Ball State scores 20 unanswered in 2nd half, beats UAB 51-31
Dunner returns kickoff for a TD
Mailik Dunner responds to a UAB touchdown by taking the kickoff 93 yards to the house.
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Malik Dunner returned a kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown and Ball State scored 20 unanswered points in the second half for a 51-31 victory over UAB on Saturday.
Ball State (1-1) took its opening possession of the second half 65 yards in nine plays for James Gilbert's 1-yard TD plunge, extending its lead to 28-17. He added another short TD run early in the fourth.
UAB quarterback A.J. Erdely ran for his third TD late in the third to pull within 31-24, but Dunner returned the ensuing kickoff to start the Cardinals' scoring run.
Ball State's opening drive of the game went 12 plays and 65 yards, culminating with Dunner's 8-yard touchdown run. Riley Neal's 15-yard pass to Danny Pinter made it 14-3 midway through the second quarter.
UAB (1-1) answered with a pair of Erdely touchdown runs -- of 41 and 18 yards -- to take a 17-14 lead, but Ball State came right back as Caleb Huntley busted one up the middle for a 52-yard touchdown run and led 21-17 at intermission.
Erdely threw for 168 yards and added 77 yards on the ground.
---
More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25
Game Information
2024 American Athletic Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 7-0 | 9-0 |
| Tulane | 7-0 | 9-2 |
| Navy | 5-2 | 7-3 |
| Memphis | 5-2 | 9-2 |
| East Carolina | 4-2 | 6-4 |
| South Florida | 3-3 | 5-5 |
| UTSA | 3-3 | 5-5 |
| Charlotte | 2-4 | 3-7 |
| North Texas | 2-4 | 5-5 |
| Rice | 2-4 | 3-7 |
| Temple | 2-4 | 3-7 |
| UAB | 1-5 | 2-8 |
| Tulsa | 1-5 | 3-7 |
| Florida Atlantic | 0-6 | 2-8 |
2024 Mid-American Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 6-1 | 7-4 |
| Ohio | 6-1 | 8-3 |
| Bowling Green | 5-1 | 6-4 |
| Buffalo | 5-2 | 7-4 |
| Toledo | 4-3 | 7-4 |
| Western Michigan | 4-3 | 5-6 |
| Northern Illinois | 3-4 | 6-5 |
| Ball State | 2-4 | 3-7 |
| Akron | 2-5 | 3-8 |
| Eastern Michigan | 2-5 | 5-6 |
| Central Michigan | 2-5 | 4-7 |
| Kent State | 0-7 | 0-11 |
NCAAF News