Messiah Burch Racks Up 209 Yards as Buffalo Seals Bowl Spot Against Ball State
A 67-yard score and a pair of special teams plays decided a 28-7 victory in Muncie, Indiana, dropping the Cardinals to a 3-7 record.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Messiah Burch ran for a career-high 209 yards on Wednesday night, driving Buffalo to a 28-7 victory over Ball State in Muncie, Indiana. The performance secured the Bulls' fifth consecutive win and locked in their bowl eligibility for the 2026 season.
Burch became the 12th player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. He sealed the outcome with a 67-yard touchdown run with 4:04 remaining in regulation, breaking through three tackles at the line of scrimmage before crossing the goal line.
The Cardinals took the opening lead through a defensive miscue. Buffalo punter Ethan Stumpf struck lineman Christopher Climes, sending the ball backward into the end zone. Gabe Aramboles fell onto the ball to score the game’s first points.
Buffalo responded quickly. A recovered kickoff gave the Bulls possession, and Terrance Shelton Jr. rushed 27 yards for a touchdown. This gave Buffalo two rushing scores within six seconds of clock time. The Bulls extended their lead in the third quarter with a 12-play, 79-yard drive capped by a two-yard run from Burch.
Ball State attempted to claw back from a 14-0 deficit but missed three field goals from 39, 44, and 47 yards. T.J. Horton carried the ball 11 times for 92 yards, while Donovan Hamilton caught 11 passes for 104 yards. The loss drops the Cardinals to a 3-7 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the Mid-American Conference.
Buffalo now sits at 7-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play, tied for first place in the MAC. The Bulls will host Central Michigan next Wednesday, while Ball State travels to face Ohio next Tuesday.
