From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

[redsox907]

2025 Week Four Preview

Matchup Preview *|* September 20, 2025
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Connecticut Huskies (0-2, 0-0 Away)		Ball State Cardinals (1-1, 1-0 Home)
Offensive Stats Comparison 291.0 Total Yards 487.5 195.0 Passing Yards 302.5 78.5 Rushing Yards 185.0 16.0 Points Per Game 38.0 Defensive Stats Comparison 452.0 Total Yards Allowed 386.5 261.0 Passing Yards Allowed 337.5 190.0 Rushing Yards Allowed 49.0 2 Sacks 5 0 Interceptions 3 37.5 Points Per Game 30.5 Injury Report WR Skyler Bell (84) Fractured Hip (17 Weeks) Game Notes Muncie, IN – The UConn Huskies’ defense has faced a brutal start to the season, struggling to contain opposing offenses. In Week 1, Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos torched the Huskies with 438 yards and six touchdowns in a 41-26 loss. Week 3 saw Navy’s run-heavy attack steamroll the Huskies for 255 rushing yards en route to a 34-6 victory. Things won’t get any easier as UConn travels to Muncie to face Ball State and its high-powered "Nitro" offense. Cardinals quarterback Kadin Semonza, fresh off earning MAC Player of the Week honors, put on a show with seven total touchdowns (six passing, one rushing) in last week’s win. Ball State’s dynamic duo of Nyck Harbor (148 yards, 3 TDs) and Philip Onwualu (160 yards, 2 TDs) have thrived in head coach Nash Savage’s explosive scheme, and they’ll look to exploit UConn’s porous defense. With the Cardinals hitting their stride offensively, another high-scoring performance appears likely in this matchup.

UConn Huskies 76/77/76 Depth Chart - 2025
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	SR(RS) Jasaiah Gathings (76)	JR(RS) Kylish Hicks (69)	SO(RS) Jackson Harper (69)
TE	SR(RS) Louis Hansen (79)	SR(RS) Alex Honig (74)	FR Micah Watts (67)
LT	SO(RS) Jayden Bass (78)	SR(RS) Danny Antolovich (70)
LG	JR(RS) Ben Murawski (80)	FR(RS) Deron McLaughlin (74)
C	SO(RS) Jake Kiernan (74)	DE Jeremiah Everitt (59)
RG	SR Kyle Juergens (79)	SO(RS) Brady Wayburn (73)
RT	SO(RS) Toriyan Johnson (74)	SO(RS) Carsten Casady (68)
WR	SO(RS) Shamar Porter (78)	SO(RS) Zackary Drawdy (74)	FR(RS) Marcus Wolfe (68)
QB	SO(RS) Tucker McDonald (80)	JR(RS) Nick Evers (77)
HB	JR Cam Edwards (84)	SO(RS) Durell Robinson (82)	SR Mel Brown (80)
Base 3-4 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	SR(RS) Pryce Yates (76)	FR(RS) Cooper Ackerman (72)
NT	JR(RS) Kervins Choute (75)	JR(RS) Timothy Passmore Jr (69)
RDE	JR(RS) Matt Hoffman (76)	SR Donovan Branch (73)
LOLB	SR(RS) Julien Simon (83)	FR(RS) Ethan Hogg (56)
LILB	JR(RS) Langston Hardy (72)	FR(RS) Kaleb Stewart (70)
RILB	SR(RS) Kalen Villanueva (70)	FR David Babcock (59)
ROLB	FR(RS) Jon Morris (71)	FR Jabari Togia (62)
CB	JR(RS) Isaih Davis (79)	SR D'Mon Brinson (75)	SO Brian Boone (67)
SS	SR Lee Molette III (77)	FR JD Campanaro (67)
FS	FR Noah Burrow (68)	FR Leon Lawrence (60)
CB	JR(RS) Jarvarius Sims (76)	SO(RS) Chris Hudson (67)	SO Brian Boone (67)

UConn Huskies Stats - 2025
Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	YDS/G	LONG	TD	INT	RAT
Tucker McDonald	26/65	390	6.0	195.0	75	4	0	110.7
Rushing	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	20+	TD	YDS/G	FUM
Cam Edwards	28	151	5.4	47	2	0	75.5	0
Receiving	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	DROPS	YDS/G	YAC
Zackary Drawdy	7	156	22.3	2	75	3	78.0	107
	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
Defense	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TLOSS	PD	INT	TD
MLB Langston Hardy	12	1	13	0	0	0	0	0
DE Matt Hoffman	6	4	10	0	4	0	0	0
LB Julien Simon	10	2	12	1	1	0	0	0
DE Pryce Yates	7	1	8	1	2	0	0	0

Week 3 MAC Schedule
Bowling Green (2-0) @ Louisville (1-1)
UNLV (1-1) @ Buffalo (2-0)
#16 Missouri (2-0) @ Miami (OH) (2-0)
Northern Illinois (1-2) @ Mississippi State (0-2)
Western Michigan (0-2) @ #7 Illinois (2-0)
Kent State (1-1) @ Central Michigan (0-3)
#15 LSU (2-0) @ Toledo (1-2)
Eastern Michigan (0-3) @ Ohio (1-2)

