Ball State holds off E. Michigan 38-31; Hall sets FBS mark

Updated Oct. 16, 2021 6:30 p.m. ET

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — Drew Plitt passed for 207 yards and a touchdown, Justin Hall rushed for two scores and Ball State eked out a 38-31 win against Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

The Cardinals (4-3, 2-1 Mid-American Conference), jumped ahead 14-0 after a quarter with Hall capping the game-opening drive with a 1-yard TD and Will Jones scoring from the 1-yard line on the next possession.

Eastern Michigan (4-3, 1-2) scored twice in the second quarter to trail 17-14 at the break, but Plitt found Yo'Heinz Tyler with an 11-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and Hall and Carson Steele added rushing TDs in the fourth. Steele gained 138 yards on 18 carries.

EMU's Ben Bryant was 35-for-48 passing for 331 yards with a TD but was intercepted twice. Darius Boone scored two rushing touchdowns for the Eagles.

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Hall, with 10 catches for 58 yards for Ball State, notched his 301st career reception to lead all active FBS receivers. He has caught a pass in an FBS-leading 50 straight games.

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