Cardinals Top Falcons, 32-31, in Overtime Thriller

Saturday, October 17

Bowling Green, Ohio

12 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

2-5 , 2-1

Ball State

2-5 , 1-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final F
Ball St.	3	7	7	7	8	32
Bowling Green	0	10	0	14	7	31

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Photo by: Kate Laney, BGSU Athletics

October 17, 2026 | Football

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By: BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Keldrick Luster found Alex Scherle for a two-point conversion in the front corner of the end zone, as Ball State University picked up a 32-31 win over the Bowling Green State University football team in overtime Saturday afternoon (Oct. 17). The Mid-American Conference game was held at a sun-drenched Doyt L. Perry Stadium.

After combining for 27 points in the first 58-plus minutes of the game, the Falcons and Cardinals put up a total of 36 points over the final 1:12 of regulation and overtime. The Falcons (2-5, 2-1 MAC) scored a pair of touchdowns just 11 seconds apart to take a 24-17 lead with 1:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Luster and the Cardinals drove 78 yards, with the Ball State quarterback finding Eli Hohlt for a 20-yard score on the final play of regulation.

In overtime, the Falcons went the requisite 25 yards in four plays, with Austyn Dendy scoring from four yards out, and Travis Kenner following up with the point after touchdown to give BGSU a 31-24 lead.

But, the Cardinals (2-5, 1-2 MAC) converted a fourth-and-1 play, with Luster rushing up the middle to gain a yard for the first down. Then, three plays later, TJ Horton scored from a yard out, and Luster rolled right and found Scherle for the game-winning two-point conversion.

Luster threw for 195 yards and a touchdown, while running for a game-high 125 yards and another score. For the Falcons, Dendy had 61 yards and a score on the ground, while Jay Kastantin went 17-for-24 through the air, throwing for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Bowling Green won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Ball State received the kick to start the game with BGSU defending the north end zone.
The defense started strong for the Falcons, forcing a quick three-and-out that led to a short punt and Bowling Green taking over at their own 42.
The Falcons offense started their first drive with a five-yard rush from Austyn Dendy, and then a first-down conversion off a pass to Winn Sharp. The Ball State defense sacked Jay Kastantin two times, however, forcing a Falcon punt.
Ball State drove down the field on their second possession, but a Cashmire Lewis third-down stop held them to a field goal for a 3-0 lead.
After a Falcon punt, Ball State was able to drive down the field to score a touchdown, extending the lead to 10-0.
The Falcons stormed back with a 77-yard touchdown reception by Brennan Ridley to make it 10-7 Ball State.
Before halftime, Travis Kenner nailed a career-long 49-yard field goal to even the playing field at 10.
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Ball State took a read-option 28 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-10 Ball State.
But, with 1:12 left in regulation, Eli Jacon-Duffy scored a game-tying touchdown, capping a drive that lasted seven minutes and included a major Leo Kemp 4th-down conversion to keep it alive.
Then, just 11 seconds later, Kal-el Pascal forced a Ball State fumble that was recovered by D'Kyah Banks, who returned it for a touchdown; Banks' second-straight game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown to put the Falcons up 24-17.
But, BSU scored a touchdown on the final play of regulation, with the PAT sending the game to overtime , with 0 seconds left in regulation, scored a game-tying touchdown to send the contest into overtime.
On the first possession of overtime, Austyn Dendy's four-yard run gave the Falcons a 31-24 lead.
Ball State, though, answered with TJ Horton's one-yard rush, followed by the decisive two-point conversion.

GAME NOTES

Jay Kastantin and Brennan Ridley connected for the longest play from scrimmage this season for BGSU, with a 77-yard pass in the second quarter..
The Ridley touchdown also marked the longest reception of Ridley's collegiate career and his first receiving touchdown of the season.
Within the final minute of the first half, Travis Kenner stepped into a 49-yard field goal, the longest made field goal of his career.
Cashmire Lewis ended the game with a new career-high in single-game tackles, totaling eight.
In the first quarter, Blane Cleaver hauled in a reception for 11 yards, a new career-long reception. Cleaver ended with a new career-high for single-game receiving yards, totaling 16 in the game.
In the final minute of the fourth quarter, D'Kyah Banks recovered a Ball State fumble to put the Falcons up 24-17. This is Banks' second straight game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

STAT LEADERS

Jay Kastantin - 17-for-24, 215 yards, 2 TD
Austyn Dendy - 17 rushes, 61 yards, 1 TD
Brennan Ridley - 2 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
Dorian Pringle - 10 tackles
Cashmire Lewis - 8 tackles
Kal-El Pascal - 6 tackles, 1 forced fumble

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"First off, hats off to Ball State. They played a tremendous game. It was a really tough battle that was back and forth. Clearly, we didn't get off to a great start. Coming out, they jumped out. They got up on us a little bit, and they did a great job of establishing the run game, their quarterback made tremendous plays all day. He's a warrior, but I'm really proud of the way our guys fought back to take the lead at the end. We pride ourselves on winning those situations and we didn't get the job done in the end. It's a tough one to take on the chin, but we got to get over it, get over the emotional side of it. We got to get better. We got to grow from it. We're still still in control of our destiny. We just got to continue to work better, harder, and come back and get ready for next week."- Eddie George

UP NEXT

Bowling Green will be on the road for the next two games, facing Buffalo on Oct. 24 and Western Michigan on Oct. 31 to round out the month of October. The game against Buffalo will be a 3:30 p.m. kick on ESPN+.
The Falcons return home to host Kent State on Tuesday, Nov. 10 for the first MACtion game on Bowling Green's schedule. The game against the Golden Flashes will be a 7 p.m. kick.