Notable Week 3 Matchups
#8 SMU (3-0) @ TCU (1-1)
#19 Texas Tech (2-0) @ Nebraska (3-0)
#10 Boise State (1-0) @ Houston (2-0)
#2 Ohio State (3-0) @ Wisconsin (1-2)
#13 South Carolina (1-1) @ #21 Syracuse (2-1)
#17 Florida (2-0) @ #18 Miami (2-1)

[redsox907]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deuce2223

You got a solid roster, with nice talent on the Offensive side of the ball. I can see you rolling through the MAC for sure. Now the question is can you recruit at a high enough level to start winning those non-conference matchups against Notre Dame, Indiana, Purdue, ect..

I feel like our biggest downfall is going to be turnovers and the defense. They were able to get timely stops against Toledo, but it wasn't a sure thing until the pick six put it away for good.

the good thing is I don't think Semonza is going to develop enough to want to leave early, same with Harbor and Onwualu, so I should have some firepower for a while to build my prestige and start bringing in some high end defensive talent. I'm recruiting that side of the ball and the offensive line heavily both last year and this year, so hopefully we see that pay dividends in the upcoming season . For now, we just out score em

[redsox907]

The Muncie Miracle!


Just moments after a failed 2PT conversion left the Cardinals trailing by 2 with just 3:55 left Ball State's special teamer FS Elijah Davis made magic, forcing the fumble before scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 3:49 remaining.

Connecticut Huskies at Ball State Cardinals
Sep 20, 2025 1 2 3 4 F CONN (0-2) 14 7 0 7 28 BALL (1-1) 0 6 0 27 33 Top Performers PASS: BS Kadin Semonza - 17/32, 338 Yds, 2 TD, INT RUSH: UCON Cam Edwards - 16 Att, 105 Yds, TD REC: BS Philip Onwualu - 7 Rec, 120 Yds, TD	Team Stats Comparison CONN BALL First Downs 18 20 3rd Down Efficiency 3/9 7/13 4th Down Efficiency 1/2 1/2 Total Yards 460 563 Passing Yards 208 338 Rushing Yards 23 - 82 31 - 125 Penalties-Penalty Yards 2 - 10 4 - 35 Turnovers 2 1 Time of Possession 22:01 21:59
Scoring Summary FIRST QUARTER SCORING CONN BALL 5:08 (CONN) Shamar Porter, 5 Yd Pass From Tucker McDonald 7 0 1:28 (CONN) Zackary Drawdy, 5 Yd Pass From Tucker McDonald 14 0 SECOND QUARTER SCORING CONN BALL 6:35 (BALL) Jackson Courville, 35 Yd FG 14 3 6:24 (CONN) Oliver Lundberg Coleman, Returned Kickoff 94 Yds 21 3 0:00 (BALL) Jackson Courville, 44 Yd FG 21 6 FOURTH QUARTER SCORING CONN BALL 9:41 (CONN) Cam Edwards, 4 Yd Run 28 6 9:00 (BALL) Philip Onwualu, 90 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza (Failed 2PT) 28 12 6:16 (BALL) Qian Magwood, 2 Yd Run (2PT) 28 20 3:54 (BALL) Nyck Harbor, 90 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza (Failed 2PT) 28 26 3:49 (BALL) Elijah Davis, Returned Fumble 12 Yds 28 33
Connecticut Huskies PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Tucker McDonald 21/27 208 2 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Cam Edwards 16 105 6.5 1 Tucker McDonald 5 -27 -5.4 0 Durell Robinson 2 4 2.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Cam Edwards 5 11 2.2 0 Louis Hansen 5 53 10.6 0 Zack Drawdy 5 80 16.0 1 Jasaiah Gathings 3 43 14.3 0 Shamar Porter 3 21 7.0 1 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Ben Murawski 8 0 Toriyan Johnson 8 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD LB Julien Simon 10 1 (3TFL) 0 0 DE Pryce Yates 8 2.5 (4TFL) 0 0 LB Jon Morris 9 0.5 (2TFL) 0 0 MLB Kalen Villanueva 5 1 (1TFL) 0 0 CB Isiah Davis 8 0 1 0 DT Kervins Choute 3 0.5 (1TFL) 0 0 DE Matt Hoffman 2 0.5 (2TFL) 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG D'Wan Punga 0/0 4/4 4 NA PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Connor Stutz 4 161 40.2 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Oliver Lundberg Coleman 6 170 28.3 1 Ball State Cardinals PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Kadin Semonza 17/32 338 2 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Qian Magwood 17 67 3.9 1 Kadin Semonza 13 54 4.1 0 Nick Presley 1 4 4.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 7 120 17.1 1 Tanner Koziol 3 31 10.3 0 Nyck Harbor 2 94 47.0 1 Qian Magwood 2 33 16.5 0 Cam Pickett 1 35 35.0 0 Justin Bowick 1 12 12.0 0 Christian Davis 1 13 13.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Arkel Anugwom 9 1 Kevin Meeder 8 2 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD SS DD Snyder 9 0 1 0 MLB Joey Stemler 6 0 (1TFL) 0 0 MLB Ethan Evers 4 0 (1TFL) 0 0 DE Brenan Vernon 4 1 (3TFL) 0 0 MLB Dalton Townsel 4 2 (3TFL) 0 0 DE Scott Humphries 3 1 (1TFL) 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Jackson Courville 2/3 1/1 7 46 PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Carson Holmer 1 35 35.0 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 5 78 15.6 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 3 22 7.3 0

