Ball State Football opened its 2018 Mid-American Conference season Saturday with a 52-24 victory over Kent State.
Following the victory, offensive coordinator Joey Lynch, receiver Riley Miller and running back James Gilbert all joined SL GameDay LIVE.
Riley Neal took the first snap from scrimmage and hit Riley Miller 52 yards down the sideline. That proved to be just the beginning. It was the Riley show for most of the afternoon in the MAC opener at Scheumann Stadium.
“I’m proud of the overall attitude attacking the week, knowing that we started a new season as 0-0 in the MAC,” Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. “I told the guys before we left the hotel, before we got on the bus, this is the day we turn the corner. We have to go 1-0 in the MAC. That was our goal by the end of today. We were able to do that.”
The Riley duo hooked up 11 times for 208 yards, as Miller became the first Cardinal to reach the 200-yard receiving mark since Willie Snead in 2012, also against Kent State. Neal recorded just the seventh 400-yard passing game in program history, completing 30 of 50 passes for a personal-high 402 yards and accounting for five total touchdowns.
Ball State will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 6 to wrap up a three-game home stand with a 3 p.m. kickoff against Northern Illinois. The game will air on ESPN3.
