Wildcats play Cards right
MUNCIE, IND. -- The ninth-ranked University of New Hampshire football team, led by strong defense and the running of junior running back Sean Jellison, posted 23-16 victory over Ball State, 23-16 at Scheumann Stadium Saturday night.
It was UNH's fifth straight victory over an FBS opponent, as the Wildcats defeated Army in 2008, Marshall in 2007, Northwestern in 2006 and Rutgers in 2004. It also marked the fourth victory over an FBS team by Colonial Athletic Association teams this season. The Cardinals, who were coming off a loss to North Texas, dropped to 0-2.
New Hampshire led 23-17 lead in the final minutes when the Cardinals drove the ball down to the UNH 20-yard line. The Wildcat defense came up with two sacks and a forced fumble to end Ball State's final drive. Junior linebacker Devon Jackson, who had a team-high eight tackles, caused a Cardinal fumble and although Ball State recovered, the ball went over on downs to the Wildcats on the 35 yard line with 2:40 to play. UNH ran out the clock to secure the victory.
Ball State quarterback Kelly Page completed a 21-yard TD pass to wide receiver Seth White with 8:50 to go in the contest. That cut the Wildcat lead to 23-16 after the made PAT by Ian McGarvey.
UNH scored its final TD after junior safety Hugo Souza recoved a fumble forced by senior linebacker Sean Ware on the Ball State 7-yard line. On the next play Toman pitched to Jellison, who scored to help UNH raise its lead to 23-9 with 3:47 left in the third quarter.
Through three quarters, the UNH defense held Ball State's offense to 58 yards on 40 plays.
McGarvey made his third field goal of the game, a 37 yarder, that cut the UNH lead to 16-9 with 11:12 left in the third quarter. The field goal was set up by a 50-yard kick return.
Jellison had 22 carries for 55 yards and two TDs. Toman completed 21 of 35 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 51 yards on 16 carries. Freshman wide receiver Joey Orlando made a team-high four catches for 70 yards and his first career touchdown.
Defensively, the Wildcats held Ball State to 127 yards of total offense. Ball State running back MiQuale Lewis gained 24 yards on 14 carries.
McGarvey's first field goal gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead with 12:42 to play in the first quarter. After Ball State blocked a UNH punt, Ball State doubled its lead when McGarvey made a 47-yard field goal.
After a Ryan Glasgow punt pinned Ball State on its own 1-yard line, UNH recorded a safety to make it 6-2 with 13:50 left in the second quarter.
UNH took the lead on a five-play, 52-yard drive capped by a 26-yard TD pass from Toman to Orlando. Tom Manning's kick gave UNH a 9-6 lead with 9:36 to play in the first half.
The Wildcats opened up a 10-point lead with 3:16 remaining in the first half on Jellison's 5-yard TD run.
