Mountain Pleasant – Joe Labas threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Chris Parker in the final minute and Central Michigan defeated Ball State 37-34 on Saturday in a Mid-American Conference opener that featured three lead changes in the final five minutes.
Ball State overcame Central Michigan’s 23-point second quarter lead and took a 24-23 lead on Braedon Sloan’s 22-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter.
Ball State scored a field goal midway through the fourth quarter to take a 27-23 lead, but the final five minutes were wild.
Bert Emanuel’s 16-yard run gave Central Michigan a 30-27 lead, then Kadin Semonza’s third touchdown pass of the game – a 16-yard pass to Tanner Koziol – gave Ball State a 34-30 lead with 53 seconds left. The key play on the 97-yard run was a 45-yard pass from Semonza to Qian Magwood.
The Chippewas began the game-winning drive at their own 25-yard line with 53 seconds left in the game. BJ Harris opened the drive with runs of 50 yards and 6 yards. Labas hit Harris for a short gain, then connected with Evan Boyd for 34 yards to the Ball State 20. On the next play, Labas hit Parker with the game-winning pass.
The Cardinals had 16 seconds left until their last possession, but as time expired they forced a series of sideways passes back to the 6-yard line.
Labas completed 14 of 20 passes for 185 yards with a touchdown and Harris ran for 151 yards for the Chippewas (2-2, 1-0 MAC).
Semonza completed 30 of 40 passes for 285 yards for the Cardinals (1-2, 0-1). Sloan had 94 rushing yards and Koziol had 112 receiving yards.
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▶ (At) Eastern Michigan 36, St. Francis (Pa.) 0: David Carter Jr. scored a touchdown on a 99-yard fumble return, Zyell Griffin caught an 89-yard touchdown pass and Eastern Michigan rolled over St. Francis.
Carter grabbed a loose ball from a pile-up at the goal line and ran 99 yards for a touchdown that gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. They got 40- and 49-yard field goals from Jesus Gomez to take a 13-0 halftime lead.
Midway through the third quarter, the Eagles blocked a punt and Kendric Knowling recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown and a 26-0 lead. Since 2014, Eastern has blocked 25 kicks and converted six of its 14 blocked punts into touchdowns.
In the fourth quarter, Griffin and Jeremiah Salem combined for an 89-yard catch-and-run to tie the game. It was the first EMU touchdown for Griffin, a UNLV graduate, and the first touchdown pass for freshman Salem. It is the longest passing play in EMU history and the longest pass TD for the Eagles.
Salem and Cole Snyder combined for 14 of 24 passes for 203 yards for the Eagles (3-1).
FCS’ St. Francis (1-3) was held to 137 yards by Eastern Michigan’s tight defense, with 26 players responsible for tackles.
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GLIACS
Alma 44, (at) Northern Michigan 27
Central Missouri 32, (at) Davenport 31
Grand Valley State 20, Wisconsin-La Crosse 13
Indianapolis 30, Wayne State 6
Michigan Tech 44, (at) Wisconsin-Oshkosh 7
(At) Saginaw Valley State 37, Truman 14
MIAA
Adrian 42, (at) Franklin 21
Alma 44, (at) Northern Michigan 27
Calvin 66, (at) Anderson (Indiana) 12
Hope 49, (at) Rose-Hulman 7
Kalamazoo 55, (at) Manchester 0
(At) Mount St. Joseph 49, Albion 14
