Final Score: Ball State 33, Eastern Michigan 31

Ypsilanti, MI (Sports Network) - Steven Schott drilled a 44-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining, lifting the Ball State Cardinals to a thrilling 33-31 win over Eastern Michigan in a Mid-American Conference showdown at Rynearson Stadium.

With the win, Ball State (6-4, 4-2 MAC) becomes bowl eligible. Keith Wenning threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. One of those TDs went to Torieal Gibson, who finished with 142 yards on seven catches.

The Eagles (5-4, 3-2) came up short in their quest for a third straight win and bowl eligibility, despite a magnificent day from quarterback Alex Gillett. The junior signal-caller completed 12-of-17 passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a game-high 126 yards and did not commit any turnovers on the day.

Ball State struck first, as Wenning connected with Gibson for a 94-yard touchdown pass to silence the home crowd and stake the Cardinals a 7-0 lead with 9:38 remaining in the opening quarter.

EMU answered right back with a quick scoring drive, as Gillett found Trey Hunter for a 32-yard scoring strike to even the score at 7-7.

Ball State reclaimed the lead at the 4:50 mark of the opening frame, with Barrington Scott hauling in an eight-yard touchdown pass from Wenning.

But once again, the Eagles responded as Gillett hooked up with Nick Olds for a 42-yard touchdown pass to knot the score at 14 apiece in the final minute of the first quarter.

After a 31-yard field goal by Ball State's Schott early in the second quarter, EMU took a 21-17 lead on Gillett's third touchdown pass of the day, this time covering 14 yards to Tyreese Russell with 1:47 remaining until halftime.

Cardinals return man Jamill Smith ran the ensuing kickoff all the way down to the EMU 15, setting up a 29-yard field goal by Schott to cut the deficit to 21-20 entering the half.

Ball State carried that momentum into the second half, with Jahwan Edwards scoring on a 15-yard run to give the Cardinals a 27-21 lead with 9:39 to play in the third quarter.

EMU reclaimed the lead in the final seconds of the third quarter thanks to Russell's second touchdown grab of the day, this time covering 16 yards to cap a 13-play, 88-yard drive.

The seesaw battle continued in the fourth quarter, as Schott gave the Cardinals a 30-28 lead with a 23-yard field goal to polish off a 13-play, 76- yard drive.

The Eagles answered with a 13-play drive of their own, also coming away with just three points on Kody Fulkerson's 20-yard field goal to give EMU a 31-30 lead with 1:18 remaining in regulation.

But Ball State was not done, as the Cardinals promptly drove 46 yards in nine plays, setting up Schott's game-winner from 44 yards.

Eastern Michigan lost despite a 29-21 edge in first downs and a 501-375 advantage in total offense for the game. The Eagles converted 13-of-19 third downs and held the ball for 40:11, compared to 19:40 possession time for the Cardinals, who converted only 2-of-9 third downs.