LEFT - Harbor only had two catches on the afternoon, but this 90 yard TD late in the 4th Q continued to shift the momentum Ball State's way.
CENTER - Tucker McDonald was surgical throughout the contest, but as the pressure mounted in the 2nd half the sophomore folded, tossing a game ending INT on the Ball State 29 with 35 seconds left.
RIGHT - Kadin Semonza struggled to get a rhythm going in the 1st half after 3 sacks and an 8/18 effort left the Cardinals in a 21-6 hole.

Muncie, IN – In a game that seemed destined to slip away, the Ball State Cardinals delivered an electrifying fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the UConn Huskies 33-28, improving to 2-1 on the season.

UConn controlled the first three quarters, outscoring Ball State 21-6 in the first half. The Huskies’ defense set the tone early with an interception on Kadin Semonza’s opening drive, while UConn quarterback Tucker McDonald was efficient, completing 10-of-12 passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals struggled to capitalize on 171 yards of first-half offense, managing only two field goals as Semonza was sacked three times and held to 96 passing yards.

The Huskies extended their lead to 28-6 early in the fourth quarter after a 4-yard touchdown run by Cam Edwards capped a methodical drive. At that point, the Cardinals’ offense came to life.

Philip Onwualu ignited the comeback with a 90-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep, showcasing his elusiveness with a dazzling spin move past two defenders. Although Ball State missed the two-point conversion, the momentum shifted. After a UConn three-and-out, Semonza connected with Cam Pickett on a 35-yard strike, setting up Qian Magwood’s 2-yard touchdown and successful two-point conversion to narrow the gap to 28-20.

Pinned at their own 10-yard line following another UConn punt, Semonza found Nyck Harbor for a 90-yard touchdown on Harbor’s sceond catch of the day. Despite another failed two-point attempt, the Cardinals were within two points with 3:55 remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ball State’s Elijah Davis forced a fumble on UConn’s Oliver Lundberg Coleman—who had earlier returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown in the first half—and returned it 15 yards for the go-ahead score, giving the Cardinals their first lead at 33-28.

UConn mounted one last drive, reaching the Ball State 29-yard line, but senior safety DD Snyder sealed the victory with a fourth-down interception—his second game-winning pick in as many weeks.

Ball State’s offense erupted for 229 fourth-quarter yards, nearly eclipsing its output from the first three quarters combined (234). Semonza, who struggled early, finished the game with a remarkable turnaround, completing 5-of-8 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns in the final period.

"Adversity reveals character," said head coach Nash Savage. "We got the win today, but this game was a reminder that success doesn’t come from just showing up—it takes focus and execution, no matter who’s on the other side."

The Cardinals now prepare for a MAC showdown on the road against Western Michigan, riding the momentum of one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent program history.

Week Four MAC Results
19 Bowling Green (3-0) @ Louisville (1-2) 7
30 UNLV (2-1) @ Buffalo (2-1) 24
28 #14 Missouri (3-0) @ Miami (OH) (2-1) 17
10 Northern Illinois (1-3) @ Mississippi State (1-2) 35
20 Western Michigan @ #7 Illinois (3-0) 30
17 Kent State (1-2) @ Central Michigan (1-3) 20
31 #13 LSU (3-0) @ Toledo (1-3) 21
20 Eastern Michigan (0-4) @ Ohio (2-2) 24

Notable Week Four Results
16 #18 SMU (3-1) @ TCU (2-1) 41
27 #17 Texas Tech (3-0) @ Nebraska (3-1) 18
35 #9 Boise State (2-0) @ Houston (2-1) 21
32 #2 Ohio State (4-0) @ Wisconsin (1-3) 24
31 #20 South Carolina (1-2) @ #16 Syracuse (3-1) 34
34 #15 Florida (3-0) @ #24 Miami (2-2) 31

[redsox907]

