Associated Press
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State reached the Mid-American Conference championship game with a 30-27 victory over Western Michigan that ended with a wild series of laterals, the Cardinals prematurely rushing the field and a potential winning touchdown that was wiped out by penalty.
Ball State (5-1) will attempt to slow down Jaret Patterson and Buffalo for the MAC championship at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday in its first title game appearances since 2008.
Jack Knight kicked a 22-yard field goal with 29 seconds left, to cap a 17-point, fourth-quarter run that gave Ball State the lead.
Then Western Michigan (4-2) tried to pull off a miracle from deep in its own territory. The Broncos pitched the ball around at the clock struck 0:00 and for a moment it looked as if Ball State jumped on a fumble.