CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

Ball State at Northern Illinois

Thursday, November 12, 2009. Northern Illinois took the Bronze Stalk Trophy from Ball State

Northern Illinois beat Ball State 26–⁠20. It was their 33rd meeting; after it, Ball State led the series 19–⁠13–⁠1.

AwayBall State2–⁠10 in 2009
20
HomeNorthern Illinois7–⁠6 in 2009
26

Final at Huskie Stadium, DeKalbTV: ESPNUAttendance 13,305

At kickoff
46°F, clear, wind 10 mph from the southeastWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airport (KDKB), 6 km from the stadium

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Ball State760720
Northern Illinois16010026

Standouts

Player stats

Ball State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Tanner Justice11/1913410
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Cory Sykes1175024
MiQuale Lewis968052
Eric Williams123616
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Briggs Orsbon341021
MiQuale Lewis333013
Daniel Ifft129129
Zane Fakes218011
InterceptionsIntYdsTD
Alex Knipp1130

Northern Illinois

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Chandler Harnish9/96010
DeMarcus Grady4/53111
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Nathan Palmer369035
Chad Spann1163125
DeMarcus Grady614015
Me’co Brown101405
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Landon Cox641010
Marcus Lewis31816
Willie Clark110010
Preston Williams1919

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

Ball StateNorthern Illinois
283Total yards225
182Passing yards106
149Rushing yards134
7.1Yards per pass6.5
3.7Yards per rush3.6
14First downs14
7–⁠14Third downs5–⁠11
1–⁠2Fourth downs0–⁠1
1Turnovers1
9–⁠37Penalties3–⁠20
18:58Possession17:42

Efficiency

Ball StateNorthern Illinois
42%Success rate45%
0.11EPA per play0.02
1.01Explosiveness0.77
0.05Rushing EPA−0.01
0.33Passing EPA0.09
43%Passing-down success38%
0.09First-down EPA−0.16
−0.22Second-down EPA0.32
0.62Third-down EPA0.03

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Northern Illinois 76% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