2025 Week Five Preview

Matchup Preview *|* September 27, 2025
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Ball State Cardinals (2-1, 0-1 Away)		Western Michigan Broncos (0-3, 0-1 Home)
Offensive Stats Comparison 479.3 Total Offensive Yards 315.0 314.3 Passing Yards 218.0 165.0 Rushing Yards 88.0 36.3 Points Per Game 22.0 Defensive Stats Comparison 354.3 Total Yards Allowed 363.3 294.3 Passing Yards Allowed 232.6 60.0 Rushing Yards Allowed 130.6 9 Sacks 6 4 Interceptions 2 29.6 Points Per Game 89 Game Notes Kalamazoo, MI – Western Michigan looks to notch its first win of the season this week as it hosts Ball State (2-1). The Broncos are off to an 0-3 start despite showing promise early in games, holding halftime leads against North Texas (21-7) and No. 7 Illinois (17-14) before second-half collapses resulted in losses of 36-31 and 30-20, respectively. Meanwhile, the visiting Cardinals are riding high after an impressive 22-point comeback to secure a 33-28 win over UConn. For Ball State, sophomore quarterback Kadin Semonza has flashed brilliance but has struggled during stretches when protection breaks down. Transfer wide receiver Nyck Harbor has also delivered moments of greatness—amassing five touchdowns and 327 yards through three games—but inconsistency remains an issue. Harbor currently leads the FBS with six drops, highlighting his raw potential alongside areas for improvement. Last week’s comeback win taught the Cardinals an important lesson: no matter the pregame expectations, every opponent is a challenge. Expect Ball State to come out aggressively, looking to put early pressure on Western Michigan and avoid another slow start.

Western Michigan Broncos 76/75/77 Depth Chart - 2025
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	SR Malique Dieudonne (78)	JR(RS) Willie Berris (68)	FR(RS) Terence Marshall (65)
TE	SR(RS) Blake Bosma (81)	SR(RS) Kadinn Morris (71)	SR(RS) Mareyohn Hrabowski (67)
LT	FR(RS) Gavin Dabo (69)	FR(RS) Jack Parker (68)
LG	JR(RS) Chad Schuster (76)	FR Johnny Church (69)
C	FR(RS) Jeremy Schleicher (68)	SR(RS) Caden Peddie (64)
RG	FR(RS) Conor Kenzinger (70)	SR(RS) Trevor Shaw (67)
RT	SR(RS) Calvin Muraski (75)	FR Doug Shoemaker (66)
WR	SR Bugs Mortimer (82)	SO Jayquan Reid (70)	SR(RS) Cam Hedgecock (65)
QB	FR(RS) JD Davis II (79)	FR Marquise Moffett (66)
FB	FR Devontae Tobias (67)
HB	JR(RS) Jaden Nixon (79)	JR(RS) Jamal Hailey (72)	FR(RS) Tre' Hartwell (71)
Base 4-3 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	SR(RS) Corey Walker (81)	SR Rodney McGraw (77)
LDT	SR(RS) Mason Nelson (79)	SR Anterio Thompson (74)
RDT	FR(RS) Dalton Gustwiller (77)	FR(RS) Sid Kaba (70)
RDE	JR Popeye Williams (79)	SO Jordan Buckley (68)
WLB	SO Brad Beck (65)	FR Cole Kane (67)
MLB	JR Domanick Moon (70)	SO Maddux Babin (68)
SLB	JR(RS) Dillon Moore (75)	FR Cole Kane (67)
CB	FR(RS) Jameson Young (76)	FR Dareon Ezeike (67)	FR Dallas Suttle (61)
SS	FR(RS) Cameron Powell (70)	SO Lashawn Newkirk (65)
FS	SR(RS) Aaron Wofford (75)	FR(RS) Angelo Stockstill (75)
CB	SO(RS) Josh Franklin (76)	FR Alphonso Hajrullahu (63)	FR Dallas Suttle (61)

Western Michigan Broncos Stats - 2025
Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	YDS/G	LONG	TD	INT	RAT
JD Davis II	53/103	654	6.3	218.0	30	5	3	114.9
Rushing	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	20+	TD	YDS/G	FUM
Jaden Nixon	48	225	4.7	34	2	2	75.0	0
Receiving	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	DROPS	YDS/G	YAC
Malique Dieudonne	15	257	17.1	1	30	0	85.7	77
	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
Defense	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TLOSS	PD	INT	TD
CB Jameson Young	9	10	19	0	1	3	1	0
DT Dalton Gustwiller	12	3	15	2	5	0	0	0
DE Rodney McGraw	4	3	7	1	3	0	0	0
FS Aaron Wofford	4	7	11	0	0	0	1	0

Week Five MAC Schedule
Akron (2-1) @ Toledo (1-3)
Bowling Green (3-0) @ Kent State (1-2)
Miami (OH) (2-1) @ Eastern Michigan (0-4)
Ohio (2-2) @ Buffalo (2-1)

Notable Week Five Matchups
#14 Missouri (3-0) @ #17 Texas Tech (3-0)
#10 Georgia (1-1) @ #13 LSU (3-0)
Nebraska (3-1) @ #22 Texas A&M (3-0)
#5 Alabama (4-0) @ #19 Clemson (2-1)
#11 Texas (3-1) @ #15 Florida (3-0)

[redsox907]

Ball State Continues Impressive Offensive Showing In Another Shootout Victory


Nyck Harbor continues to be boom or bust, hauling in two more touchdowns after dropping an early TD chance.

