MUNCIE, Ind. - - Strong defensive play and a second-half offensive surge helped the Ball State football team open the 2021 season with a 31-21 victory over Western Illinois Thursday night under the lights at Scheumann Stadium.
In picking up its eighth straight victory, the Cardinals (1-0) rebounded from a slow start to score 24 second-half points in front of 13,149 fans in the first game in the state of Indiana to allow full capacity since 2019.
After playing to a 7-7 stalemate in the opening half, the Cardinals started the second frame with a momentum-building drive, going 68 yards in 10 plays over 4:27.