Ball State football mounts another comeback: 3 takeaways from UConn win

MUNCIE, Ind. — How about them Cardinals? If nothing else, Ball State (4-3, 2-1 MAC) has made for entertaining television, at least for Ball State fans, these past three weeks as they mounted yet another second half comeback to secure a 25-21 victory UConn (3-5).

Saturday, in front of 10,006 people at Scheumann Stadium, Ball State started slow once again. But the Cardinals, somehow, found a way to cut an 11-point halftime deficit to win another one-possession game.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

UConn had its way in the first half... not so much in the second

Ball State, a week after giving up 130 rushing yards to Central Michigan in a game, allowed UConn to gain 149 rushing yards (6.8 yards per carry) in a single half.

Because of that, and because of two quarters of poor tackling, Ball State found itself down 21-10 at halftime. UConn also had its way in the passing game, using short routes to go 12-for-12 in the air and gain 121 passing yards in the first two quarters, more total passing yards than its had in all but two other games this season.

But, once again, a flip switched in the second half. Ball State's defense, after allowing three scoring drives of 64, 69 and 69 yards, was stifling in the second half. Cole Pearce got things started by intercepting a tipped pass on UConn's first possession of the third quarter. Amechi Uzodinma II scooped a fumble, forced by Tavion Woodard, which set up a 24-yard scoring drive to bring Ball State within two (21-19). Sidney Houston Jr. and John Harris recorded back-to-back sacks to set up the go-ahead 17-yard TD run by Carson Steele. The Cardinals ended up with four sacks and seven tackles for loss as Jordan Riley (13 tackles) and Clayton Coll (12 tackles) led the way defensively.

UConn, after recording 270 yards (7.9 yards per play) in the first half, ended the contest with 323 yards. The Cardinals limited the Huskies to just three third downs and 53 net yards in the second half. Victor Rosa (72 rushing yards), Robert Burns (71 rushing yards) and Zion Turner (35 rushing yards) led the Huskies, which finished with 194 rushing yards.

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Ball State's offense struggles once again

For as bad as Ball State's offense has been these past two weeks, it keeps finding a way to do enough to win.

The Cardinals couldn't get anything going in the first half. Jayshon Jackson, who ended the game with 71 receiving yards (eight receptions) and 29 rushing yards (three carries) before coming off the field late on a scary blindside hit, had almost half of the Cardinals' yards (83 of 182) in the first half. Fellow wide receiver Yo'Heinz Tyler also left the game.

John Paddock, who was visibly frustrated at times, had another rough day at quarterback, finishing 19-for-39 for 147 passing yards and an interception. Since going 40-for-58 for 403 passing yards against Northern Illinois, Paddock is 34-for-66 for 269 yards with one TD in his previous two games.

Carson Steele was his usual dominant self on the ground, running for a career-best 179 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and three TDs in the victory. His 789 rushing yards this season currently ranks No. 7 in the country.

Can Ball State keep winning this way?

It's not particularly pretty but it's effective. It's stress inducing for fans, but Ball State is winning and, at the end of the day, that's all that matters. Ball State football has found itself down two scores in each of the past three games. Somehow, it's managed to win all three.

Call it luck, call it skill, whatever. Ball State is now above .500 for the first time this season and needs just two more wins in its final five games to reach bowl eligibility. With the way it's been playing, will Ball State need all five? Is this type of play sustainable? Who knows. Playing an almost entirely different game in the second half after a slow start and outlasting its opponents to make big plays down the stretch is working.

The different outcomes this team could have this season — at least record-wise — are probably as many as any in the Football Bowl Subdivision. As long as Ball State keeps winning, fans probably won't care how it gets it done. They've seen plenty of one-possession losses in the past. There's reason to celebrate the close wins.

Robby General covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high school sports for The Star Press. Contact him via email at rgeneral@gannett.com or on Twitter @rgeneraljr.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State vs UConn football: BSU highlights from another comeback