Ball State took two fourth-quarter leads against Western Michigan.
The Cardinals grabbed a 24-21 advantage with 11:03 left in the game. They took another, 31-28, with 3:24 left in the game. Each time their defense took the field with a chance to hold off the Broncos as they had in the third quarter. Each time their defense left the field after giving up the lead to the Broncos.
And when that second lead dissipated, when Western Michigan took a 35-31 lead with 1:05 left after its fifth touchdown drive of the night Tuesday in this mid-week, Mid-American Conference matchup, Ball State proved unable to take it back one last time and lost.