Ball State vs Buffalo: MACtion Thriller Ends in Bulls’ Overtime Victory

In a classic Tuesday night MAC showdown, the Buffalo Bulls edged out the Ball State Cardinals 51-48 in a thrilling overtime battle. Several lead changes, clutch plays, and a dramatic finish captivated fans until the very end of the game.

The Bulls came into the game looking to bounce back after losing two of their last three contests, needing a win to remain bowl-eligible. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, sitting at 3-6 on the season, had already lost their postseason hopes. However, this didn’t deter Ball State from fiercely competing against their MAC rival.

First Half Fireworks

The opening quarter saw the teams trade touchdowns, as Buffalo’s C.J. Ogbonna scored on a 3-yard run to put the Bulls up first. Ball State quickly answered back, with Kadin Semonza connecting with Justin Bowick for a 23-yard score to even the game at 7-7.

The second quarter is where things really heated up. Ball State took a 14-7 lead early on a 7-yard TD pass from Semonza to Tanner Koziol, but Buffalo refused to go away. The Bulls cut the deficit to four with a 27-yard field goal, then retook the lead at 17-14 on a 6-yard rushing touchdown by Al-Jay Henderson.

However, Ball State responded with a pair of touchdowns before the half, courtesy of Vaughn Pemberton and another from Bowick. But just before the break, Ogbonna found Victor Snow for a 2-yard score, making it a 28-24 game at halftime in favor of the Cardinals.

Second-Half Shootout

The second half saw the offensive onslaught continue, as the teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. Cam Pickett broke free for a 65-yard TD catch-and-run to put Ball State up 35-31, but Henderson answered right back with a 4-yard rushing score to give Buffalo the lead again.

Early in the fourth, Pickett found the end zone again on a 9-yard run to make it 42-31 Ball State. Jackson Courville then added a field goal to extend the Cardinals’ advantage to 45-31. But the resilient Bulls refused to go away, as Ogbonna scampered 26 yards for a touchdown, then connected with J.J. Jenkins on a 33-yard score. The 2-point conversion tied the game at 45-45, sending it to overtime.

Overtime Dramatics

In the extra period, Ball State settled for a 36-yard field goal by Courville to take a 48-45 lead. But on Buffalo’s possession, Ogbonna found Lamar Sperling for the game-winning 14-yard touchdown, giving the Bulls a thrilling 51-48 victory.

“This was a wild, back-and-forth game that really exemplified the excitement of MACtion,” said Buffalo head coach Maurice Linguist. “I’m proud of our team’s fight and resiliency to battle back and come away with the win in overtime.”

Key Performances

While the final result went Buffalo’s way, Ball State’s Kadin Semonza had an impressive outing, throwing for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns. Justin Bowick was his favorite target, catching 7 passes for 148 yards and 2 scores.

On the Buffalo side, C.J. Ogbonna made plays both through the air and on the ground, accounting for 5 total touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing). Al-Jay Henderson also had a strong game, rushing for 126 yards and 2 TDs.

This was only the second meeting between these two MAC foes since the 2020 conference championship game, where Ball State came away victorious. The 2022 MACTION season will undoubtedly remember Tuesday’s instant classic as one of its highlights.

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