Ball State Cardinals at Western Michigan Broncos
Sep 27, 2025 1 2 3 4 F BALL (2-1) 7 14 28 7 56 WMU (0-3) 7 7 10 14 38 Top Performers PASS: BS Kadin Semonza - 23/32, 529 Yds, 7 TD, 2 INT RUSH: WMU Jaden Nixon - 19 Att, 84 Yds, 3 TD REC: BS Philip Onwualu - 10 Rec, 177 Yds, 4 TD	Team Stats Comparison BALL WMU First Downs 22 24 3rd Down Efficiency 5/6 7/12 4th Down Efficiency 1/1 1/1 Total Yards 782 653 Passing Yards 529 444 Rushing Yards 19 - 178 24 - 80 Penalties-Penalty Yards 3 - 25 0 - 0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of Possession 19:44 24:16
Scoring Summary FIRST QUARTER SCORING BALL WMU 5:58 (WMU) Jaden Nixon, 1 Yd Run 0 7 2:52 (BALL) Philip Onwualu, 18 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 7 7 SECOND QUARTER SCORING BALL WMU 10:23 (WMU) Malique Dieudonne, 18 Yd Pass From JD Davis II 7 14 6:06 (BALL) Philip Onwualu, 10 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 14 14 0:26 (BALL) Nyck Harbor, 46 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 21 14 THIRD QUARTER SCORING BALL WMU 9:55 (BALL) Philip Onwualu, 86 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 28 14 9:15 (WMU) Jaden Nixon, 1 Yd run 28 21 8:49 (BALL) Qian Magwood, 81 Yd Run 35 21 6:44 (BALL) Nyck Harbor, 67 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 42 21 3:34 (WMU) Palmer Domschke, 28 Yd FG 42 24 1:26 (BALL) Qian Magwood, 61 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 49 24 FOURTH QUARTER SCORING BALL WMU 7:28 (WMU) Jaden Nixon, 3 Yd Run 49 31 1:32 (WMU) Bugs Mortimer, 37 Yd Pass From JD Davis II 49 38 1:18 (BALL) Philip Onwualu, 5 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 56 38
Ball State Cardinals PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Kadin Semonza 23/32 529 7 2 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Qian Magwood 12 150 12.5 1 Kadin Semonza 6 29 4.8 0 Nick Pressley 1 -1 -1.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 10 177 17.7 4 Nyck Harbor 5 164 32.0 2 Cam Pickett 3 36 12.0 0 Tanner Koziol 2 41 20.5 0 Qian Magwood 2 86 43.0 1 Justin Bowcik 1 25 25.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Arkel Anugwom 5 0 Carl Poyer 2 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD FS Isaiah Thacker 9 0 (2TFL) 0 0 MLB Joey Stemler 8 0 (1TFL) 0 0 CB Myles Norwood 7 0 (1TFL) 0 0 CB Thailand Baldwin 5 0 1 0 MLB Ethan Evers 3 1 (1TFL) 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Jackson Courville 0/0 8/8 8 NA KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 1 18 18.0 0 JaMarion McDougle 3 43 14.3 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 2 11 5.5 0 Western Michigan Broncos PASSING C/A YDS TD INT JD Davis II 27/38 444 2 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Jaden Nixon 19 84 4.4 3 JD Davis 4 -6 -1.5 0 Robert Witherspoon 1 2 2.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Willie Berries 9 60 6.6 0 Malique Dieudonne 6 137 22.8 1 Bugs Mortimer 5 175 35.0 1 Cam Hedgecock 3 20 6.6 0 Blake Bosma 2 25 12.5 0 Terence Marshall 1 13 13.0 0 Jaden Nixon 1 14 14.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Conor Kenzinger 6 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD FS Aaron Wofford 11 0 (1TFL) 0 0 SS Cameron Powell 6 0 (1TFL) 0 0 CB Josh Franklin 5 0 2 0 DE Popeye Williams 5 1 (3TFL) 0 0 DE Rodney McGraw 3 0 (2TFL) 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Palmer Domschke 1/1 5/5 8 28 PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Ryan Millmore 3 121 40.3 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Brian Scharff 8 129 16.1 0

LEFT - Ball State scored on 8 of their 10 drives this afternoon, with the two misses coming via the interception.
CENTER - Thailand Baldwin boosting his QB with a timely interception after Semonza's own, leading to Ball State's 3rd TD of the 1st half and a 21-14 halftime lead.
RIGHT - Jaden Nixon punching in his 3rd TD of the game in a losing effort.

Kalamazoo, MI – Ball State’s explosive offense was on full display Saturday, as the Cardinals (3-1) extended their win streak to three with a 56-38 victory over Western Michigan (0-4). Quarterback Kadin Semonza led the charge, setting Ball State single-game records with seven passing touchdowns and 529 passing yards in a remarkable performance.

The game opened with an evenly matched first quarter, ending in a 7-7 tie. Ball State’s Philip Onwualu was the early standout, hauling in six catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns by halftime. Western Michigan’s JD Davis II kept pace with 174 first-half passing yards, including a touchdown, but his efforts were overshadowed by a crucial interception that halted a promising drive.

Ball State held a slim 21-14 lead at halftime but exploded in the third quarter with a string of big plays. Onwualu ignited the second-half fireworks with an 86-yard touchdown reception, his third of the game. The Cardinals continued their offensive onslaught with an 81-yard rushing touchdown by Qian Magwood and a 61-yard catch-and-run score by Magwood shortly after. Nyck Harbor added to the barrage with a 67-yard touchdown reception as Ball State pushed the lead to 49-24 entering the final quarter.

