, tough people do. Some of those guys have given so much to our program, and it was a tough way to see it end tonight.”
Despite the loss, it was a solid game for Steele who rushed for a game-high 180 yards and led BSU’s receivers with 35 yards on six catches. It was Steele’s ninth 100-yard rushing game of the year and pushed his season rushing total to 1,556 yards.
Steele’s season total will go down as the third-most in a single season in program history, while his 2,447 yards in just two years are 10th on Ball State’s all-time list. In addition, Steele’s 1,722 all-purpose yards for the year rank as the fifth-highest total by a Cardinal in a season.
Receivers Jayshon Jackson and Yo’Heinz Tyler combined for five catches and ended having caught a pass in 37th consecutive game, good for fifth among active FBS players.
Quarterback John Paddock completed 19 passes for 119 yards on the night and capped his first season at the team’s signal caller third in completions (287), seventh in yards (2,713) and seventh in touchdown passes (18) in Ball State’s single-season record book.
In his collegiate debut, Kiael Kelly ran for 83 yards and completed his lone pass for 23 yards as another spark on offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, Clayton Coll led the charge with 11 tackles. Amechi Uzodinma II added an interception late in the second half as Miami looked for a late scoring drive.
Jaquan Amos chipped in with eight stops, while Jordan Riley had seven. Sidney Houston Jr. had a sack, while Kyle King, Cole Pearce, Nathan Reichert and Amos each added 0.5 of a sack.
