UMass Ends Home FBS Skid With Overtime Win Over Ball State

William Watson III’s 13-yard touchdown run in overtime, followed by Derek Morris’s extra point, gave UMass a 31-30 victory over Ball State on November 4. The win ended the Minutemen’s 20-game run of home losses to Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, dating to a 2021 victory over UConn.

Ball State took the first overtime possession into the end zone on Jalen Bonds’s 1-yard run, but Brody Boehm missed the extra point. UMass then scored on Watson’s run, and Morris converted to secure the win.

The teams were tied 24-24 at the end of regulation. Ball State’s Keldric Luster ran for a 2-yard touchdown with 25 seconds remaining, finishing a 75-yard drive. Earlier, Watson had fumbled a snap with UMass close to scoring a two-touchdown lead; the Minutemen settled for a short field goal.

Watson completed 17 of 25 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown, and added two rushing touchdowns. His 64-yard pass to Jabari Lewis put UMass ahead 14-10 just before halftime. Bonds ran for 132 yards on 17 carries for Ball State.

UMass improved to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the Mid-American Conference, snapping a four-game losing streak. The Minutemen have two wins over FCS opponents and need two more victories to become bowl eligible. They visit Toledo next Wednesday. Ball State, now 3-6, hosts Buffalo next Wednesday.