Every drive

Northern Illinois end zoneBall State end zoneQ1 Ball StateTouchdown, 4 playsQ1 Northern IllinoisTouchdown pass, 9 playsQ1 Ball StateSafety, 2 plays (Northern Illinois scores)Q1 Northern IllinoisTouchdown run, 7 playsQ1 Ball StateField goal, 7 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 playsQ2 Ball StateField goal, 13 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisInterception, 3 playsQ2 Ball StatePunt, 6 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisEnd of half, 1 playQ3 Northern IllinoisField goal, 10 playsQ3 Ball StatePunt, 3 playsQ3 Northern IllinoisTouchdown pass, 5 playsQ3 Ball StatePunt, 8 playsQ3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 5 playsQ4 Ball StateTouchdown pass, 13 playsQ4 Northern IllinoisTurnover on downs, 6 playsQ4 Northern IllinoisPuntQ4 Ball StateTurnover on downs, 4 playsQ4 Northern IllinoisTurnover on downs, 4 playsQ4 Ball StateFumble, 1 play
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Northern Illinois drives left to right, Ball State right to left.
  1. Q1 Ball StateTouchdown, 4 plays, 8 yards
  2. Q1 Northern IllinoisTouchdown pass, 9 plays, 59 yards
  3. Q1 Ball StateSafety, 2 plays (Northern Illinois scores), −13 yards
  4. Q1 Northern IllinoisTouchdown run, 7 plays, 62 yards
  5. Q1 Ball StateField goal, 7 plays, 10 yards
  6. Q2 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 plays, 69 yards
  7. Q2 Ball StateField goal, 13 plays, 19 yards
  8. Q2 Northern IllinoisInterception, 3 plays, 15 yards
  9. Q2 Ball StatePunt, 6 plays, 8 yards
  10. Q2 Northern IllinoisEnd of half, 1 play, 1 yard
  11. Q3 Northern IllinoisField goal, 10 plays, 40 yards
  12. Q3 Ball StatePunt, 3 plays, 14 yards
  13. Q3 Northern IllinoisTouchdown pass, 5 plays, 34 yards
  14. Q3 Ball StatePunt, 8 plays, 53 yards
  15. Q3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 5 plays, 44 yards
  16. Q4 Ball StateTouchdown pass, 13 plays, 77 yards
  17. Q4 Northern IllinoisTurnover on downs, 6 plays, 13 yards
  18. Q4 Northern IllinoisPunt, 17 yards
  19. Q4 Ball StateTurnover on downs, 4 plays, 8 yards
  20. Q4 Northern IllinoisTurnover on downs, 4 plays, 9 yards
  21. Q4 Ball StateFumble, 1 play, 51 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then Northern Illinois 16, Ball State 7
Ball State Touchdown, 4 plays
14:441st & 10 at own 22Cory Sykes rush for 24 yards to the BalSt 46 for a 1ST down.
13:541st & 10 at own 46MiQuale Lewis rush for 52 yards to the NoIll 2 for a 1ST down.
13:261st & goal at opp 2MiQuale Lewis rush for a loss of 3 yards to the NoIll 2.
13:052nd & goal at opp 5Eric Williams rush for 5 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.Ball State 6, Northern Illinois 0
13:05Ian McGarvey extra point GOOD.Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 0
13:05Ian McGarvey kickoff for 53 yards returned by Ricky Crider for 24 yards to the NoIll 41.
Northern Illinois Touchdown pass, 9 plays
13:001st & 10 at own 41Chad Spann rush for 5 yards to the NoIll 46.
12:162nd & 5 at own 46NORTHN ILLINOIS penalty 10 yard Holding accepted, no play.
12:002nd & 15 at own 36Chad Spann rush for 25 yards to the BalSt 39 for a 1ST down.
11:111st & 10 at opp 39Chad Spann rush for 4 yards to the BalSt 35.
10:302nd & 6 at opp 35NORTHN ILLINOIS penalty 5 yard False Start on Joe Pawlak accepted.
9:512nd & 11 at opp 40DeMarcus Grady slant pass complete to Willie Clark for 10 yards to the BalSt 40.
9:313rd & 1 at opp 30Chad Spann rush for 2 yards to the BalSt 28 for a 1ST down.
9:021st & 10 at opp 28DeMarcus Grady rush for 15 yards to the BalSt 13 for a 1ST down.
8:021st & 10 at opp 13Chad Spann rush for a loss of 2 yards to the BalSt 15.
7:562nd & 12 at opp 15DeMarcus Grady pass complete to Marcus Lewis for 6 yards to the BalSt 9.
7:263rd & 6 at opp 9DeMarcus Grady pass complete to Preston Williams for 9 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 6
7:26Mike Salerno extra point GOOD.Tied at 7
7:26Mike Salerno kickoff for 70 yards returned by Eric Williams for 13 yards to the BalSt 13.
Ball State Safety, 2 plays (Northern Illinois scores)
