MUNCIE, Ind. — John Paddock thew for 403 yards, Carson Steele’s third rushing touchdown was the go-ahead score in the second overtime and Ball State defeated Northern Illinois 44-38 on Saturday after trailing by 17 points at the half.
Ball State’s win overshadowed a 230-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance from the Huskies’ Harrison Waylee.
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After Steele’s short touchdown run in the second overtime, a sack by Ball State’s Cole Pearce left NIU facing fourth-and-19 from the 34-yard line, then Tyler Potts broke up Ethan Hampton’s fourth-down pass.
Paddock went 40 of 58 and three touchdowns. Jayshon Jackson had 10 receptions for 116 yards. Tanner Koziol had two scoring catches, including a 6-yarder with 36 second left in regulation as the Cardinals scored 10 points in 3 ½ minutes to force overtime.
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As much as Ball State (2-3, 1-1 Mid-American) went to the air, Northern Illinois (1-4, 0-1) kept to the ground. The Huskies had 57 rushes for 332 yards.
Both teams missed field-goal attempts in the first overtime, and Ball State failed on a two-point attempt aSteele’s go-ahead touchdown.
