Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Vanderbilt Commodores needed some fourth-quarter magic to earn a 24-14 victory over Ball State on Saturday night at FirstBank Stadium.

Brock Taylor scored on all three of his field goal attempts for Vanderbilt (5-2). Diego Pavia completed 17 of 31 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown and a two-point conversion, while rushing for a team-leading 82 yards on 13 carries – including a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Eli Stowe caught the only touchdown pass. Cole Spence provided the 2-point conversion.

Ball State (2-5), a member of the Mid-American Conference, scored a touchdown on its first possession, with Kadin Semonza completing all six of his passes on the drive. Kiael Kelly put the finishing touches on the drive, running 9 yards for the touchdown.

Vanderbilt got off to a slow start on offense and Ball State’s defense stepped up in the red zone. A Commodores drive in the first quarter stalled at the Ball State 9-yard line, forcing a 27-yard field goal from Taylor. In the second quarter, Ball State once again held Vanderbilt out of the end zone, with the drive ending at the 6-yard line. Taylor was on target for a 24-yard field goal.

Late in the second quarter, Vanderbilt’s offense, starting at its own 3-yard line, finally reached the end zone when Pavia hit Stowe for a 41-yard touchdown. Pavia then found Spence with a pass in the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 14-7 halftime lead.

Ball State tied the game in the third quarter when Semonza threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Koziol.

Taylor gave the Commodores the lead for good with a 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for a 17-14 lead.

The final touchdown drive for the Commodores ended with a quarterback keeper from Pavia running it in from 5 yards out to end the drive.

THE TAKEAWAY

The Commodores’ offense managed 422 total yards against a Cardinals defense that gave up an average of more than 500 yards per game.

Pavia was once again the key player as Vanderbilt converted 8 of 13 third-down attempts.

The Commodores were led in tackles by junior walk-on Nick Rinaldi with seven tackles – five of which came with a sack alone.

NEXT

Vanderbilt will host No. 1 Texas on Saturday afternoon.

Ball State will host Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon.

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