KENT, Ohio — On Saturday, Ball State triumphed over Kent State with a score of 37-35, showcasing a strong performance from Braedon Sloan, who rushed for two touchdowns, while Vaughn Pemberton contributed a crucial late touchdown.

The Cardinals improved their record to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The game seemed to be in their control when Jackson Courville successfully kicked his third field goal with just over three minutes remaining, extending the lead. Pemberton then added to the advantage with a powerful rush through the right side that put Ball State ahead 37-28 with only 1:13 left on the clock.

Kent State, however, refused to give up. Following the field goal, they mounted a 10-play, 62-yard drive, resulting in Tommy Ulatowski completing his third touchdown pass with an 18-yard connection to Luke Floriea just 1:28 before the end. The Golden Flashes attempted an onside kick following their touchdown, but it was called back due to an early blocking foul. The Cardinals managed to secure the next onside kick attempt before Pemberton’s long touchdown run sealed the deal.

In a dramatic turn of events, Chrishon McCray electrified the field with a brilliant 57-yard run after catching a short pass, bringing the game down to the final moments. Ball State succeeded in recovering the next onside kick, allowing them to clinch the victory definitively.

Kadin Semonza led the Cardinals with 215 passing yards and one touchdown. Various players contributed to the ground game, with Sloan accumulating 76 yards and Pemberton adding 52. On the other side, Ulatowski set a career-high by throwing for 394 yards, completing 17 of 36 attempts, though he did have one interception. McCray enjoyed a standout performance with eight receptions, three of which resulted in touchdowns, amassing 213 yards in total. Floriea also had a notable game, reeling in six catches for 130 yards, as both players surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards.