Burch becomes 12th Buffalo player with 1,000 rushing yards in 28-7 win over Ball State

Messiah Burch delivered a stellar performance, rushing for a career-high 209 yards and two touchdowns as Buffalo triumphed over Ball State 28-7 in a matchup of Buffalo football. The Bulls (7-3, 5-1 MAC) claimed their fifth consecutive victory, securing bowl eligibility and maintaining their tie atop the Mid-American Conference standings.

Simultaneously, Ball State (3-7, 2-4) saw their chances of reaching a bowl game vanish. Burch etched his name into Buffalo history as the 12th player to amass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. The star rusher showcased his prowess early, breaking through three defenders at the line of scrimmage to sprint for a 67-yard touchdown with just 4:04 left on the clock.

Within three plays, the Bulls extended their lead as Terrance Shelton Jr. capitalized on a Buffalo special teams blunder by racing 27 yards for a second rushing touchdown. The Cardinals took the opening kickoff and turned it into a first-half score when punter Ethan Stumpf booted the ball into the back of teammate Christopher Climes, who inadvertently scooped it up and crossed the goal line.

The Bulls regained the advantage with a 14-yard reception from Jason Wright, extending their lead to 21-7 at the half. Burch's dominance continued in the third quarter, as he powered through a 12-play, 79-yard drive that took over six minutes to complete, culminating in his second touchdown of the game. Ball State had multiple opportunities to narrow the deficit but fell short, missing crucial field goals from 39, 44, and 47 yards.

Leading Buffalo's ground attack was TJ Horton, who amassed 92 rushing yards on 11 carries, while Donovan Hamilton made an impact with 11 receptions for 104 yards. As Buffalo sets its sights on the upcoming game against Central Michigan on Wednesday, Ball State looks to bounce back when it faces Ohio next Tuesday.