Ball State Cardinals vs Texas A&M Aggies Match Player Stats On Sep 12, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Sep 12, 2015

The highlight of Saturday night was Kyle Field.

The Texas A&M-Ball State game, which the Aggies won 56-23 simply served as a conduit for a gigantic party to celebrate the ending of a two-year refurbishing project of the 88-year-old stadium.

A&M spent $485 million to renovate the stadium -- the most expensive project of its kind in college football.

While the 104,213 fans who were in the stands Saturday night will remember where they were for the grand reopening, the game likely will be quickly forgotten. No. 16 Texas A&M sprinted to a big lead over the Cardinals, then inserted its backups. Ball State had its best success against the reserves, scoring 20 points in the second half.

A&M upped its record to 2-0, while Ball State dropped to 1-1.

The game was so lopsided toward the Aggies that even an offensive lineman scored. Redshirt freshman tackle Koda Martin was there to fall on freshman tailback Kwame Etwi's fumble into the end zone. It proved to be A&M's only score of the second half. But with a 46-point lead going into half-time, A&M could afford scoring only once in the final 30 minutes.

A&M quarterback Kyle Allen, playing into the second quarter, completed 10 of 13 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Etwi, a third-teamer, led all rushers with 116 yards.

Ball State's Riley Neal, who replaced an ineffective Jack Milas at quarterback, was 11 of 19 for 116 yards.

At intermission, the Aggies led 49-3 with A&M using two quarterbacks and going three deep with their tailbacks.

The game was close for the opening five minutes of the first quarter.

A&M tailback Tra Carson scored on a one-yard plunge. Ball State responded with an extended drive, which resulted in a 21-yard field goal by Morgan Hagee.

From there, it was an Aggie onslaught.

Allen threw a 3-yard touchdown to Josh Reynolds. Tailback Brice Dolezal, who was a walk-on until last month, posted a 33-yard touchdown on a draw play.

Cornerback DeVante Harris completed the first quarter scoring for A&M when he jumped a route, intercepted Milas, and returned the pick for a 40-yard touchdown.

Allen threw two more touchdown passes in the second quarter -- a three-yarder to tight end Jordan Davis and a 20-yarder to wideout Jeremy Tabuyo.

Freshman quarterback Kyler Murray completed the scoring for A&M with a 10-yard pass to Christian Kirk.

Ball State also used two quarterbacks. Neither was effective in the half. Milas was 1 of 8 for 5 yards. Riley Neal completed both his pass attempts for a combined five yards.

NOTES: Freshmen continued to excel for Texas A&M. Tight end Jordan Davis caught his first career touchdown pass. Wide receiver Christian Kirk, who had a 79-yard touchdown punt return a week ago, posted a 58-yarder in the second quarter. ... Ball State totaled 102 yards in the first half -- 71 of it came on its field-goal drive. Ball State guard Jeremiah Harvey, a fifth-year senior, left the game in the first half with an ankle injury. He did not return. ... A&M punter Drew Kaser, an all-SEC selection, missed the game with an ankle injury he suffered in the season opener. ... It wasn't inconceivable for Ball State to think it could beat the Aggies. The Cardinals have beaten three schools from Power 5 conferences under coach Pete Lembo.