Luster's two-point pass gives Ball State a wild 32-31 overtime win

Keldric Luster found Alex Scherle for a two-point conversion in overtime, giving Ball State a 32-31 win over Bowling Green Saturday after the Cardinals had surrendered the lead on a fumble return in the closing minutes of regulation.

Luster had already rescued Ball State once, throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass to Eli Hohlt as time expired to tie the game at 24. When TJ Horton scored from a yard out in overtime, the Cardinals chose a chance to win immediately. Luster extended the play and connected with Scherle to finish it.

The victory ended Ball State's 14-game road losing streak. The school's official report called it the Cardinals' first away win since October 12, 2024, and their first overtime win since beating Northern Illinois in 2022. Ball State improved to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference; Bowling Green fell to 2-5 and 2-1.

Ball State had led 17-10 entering the final minutes. Jay Kastantin then found Eli Jacon-Duffy for a 6-yard touchdown with 1:12 left, completing Bowling Green's tying drive. On the next possession, Luster lost the ball on a run and the Falcons returned it 35 yards for a touchdown with 1:01 remaining.

The Cardinals answered with a seven-play, 78-yard drive. Luster got them to the Bowling Green 20, and Hohlt's touchdown catch brought the game back level on the final play of regulation. Brody Boehm made the extra point.

Bowling Green scored first in overtime on Austyn Dendy's 4-yard run. Ball State's reply included a fourth-down conversion on a Luster rush, followed by an 8-yard Horton carry to the 1. Horton finished the drive on the next snap before Luster and Scherle supplied the winning points.

Luster completed 16 of 24 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, and ran 17 times for 125 yards and another score. His 28-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter had put Ball State ahead 17-10. The Cardinals finished with 240 rushing yards and 435 total yards to Bowling Green's 313.

Horton added 81 rushing yards and two touchdowns. CJ Nelson led Ball State's receivers with six catches for 59 yards; Hohlt's tying score was his only reception.

Kastantin threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yard pass to Brennan Ridley in the second quarter. Travis Kenner's 49-yard field goal made it 10-10 before halftime. Dendy led the Falcons with 61 rushing yards, but Bowling Green managed only 98 yards on the ground.

Ball State now returns home for Sacramento State next Saturday. Bowling Green visits Buffalo after its two-game conference winning streak ended on the last conversion of the afternoon.