7:261st & 10 at own 13BALL ST penalty 5 yard Delay of Game accepted.
7:101st & 15 at own 8Cory Sykes rush for 10 yards to the BalSt 18.
6:372nd & 5 at own 18BALL ST penalty 5 yard False Start accepted.
6:342nd & 10 at own 13Tanner Justice sacked by Sean Progar for a loss of 11 yards, fumbled, recovered by BalSt MiQuale Lewis in the endzone for a SAFETY.Northern Illinois 9, Ball State 7
6:34Ian McGarvey kickoff for 60 yards returned by Ricky Crider for 18 yards to the NoIll 38.
Northern Illinois Touchdown run, 7 plays
6:141st & 10 at own 38Me’co Brown rush for 3 yards to the NoIll 41.
5:402nd & 7 at own 41Nathan Palmer rush for 35 yards to the BalSt 24 for a 1ST down.
5:201st & 10 at opp 24Me’co Brown rush for 5 yards to the BalSt 19.
4:402nd & 5 at opp 19Me’co Brown rush for 1 yard to the BalSt 18.
4:053rd & 4 at opp 18DeMarcus Grady pass complete to Marcus Lewis for 6 yards to the BalSt 12 for a 1ST down.
3:181st & 10 at opp 12Chad Spann rush for 6 yards to the BalSt 6.
3:062nd & 4 at opp 6Chad Spann rush for 6 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.Northern Illinois 15, Ball State 7
3:06Mike Salerno extra point GOOD.Northern Illinois 16, Ball State 7
3:06Mike Salerno on-side kick recovered by BALL ST at the NoIll 38 for a 1ST down.
Ball State Field goal, 7 plays
2:411st & 10 at opp 38MiQuale Lewis rush for a loss of 3 yards to the NoIll 41.
2:412nd & 13 at opp 41Eric Williams rush for 6 yards to the NoIll 35.
2:413rd & 7 at opp 35Tanner Justice pass complete to Briggs Orsbon for 12 yards to the NoIll 23 for a 1ST down.
1:001st & 10 at opp 23Eric Williams rush for 3 yards to the NoIll 20.
0:002nd & 7 at opp 20MiQuale Lewis rush for a loss of 2 yards to the NoIll 22.
Q2 14:563rd & 9 at opp 22Tanner Justice pass incomplete to Briggs Orsbon, broken up by Cory Hanson.
Q2 14:514th & 9 at opp 22Ian McGarvey 38 yard field goal GOOD.Northern Illinois 16, Ball State 10
Q2 14:51Ian McGarvey kickoff for 68 yards returned by Ricky Crider for 23 yards to the NoIll 25.
2nd quarter5 drives, then Northern Illinois 16, Ball State 13
Northern Illinois Punt, 3 plays
14:351st & 10 at own 25Me’co Brown rush for a loss of 1 yard to the NoIll 24.
14:002nd & 11 at own 24Me’co Brown rush for 2 yards to the NoIll 26.
13:303rd & 9 at own 26DeMarcus Grady sacked by Davyd Jones for a loss of 7 yards to the NoIll 19.
12:414th & 16 at own 19Mike Salerno punt for 35 yards, returned by Charlie Todd for a loss of 2 yards to the BalSt 44.
Ball State Field goal, 13 plays
12:251st & 10 at own 44Eric Williams rush for 3 yards to the BalSt 47.
12:012nd & 7 at own 47Tanner Justice pass incomplete to MiQuale Lewis.
11:533rd & 7 at own 47Tanner Justice pass complete to MiQuale Lewis for 11 yards to the NoIll 42 for a 1ST down.
11:081st & 10 at opp 42Cory Sykes rush for a loss of 4 yards, fumbled at the NoIll 46.
10:372nd & 14 at opp 46MiQuale Lewis rush for 7 yards to the NoIll 39.
10:013rd & 7 at opp 39Tanner Justice pass complete to MiQuale Lewis for 13 yards to the NoIll 26 for a 1ST down.
9:301st & 10 at opp 26Eric Williams rush for 1 yard to the NoIll 25.
9:032nd & 9 at opp 25Tanner Justice pass incomplete to Torieal Gibson.
9:023rd & 9 at opp 25Tanner Justice rush for 10 yards to the NoIll 15 for a 1ST down.
8:401st & 10 at opp 15BALL ST penalty 6 yard False Start accepted.
8:201st & 16 at opp 20MiQuale Lewis rush for 3 yards to the NoIll 17.
7:422nd & 13 at opp 17Tanner Justice pass complete to Torieal Gibson for 9 yards to the NoIll 8.
7:083rd & 4 at opp 8BALL ST penalty 5 yard False Start accepted.
6:533rd & 9 at opp 13Tanner Justice pass incomplete to Briggs Orsbon.
6:474th & 9 at opp 13Ian McGarvey 30 yard field goal GOOD.Northern Illinois 16, Ball State 13
6:47Ian McGarvey kickoff for 69 yards returned by Ricky Crider for 28 yards to the NoIll 29.
Northern Illinois Interception, 3 plays
6:241st & 10 at own 29Chad Spann rush for 3 yards to the NoIll 32.
5:402nd & 7 at own 32DeMarcus Grady rush for 1 yard to the NoIll 33.
5:043rd & 6 at own 33DeMarcus Grady pass intercepted by Alex Knipp at the BalSt 31, returned for 13 yards to the BalSt 44.
