Pemberton’s late TD run helps Ball State hold on for win over Kent State

KENT, Ohio (AP) — Braedon Sloan ran for two touchdowns and Vaughn Pemberton added a late clincher as Ball State defeated Kent State 37-35 on Saturday.

The Cardinals (2-4, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) seemed to have the game wrapped up when Jackson Courville kicked his third field goal with just over three minutes to go and again when Pemberton burst through the right side with 1:13 left for a 37-28 lead.

But the Golden Flashes (0-6, 0-2) followed the field goal with a 10-play, 62-yard drive, finished by Tommy Ulatowski’s third touchdown pass, an 18-yarder to Luke Floriea with 1:28 to play.

The Golden Flashes had a successful onside kick negated by an early blocking foul and the Cardinals recovered the next attempt before Pemberton’s long TD run.

Chrishon McCray turned a short pass into a dazzling 57-yard run with 30 seconds left.

Ball State got the ensuing onside kick to clinch it.

Kadin Semonza threw for 215 yards and a touchdown for Ball State, which ended a four-game losing streak. Sloan had 76 yards on the ground and Pemberton 52.

Ulatowski was 17-of-36 passing for a career-high 394 yards with an interception and McCray had eight catches for three scores and a career-best 213 yards and Florie six for 130. Both receivers eclipsed 1,000 yards for their careers.