DEKALB, Ill. — From elation to devastation.
With 2:42 left, Ball State watched Northern Illinois running back Jay Ducker run in a 10-yard touchdown, giving the Huskies their first lead of the game. A minute later, the Cardinals saw sophomore Jacob Lewis drill a 48-yard field goal to regain the lead.
But Northern Illinois (7-3, 5-1 MAC) has been in tight games before — five of its wins heading into Wednesday night were determined by a touchdown or less — and the Huskies marched back down the field, taking advantage of a 12-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to set up the game-winning field goal.