Ball State Punt, 6 plays
4:501st & 10 at own 44Eric Williams rush for 3 yards to the BalSt 47.
4:202nd & 7 at own 47Eric Williams rush for 5 yards to the NoIll 48.
3:433rd & 2 at opp 48Eric Williams rush for 6 yards to the NoIll 42 for a 1ST down.
3:001st & 10 at opp 42Eric Williams rush for 2 yards to the NoIll 40.
2:252nd & 8 at opp 40Tanner Justice pass complete to Zane Fakes for 7 yards to the NoIll 33.
1:453rd & 1 at opp 33Eric Williams rush for no gain to the NoIll 33.
1:054th & 1 at opp 33Timeout BALL STATE, clock 1:05.
0:404th & 1 at opp 33BALL ST penalty 5 yard False Start accepted.
0:314th & 6 at opp 38Scott Kovanda punt for 36 yards, downed at the NoIll 2.
Northern Illinois End of half, 1 play
0:001st & 10 at own 2DeMarcus Grady rush for 1 yard to the NoIll 3.
Q3 15:00Ian McGarvey kickoff for 62 yards returned by Ricky Crider for 25 yards to the NoIll 33.
3rd quarter4 drives, then Northern Illinois 26, Ball State 13
Northern Illinois Field goal, 10 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 33Chandler Harnish pass complete to Landon Cox for 10 yards to the NoIll 43 for a 1ST down.
13:501st & 10 at own 43Chad Spann rush for a loss of 3 yards to the NoIll 40.
13:402nd & 13 at own 40Chad Spann rush for 11 yards to the BalSt 49.
13:403rd & 2 at opp 49Chad Spann rush for 6 yards to the BalSt 43 for a 1ST down.
12:551st & 10 at opp 43Chandler Harnish pass complete to Landon Cox for 6 yards to the BalSt 37.
12:222nd & 4 at opp 37Chandler Harnish pass complete to Landon Cox for 9 yards to the BalSt 28 for a 1ST down.
11:501st & 10 at opp 28Me’co Brown rush for 2 yards to the BalSt 26.
11:112nd & 8 at opp 26Chandler Harnish pass complete to Landon Cox for 4 yards to the BalSt 22.
10:363rd & 4 at opp 22Timeout NORTHERN ILLINOIS, clock 10:36.
10:303rd & 4 at opp 22Me’co Brown rush for a loss of 1 yard to the BalSt 23.
9:534th & 5 at opp 23Mike Salerno 41 yard field goal GOOD.Northern Illinois 19, Ball State 13
9:53Mike Salerno kickoff for 70 yards for a touchback.
Ball State Punt, 3 plays
9:401st & 10 at own 20MiQuale Lewis rush for 3 yards to the BalSt 23.
9:002nd & 7 at own 23Tanner Justice rush for 3 yards to the BalSt 26.
9:003rd & 4 at own 26BALL ST penalty 5 yard False Start accepted.
8:003rd & 9 at own 21Tanner Justice sacked by Jared Volk for a loss of 18 yards to the BalSt 3, BALL ST penalty 0 yard Intentional Grounding accepted.
7:464th & 27 at own 3Scott Kovanda punt for 36 yards, returned by Tommy Davis for 5 yards to the BalSt 34.
Northern Illinois Touchdown pass, 5 plays
7:371st & 10 at opp 34Nathan Palmer rush for 32 yards to the BalSt 2 for a 1ST down.
7:051st & goal at opp 2Me’co Brown rush for a loss of 3 yards to the BalSt 5.
6:202nd & goal at opp 5Chandler Harnish rush for 1 yard to the BalSt 4.
5:483rd & 0 at opp 4BALL ST penalty 2 yard Pass Interference accepted, no play.
5:371st & goal at opp 2Me’co Brown rush for 1 yard to the BalSt 1.
5:002nd & 0 at opp 1NORTHN ILLINOIS penalty 5 yard False Start accepted.
4:562nd & goal at opp 6Chandler Harnish pass complete to Marcus Lewis for 6 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.Northern Illinois 25, Ball State 13
4:56Mike Salerno extra point GOOD.Northern Illinois 26, Ball State 13
4:56Mike Salerno kickoff for 67 yards returned by Eric Williams for 23 yards to the BalSt 26.
Ball State Punt, 8 plays
4:401st & 10 at own 26Cory Sykes rush for 7 yards to the BalSt 33.
4:052nd & 3 at own 33Eric Williams rush for a loss of 4 yards to the BalSt 29.
3:163rd & 7 at own 29Tanner Justice pass complete to Zane Fakes for 11 yards to the BalSt 40 for a 1ST down.
2:401st & 10 at own 40Eric Williams rush for 6 yards to the BalSt 46.
2:222nd & 4 at own 46MiQuale Lewis rush for 4 yards to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down.
1:321st & 10 at the 50Tanner Justice rush for 3 yards to the NoIll 47.
0:552nd & 7 at opp 47Cory Sykes rush for 2 yards to the NoIll 45.
0:053rd & 5 at opp 45Tanner Justice sacked by Jordan Delegal for a loss of 12 yards to the BalSt 43.
0:004th & 17 at own 43Scott Kovanda punt for 28 yards, downed at the NoIll 29.
