The old saying goes lightning never strikes the same place twice— though science has since confirmed that’s a myth. What lightning is capable of doing, however, is changing the environment around it, generating
an electric current strong enough to incapacitate or kill living objects and destroy flora, fauna and man-made structures if they don’t take proper precautions.
One could say the football game between the Ball State Cardinals (3-4, 2-1 MAC) and the Akron Zips (2-6, 1-3 MAC) was impacted by a lightning strike… even if that strike didn’t hit Scheumann Stadium itself.
With just under six minutes remaining, the visiting Zips, down 35-25, had managed to march up to the Ball State two-yard line to try and cut the deficit from 10 points to either seven or four. As they were getting set to run a play on third-and-goal off an injury timeout, lightning struck in the area, thereby requiring a weather delay.
An hour later, both teams trotted back onto the field, and Akron failed to convert on the crucial third down. Rather than try again for a touchdown, head coach Joe Moorhead opted to go for the 19-yard field goal to cut the tally to a one-score deficit instead of risking walking away with nothing.
The field goal was true, ending a 10-play, 74-yard drive with points and pulling the margin to 35-28 with 5:47 remaining— still plenty of time to generate a stop and get the ball back to try and re-claim the lead.
Those hopes were short-lived, as the ensuing kickoff was over-pursued by the coverage team and returned 89 yards for a touchdown by Ball State’s TJ Horton, putting the lead back to two scores at 42-28 in favor of the hosting Cardinals.
It all fell apart from there for the Zips, as Ben Finley would throw interceptions on the run on back-to-back drives to effectively close the door on a comeback effort and give BSU a 42-28 victory in front of the home crowd.
The game started out in promising fashion for Akron, forcing BSU to punt and converting the next drive into eight points thanks to a 19-yard Israel Polk receiving touchdown and a successful two-point conversion. The Zips even weathered back-to-back Kiael Kelly rushing touchdowns to take the lead back on a 37-yard connection between Ben Finley and Kyan Mason to go up 15-14 with 1:26 remaining in the first half.
The third quarter is where the tide started to turn, as Akron squandered their first possession of the second half by turning the ball over on downs at the Ball State 29-yard line, then gave up a 69-yard rushing touchdown by Ball State’s Qua Ashley two possessions later to fall back behind 21-15.
Akron could only muster a field goal in reply despite reaching the BSU 12-yard line, cutting the deficit to 21-18 in the process, but Ball State covered the kick in just three plays, as Kiael Kelly spotted Koby Gross for a 29-yard touchdown to put the gap back up to two scores.
The Zips defense did their best to effort the team back into the game late, as DiMarco Johnson cut in front of a Kiael Kelly pass to give the offense the ball at their own 48-yard line— which the Zips cashed in with an Israel Polk TD from four yards out with 24 seconds left in the third frame, putting the score at 28-25 BSU.
They couldn’t hold forever though, as Kelly redeemed his prior interception with a one-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a nine-play, 75-yard drive and put BSU back up 10 points before that fateful lightning strike.
The Cards won yet again in front of their home crowd, now sitting at 3-0 at Scheumann Stadium in 2025. Kiael Kelly finished 10-of-19 for 119 yards and four total touchdowns (three rushing, one passing), with Qua Ashley accumulating 143 yards on 20 rushes. Koby Gross led BSU with 81 yards receiving on three receptions.
Defensively for the Cards, Michael Gravely Jr. led the team in total tackles (7), while Nathan Voorhis picked up 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack. Defensive backs Joedrick Lewis and Roman Pearson each hauled in an interception at game’s end.
Akron QB Ben Finley finished 22-of-40 for 291 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on the evening, getting sacked four times. Jordan Gant once again handled starting responsibilities at halfback, toting the rock 19 times for 94 yards. Israel Polk (five catches, 72 yards) hauled in two of Akron’s three touchdowns, with Kyan Mason (four catches, 53 yards) on the receiving end of another. Tim Grear Jr. (four catches, 87 yards) led the team.
Julien Laventure had an eventful day, leading the Zips in total tackles (nine) and tackles-for-loss (two), while also recovering a fumble at the start of the second half. Cyrus Durham, Bruno Dall and Markus Boswell also registered a sack each for the Zips on what proved to be a very productive pass rush plan. Dall and Boswell also forced fumbles. DiMarco Johnson (second on team with eight tackles) was the key defensive back, with an interception and pass break-up.
Both teams are in action next Saturday, as Akron travels to face Buffalo at 1 p.m. Eastern time, while Ball State travels to DeKalb to take on Northern Illinois for a 3:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