Western Michigan battled back late, with JD Davis connecting with Bugs Mortimer for a 37-yard touchdown and Jaden Nixon punching in his third rushing score. However, the Cardinals’ offense proved too much, as Onwualu capped his career day with his fourth touchdown reception, sealing the 56-38 victory.

Ball State finished with an impressive 529 passing yards as part of 707 total yards, while Western Michigan countered with 444 passing yards and 524 total yards. Despite the loss, the Broncos showcased their offensive firepower, particularly through Davis and playmakers Mortimer and Dieudonne.

The win propels Ball State to 3-1 on the season, continuing their momentum as they aim to contend in the MAC. Western Michigan, still searching for their first win, will look to regroup and find answers after another tough loss.

Week Five MAC Results
16 Akron (2-2) @ Toledo (2-3) 42
24 Bowling Green (4-0) @ Kent State (1-3) 20
35 Miami (OH) (3-1) @ Eastern Michigan (0-5) 28
14 Ohio (2-3) @ Buffalo (3-1) 24

Notable Week Five Results
21 #20 Missouri (3-1) @ #12 Texas Tech (4-0) 49
26 #9 Georgia (2-1) @ #16 LSU (3-1)
10 Nebraska (3-2) @ #19 Texas A&M (4-0) 28
28 #5 Alabama (5-0) @ #25 Clemson (2-2) 24
23 #2 Ohio State (5-0) @ Iowa (1-3) 20
28 Maryland (4-0) @ #15 Oregon (4-1) 20
24 #21 Texas (3-2) @ #11 Florida (4-0) 42

[Deuce2223]

Quote: Originally Posted by redsox907

I feel like our biggest downfall is going to be turnovers and the defense. They were able to get timely stops against Toledo, but it wasn't a sure thing until the pick six put it away for good. the good thing is I don't think Semonza is going to develop enough to want to leave early, same with Harbor and Onwualu, so I should have some firepower for a while to build my prestige and start bringing in some high end defensive talent. I'm recruiting that side of the ball and the offensive line heavily both last year and this year, so hopefully we see that pay dividends in the upcoming season . For now, we just out score em

Semonza was money for Ball State in my current dynasty.. They went 9-3 and won their bowl so 10 wins. I believe he ended up being like a 88 Overall an was drafted 4th round.

[redsox907]

2025 Week Six Preview

Matchup Preview *|* October 4, 2025
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Eastern Michigan Eagles (0-5, 0-3 Away)		Ball State Cardinals (3-1, 2-0 Home)
Offensive Stats Comparison 298.4 Total Offensive Yards 536.2 240.4 Passing Yards 368.0 41.0 Rushing Yards 168.25 19.8 Points Per Game 41.3 Defensive Stats Comparison 366.8 Total Yards Allowed 396.7 233.0 Passing Yards Allowed 331.7 133.8 Rushing Yards Allowed 65.0 8 Sacks 10 4 Interceptions 5 26.6 Points Per Game 31.7 Injury Report CB Jaden Price (79) Dislocated Ankle (4 Weeks) T Terrance Saunders (76) Torn Labrum (3 Weeks) T Everett Small (73) Foot Fracture (1 Week) Game Notes Muncie, IN – Don’t be deceived by Eastern Michigan’s winless record; the Eagles possess the talent and potential to play spoiler as the season progresses. Despite their struggles, EMU’s offense ranks 50th nationally, consistently keeping them competitive. Aside from a 28-16 Week 1 loss to Texas State, the Eagles have kept every game within one score, with their other four losses coming by a combined total of just 22 points. The Ball State Cardinals should take note. As evidenced by their near-miss against UConn, the Cardinals’ defense struggles to contain opponents unless they can force turnovers. If Eagles quarterback Jeremiah Salem (4 INTs this season) can avoid mistakes, EMU has the firepower to leave Muncie with their first win. For Ball State, quarterback Kadin Semonza has been a mixed bag this season, boasting 16 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions—both ranking sixth nationally. While his ability to make big plays has kept the Cardinals competitive, he’ll need to take better care of the ball to compensate for a defense that has struggled to consistently shut down opposing offenses.