4th quarter6 drives, then Northern Illinois 26, Ball State 20
Northern Illinois Punt, 5 plays
14:531st & 10 at own 29DeMarcus Grady rush for 12 yards, fumbled at the NoIll 41 for a 1ST down.
14:531st & 10 at own 41Chandler Harnish pass complete to Landon Cox for 6 yards to the NoIll 47.
14:532nd & 4 at own 47Chandler Harnish sacked by Team for a loss of 7 yards to the NoIll 40.
12:563rd & 11 at own 40Chandler Harnish pass complete to Me’co Brown for 5 yards to the NoIll 45.
12:204th & 6 at own 45Mike Salerno punt for 32 yards, downed at the BalSt 23.
Ball State Touchdown pass, 13 plays
12:101st & 10 at own 23Cory Sykes rush for 7 yards to the BalSt 30.
11:302nd & 3 at own 30Tanner Justice pass complete to MiQuale Lewis for 9 yards to the BalSt 39 for a 1ST down.
10:551st & 10 at own 39MiQuale Lewis rush for 7 yards to the BalSt 46.
10:262nd & 3 at own 46Tanner Justice pass incomplete to Zane Fakes.
10:023rd & 3 at own 46Tanner Justice pass complete to Briggs Orsbon for 8 yards to the NoIll 46 for a 1ST down.
9:471st & 10 at opp 46Cory Sykes rush for 6 yards to the NoIll 40.
9:082nd & 4 at opp 40Cory Sykes rush for 4 yards to the NoIll 36 for a 1ST down.
8:351st & 10 at opp 36Cory Sykes rush for 4 yards to the NoIll 32.
8:002nd & 6 at opp 32Cory Sykes rush for 8 yards to the NoIll 24 for a 1ST down.
7:271st & 10 at opp 24Tanner Justice pass incomplete to Michael Hunt.
7:152nd & 10 at opp 24Cory Sykes rush for 7 yards to the NoIll 17.
7:003rd & 3 at opp 17Tanner Justice sacked by Sean Progar for a loss of 7 yards to the NoIll 24.
5:514th & 10 at opp 24BALL ST penalty 5 yard False Start accepted.
5:274th & 15 at opp 29Tanner Justice pass complete to Daniel Ifft for 29 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.Northern Illinois 26, Ball State 19
5:27Ian McGarvey extra point GOOD.Northern Illinois 26, Ball State 20
5:27Ian McGarvey kickoff for 57 yards returned by Ricky Crider for 19 yards to the NoIll 32.
Northern Illinois Turnover on downs, 6 plays
5:091st & 10 at own 32Nathan Palmer rush for 2 yards to the NoIll 34.
4:212nd & 8 at own 34Chandler Harnish pass complete to Landon Cox for 6 yards to the NoIll 40.
3:413rd & 2 at own 40Me’co Brown rush for 5 yards to the NoIll 45 for a 1ST down.
3:001st & 10 at own 45Justin Anderson rush for no gain to the NoIll 45.
2:162nd & 10 at own 45Chandler Harnish sacked by Michael Hunt for a loss of 8 yards to the NoIll 37.
2:163rd & 18 at own 37Timeout BALL STATE, clock 2:16.
2:063rd & 18 at own 37Chandler Harnish pass complete to Kyle Skarb for 8 yards to the NoIll 45, NORTHN ILLINOIS penalty Holding declined.
2:061st & 10 at own 45Timeout BALL STATE, clock 2:06.
1:581st & 10 at own 45Mike Salerno punt for 43 yards, punt out-of-bounds at the BalSt 12.
Ball State Turnover on downs, 4 plays
1:501st & 10 at own 12Tanner Justice pass incomplete to Daniel Ifft.
1:472nd & 10 at own 12Tanner Justice pass incomplete to MiQuale Lewis.
1:413rd & 10 at own 12Tanner Justice rush for 4 yards to the BalSt 16.
1:354th & 6 at own 16Tanner Justice pass complete to Myles Trempe for 4 yards to the BalSt 20.
Northern Illinois Turnover on downs, 4 plays
1:331st & 10 at opp 20Team rush for a loss of 2 yards to the BalSt 22.
1:332nd & 12 at opp 22Timeout BALL STATE, clock 1:33.
1:222nd & 12 at opp 22Team rush for a loss of 2 yards to the BalSt 24.
0:203rd & 14 at opp 24Team rush for a loss of 8 yards to the BalSt 32.
0:024th & 22 at opp 32Team rush for a loss of 7 yards to the BalSt 39.
Ball State Fumble, 1 play
0:001st & 10 at own 39Tanner Justice pass complete to Briggs Orsbon for 26 yards, fumbled at the NoIll 40.

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Ball State–Northern Illinois game

Tied 24–⁠24–⁠1 in 49 meetings, counting the 16 since this game.

Recent meetings
2025Northern Illinois 21, Ball State 7
2024Ball State 25, Northern Illinois 23
2023Ball State 20, Northern Illinois 17
2022Ball State 44, Northern Illinois 38
2021Northern Illinois 30, Ball State 29
2020Ball State 31, Northern Illinois 25

Around this game

Ball State

Northern Illinois

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 11