Central Michigan University
Ball State
Chippewas Rally for Thrilling 41-40 Victory
11/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 20, 2004
MOUNT PLEASANT - How do you spot a team a 27-point lead and come back to win?
Just ask Brian Kelly and his never-say-die Central Michigan University football team because that's exactly what the Chippewas did here Saturday afternoon.
Down 27-0 with 2:50 to play in the first period, CMU rallied to tie the game at 27-27 by the half en route to a 41-40 Mid-American Conference win over Ball State University.
The Chippewas closed the season with a 4-7 overall slate and a 3-5 MAC mark - a big improvement over last season's 1-7 conference mark. BSU finishes at 2-9 and 2-6.
"What is apparent is the character of our football team," said Kelly. "We played poorly last week in a loss at Buffalo and then fell behind 27-0 in this one. But, we dug down deep and found a way to win.
"We made one more play at the end than Ball State did."
Jerry Seymour rushed for a career-high 217 yards and three touchdowns against BSU.  | |
A crowd of 10,169 - well over the 9,953 needed in Kelly/Shorts Stadium to average 15,000 for the season --saw CMU battle back not once but twice in the game for the win. The Chippewas entered the fourth period on the short end, 37-27.
However, a one-yard touchdown pass from Kent Smith to Dave Kurzen with 14:06 remaining made it 37-34.
Ball State upped the advantage to 40-34 with 7:09 on a 25-yard field by Brian Jackson.
The Chippewas came right back on their ensuing possession to march 65 yards in six plays to score on a three-yard run by Jerry Seymour. Mike Gruzwalski's extra point provided the difference. The big play on the drive was a 24-yard shovel pass to Seymour on a third-and-14 situation from the CMU 31.
The Cardinals had the ball two more times but went four-and-out both times. Senior James King, playing his last game for CMU, came up with two quarterback sacks in Ball State's last possession including the last play of the game.
King went out in blaze of glory, making 13 tackles including three for losses of 14 yards. He finished third in career tackles with 408. He also blocked the 13th kick of his career, a punt.
Seymour rushed 29 times for a career-high 217 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 35 yards and returned four kickoffs for 105 yards, finishing with 357 all-purpose yards.
Smith completed 15-of-23 passes for 208 yards and two scores for the Chippewas. His 198 passes completions for the season are second best in school annals.
Senior tight end Dave Kurzen, playing in his last game in Kelly/Shorts Stadium, grabbed a one-yard TD reception early in the fourth quarter that helped CMU close the gap. | |
Justin Harper snared three passes for CMU 112 yards, one an 89-yarder for the first Chippewa score at the end of the first period. That TD may have switched the momentum of the game.
"Our safety should have intercepted that ball and the momentum shifted," said BSU coach Brady Hoke. "The game started pretty well for us but went downhill real fast."
His counterpart, BSU's Joey Lynch, tied a stadium record with four TD passes. He completed 22-of-34 for as career-high 397 yards. Dante Ridgeway had 10 grabs for 215 yards for the Cardinals.
Freshman Adell Givens rushed for 147 yards on 31 carries for Ball State.
CMU has its annual banquet set for Sunday, Nov. 28, at the Soaring Eagle Resort.
The next football game for the Chippewas will be Labor Day weekend of 2005 when Indiana University comes to Kelly/Shorts.