Eastern Michigan Eagles 75/75/76 Depth Chart - 2025
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	JR(RS) Darian Hart (68)	FR(RS) Dalin Wilkins (65)	FR Cornell Gunn (60)
TE	SR(RS) Max Reese (80)	SR(RS) Bennett Christian (74)	JR Gabe Hoffmann (71)
LT	FR Zac Cutting (67)	FR DeMetrious Burgess (60)
LG	SR Josh Anderson (77)	SO(RS) Nicholas Gallegos (66)
C	FR Evan Michaud (65)	SR Josh Anderson (77)
RG	FR(RS) Joseph Taylor (72)	FR Paul Donahue (65)
RT	SO(RS) Tommy Dickinson (64)	FR George Anzalone (53)
WR	SR Oran Singleton (83)	SO(RS) AJ Zimmerman (67)	SO(RS) Quinn Fracasi (65)
QB	JR Jeremiah Salem (80)	JR Drew Viotto (73)
FB	FR Titus Montague (67)
HB	SR Elijah Jackson-Anderson (75)	SO(RS) Deion Brown (74)	SR(RS) Nolan McCormick (72)
Base 4-3 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	JR Messiah Blair (79)	JR Kadin Schmitz (72)
LDT	SR(RS) Adam Watkins (77)	JR(RS) CJ Doggette (75)
RDT	JR Malik Tullis (75)	SR(RS) Tyler Kiehne (74)
RDE	SR Carter Evans (78)	JR(RS) Josiah Wyatt (69)
WLB	SR Luke Murphy (77)	JR Ali Abdul-Barr (65)
MLB	JR Bryce Eliuk (81)	SR Romello Thomas (71)
SLB	SR Charles Kingston (71)	FR Nigel Gerber (67)
CB	SR Dramarian McNulty (80)	SO(RS) Jaivian Norman (76)	FR Jeff Slayton (55)
SS	SR Bryce Llewellyn (74)	FR Tremaine Traore (61)
FS	JR(RS) Jason Marshall (71)	FR JT Briscoe (68)
CB	SO(RS) Caleb Dobbs (78)	SO(RS) Cristian Conyer (68)	FR Jeff Slayton (55)

Eastern Michigan Eagles Stats - 2025
Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	YDS/G	LONG	TD	INT	RAT
Jeremiah Salem	100/182	1,202	6.6	240.4	30	5	4	115.0
Rushing	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	20+	TD	YDS/G	FUM
Elijah Jackson-Anderson	51	138	2.7	23	1	0	27.6	0
Receiving	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	DROPS	YDS/G	YAC
Bennett Christian	21	266	12.7	1	27	2	53.2	71
	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
Defense	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TLOSS	PD	INT	TD
MLB Bryce Eliuk	27	6	33	0	0	1	0	0
DE Messiah Blair	11	1	12	0	2	0	0	0
DE Carter Evans	16	3	19	3	1	0	0	0
CB Dramarian McNulty	24	6	30	0	0	1	3	0

Week Six MAC Matchups
Western Michigan (0-4) @ Northern Illinois (1-3)
Bowling Green (4-0) @ Ohio (2-3)
Buffalo (3-1) @ Akron (2-2)
Central Michigan (1-3) @ Miami (OH) (3-1)
Toledo (2-3) @ Kent State (1-3)

Notable Week Six Matchups
#13 Syracuse (3-1) @ Notre Dame (3-3)
#8 Boise State (3-0) @ #15 Oregon (4-1)
#10 Iowa State (4-0) @ #19 Texas A&M (4-0)
#21 Texas (3-2) @ #16 LSU (3-1)
#25 Clemson (2-2) @ #23 Miami (2-2)
#6 Illinois (3-0) @ #1 Penn State (4-0)

[redsox907]

Semomza & Co Continue MAC Assault


Philip Onwualu doing his best "Cheetah" impression after his 36 yard TD put Ball State up 21-0

Eastern Michigan Eagles at Ball State Cardinals
Oct 4, 2025 1 2 3 4 F EMU (0-5) 0 0 0 7 7 BALL (3-1) 14 14 7 7 42 Top Performers PASS: BS Kadin Semonza - 16/24, 339 Yds, 4 TD, INT RUSH: BS Qian Magwood - 17 Att, 109 Yds REC: BS Nyck Harbor - 3 Rec, 186 Yds, 2 TD	Team Stats Comparison EMU BALL First Downs 12 23 3rd Down Efficiency 6/14 4/7 4th Down Efficiency 0/0 1/1 Total Yards 327 585 Passing Yards 200 339 Rushing Yards 16 - 42 26 - 184 Penalties-Penalty Yards 1 - 10 2 - 15 Turnovers 0 1 Time of Possession 22:14 21:46
Scoring Summary FIRST QUARTER SCORING EMU BALL 5:25 (BALL) Tanner Koziol, 13 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 0 7 1:08 (BALL) Kadin Semonza, 17 Yd Run 0 14 SECOND QUARTER SCORING EMU BALL 9:57 (BALL) Philip Onwualu, 36 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 0 21 0:46 (BALL) Nyck Harbor, 87 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 0 28 THIRD QUARTER SCORING EMU BALL 6:30 (BALL) Nyck Harbor, 85 Yd Pass From Kadin Semonza 0 35 FOURTH QUARTER SCORING EMU BALL 10:20 (EMU) Nolan McCormick, 2 Yd Run 7 35 6:23 (BALL) Christian Davis, 1 Yd Run 7 42
Eastern Michigan Eagles PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Jeremiah Salem 19/31 161 0 0 Drew Viotto 6/9 39 0 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Elijah Jackson-Anderson 13 36 2.7 0 Deion Brown 2 4 2.0 0 Nolan McCormick 1 2 2.0 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Oran Singleton 7 53 7.5 0 Bennett Christian 4 31 7.7 0 Darian Hart 3 17 5.6 0 Deion Brown 3 24 8.0 0 Elijah Jackson-Anderson 2 14 7.0 0 AJ Zimmerman 2 47 23.5 0 Max Reese 2 4 2.0 0 James Hagans 1 6 6.0 0 Cornell Gunn 1 4 4.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Josh Anderson 3 0 Zac Cutting 2 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD MLB Bryce Eliuk 7 0 0 0 DT CJ Doggette 4 1 (1TFL) 0 0 LB Charles Kingston 0 0 1 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Viliami Yoon 0/2 1/1 1 NA PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Ryan Kingston 7 298 42.5 3 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD James Hagans 2 28 14.0 0 Cornell Gun 4 50 12.5 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Cornell Gunn 1 7 7.0 0 Ball State Cardinals PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Kadin Semonza 16/24 339 4 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Qian Magwood 17 109 6.4 0 Kadin Semonza 7 70 10.0 1 Christian Davis 2 5 2.5 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 6 98 16.3 1 Christian Davis 3 30 10.0 0 Nyck Harbor 3 186 62.0 2 Tanner Koziol 2 14 7.0 1 Justin Bowick 1 10 10.0 0 Qian Magwood 1 1 1.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Taran Tyo 8 0 Kevin Meeder 3 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD MLB Joey Stemler 8 0 0 0 SS DD Snyder 7 0 (1TFL) 0 0 MLB Dalton Townsel 6 0 (2TFL) 0 0 DT Keion Mitchell 1 0 (1TFL) 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Jackson Courville 0/0 6/6 6 NA PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Carson Holmer 2 78 39.0 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 1 24 24.0 0 JaMarion McDougle 1 13 13.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Philip Onwualu 5 25 5.0 0

