IU falls to Ball State on last-second kick

Indiana’s loss against Ball State on Saturday had the same end result as last year, but this time the script was different.

Ball State  defeated the Hoosiers 41-39 on a last-second field goal from kicker Steven Schott.

Last year, the Hoosiers lost 27-20 in the first week of the season at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Then-sophomore kicker Mitch Ewald hit a 27-yard field goal to bring the Hoosiers within seven points with less than a minute to go. Ewald tried an onside kick after the field goal, but the Cardinals recovered and then ran out the clock for the win.

This time, IU freshman quarterback Nate Sudfeld marched down the field with less than two minutes to go, and the Cardinals’ defense was penalized on three separate defensive pass interference calls for a total of 41 yards, allowing IU to drive 77 yards in six plays to take a 39-38 lead.

The Cardinals had less than a minute to put Schott in field goal range, but Ball State stormed down the field and left Schott with a 42-yard field goal for the win.

With one second to go, he nailed the kick, and the Cardinals were victors again.

“I was just praying that he missed it, but he didn’t,” sophomore wide receiver Shane Wynn said.

Sudfeld said despite losing, playing in the game will help him and the rest of the team learn from mistakes and improve as the season continues.

“Coach said we played really well, but there is still a lot we need to improve on,” Sudfeld said. “We got a bye week this week, and that should help out a lot.”

Second-year IU Coach Kevin Wilson said he is confident about where this team is and where they are
going.

“This is a good team that’s going to get a heck of a lot better every second of every day,” Wilson said.