LEFT - All-MAC TE Tanner Koziol finally reached the endzone on a 13 yard catch in the 1st Q to open the scoring for the Cardinals.
CENTER - Backup QB Drew Viotto and HB Nolan McCormick finally get the Eagles into the endzone to avoid the shutout.
RIGHT - When you play 1v1 press coverage with Nyck Harbor and he catches the ball, watch out. Harbor hauled in TDs of 87 and 85 yards in the contest.

Muncie, IN. - Ball State delivered a dominant performance against Eastern Michigan, cruising to a 42-7 victory and extending their win streak to four games. The Eagles struggled early on, failing to score in the first half, while the Cardinals built a commanding lead.

Eastern Michigan’s offense was largely stagnant in the first half, managing just four first downs and 107 total yards. Quarterback Jeremiah struggled, completing only 11 of 19 passes for 97 yards. The Eagles did have a couple of opportunities to get on the board after a Semonza interception and a 43-yard reception by wide receiver AJ Zimmerman, but kicker Viliami Yoon missed field goals from 48 and 47 yards.

Ball State, on the other hand, wasted no time in establishing control. They scored on their first three possessions. Quarterback Semonza was on fire, completing 12 of 18 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. He connected with Nyck Harbor on an 87-yard touchdown following the interception, and the Cardinals took a 28-0 lead into halftime.

The second half saw more of the same. Despite their best efforts, Eastern Michigan could not get anything going offensively. They did finally manage to score in the fourth quarter, with Nolan McCormick rushing for a two-yard touchdown. But the score was too little, too late.

Ball State would tally two more touchdowns to cap off their dominant performance. Semonza connected again with Harbor on an 85-yard bomb, and backup running back Christian Davis added a one-yard touchdown run.

Ball State finished the game with an impressive 523 total yards of offense, with 339 passing yards and 184 rushing yards. Semonza ended the game 16-for-24 with 339 yards, four touchdowns, and 70 rushing yards. Harbor had a sensational game, catching three passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, while Philip Onwualu also contributed with six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.

For Eastern Michigan, it was a tough day. They finished with just 242 total yards of offense and continue to search for their first win of the season. Ball State will now look to extend their four-game winning streak as they travel to face MAC foe Buffalo next week.

Ball Stat received positive news on the recruiting trail as well with MLB Matthew Scroggins (#496NAT) signed his letter of intent after the win. Scroggins was on hand for the Cardinals shootout victory over Toledo (56-35) in week 3.

Week Six MAC Results
29 Western Michigan (1-4) @ Northern Illinois (1-4) 17
21 Bowling Green (4-1) @ Ohio (3-3) 24
31 Buffalo (3-2) @ Akron (3-2) 32
28 Central Michigan (2-3) @ Miami (OH) (3-2) 14
31 Toledo (3-3) @ Kent State (1-4) 6

Notable Week Six Results
31 #12 Syracuse (4-1) @ Notre Dame (3-4) 16
32 #13 SMU (4-1) @ Nebraska (3-3) 31
23 #14 Boise State (3-1) @ #11 Oregon (5-1) 28
31 #17 Iowa State (4-1) @ #15 Texas A&M (5-0) 37
31 #19 Texas (4-2) @ #23 LSU (3-2) 27
22 Clemson (2-3) @ #21 Miami (3-2) 30
20 #10 Illinois (3-1) @ #1 Penn State (5-0) 27