Ball State jumped out quickly, striking twice in the opening minutes against San Jose State en route to 34-13 win in the 2020 Offerpad Arizona Bowl football game in Tucson on December 31, 2020. Ball State won, 34-14.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State linebacker Brandon Martin (7) brings the hardware as the Cardinals line up for pictures with the championship trophy from their 34-13 win over San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State players hoist the championship trophy following their 34-13 win over San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State cornerback Nic Jones (17) slams into San Jose State linebacker Rahyme Johnson (12) after he was sent flying on a kick off return in the third quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan watches the replay on the big screen to see if Ball State really intercepted his Spartans in the fourth quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State safety Bryce Cosby (5) comes up with the interception in the end zone against San Jose State in the second quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt (9) uncorks a throw under pressure in the second quarter against San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State wide receiver Tre Walker (10) almost comes up with the miracle catch despite pass interference form Ball State cornerback Amechi Uzodinma II (3) in the first quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State tight end Billy Bob Humphreys (81) checks on San Jose State quarterback Nick Starkel (17) after he took a big hit on a throw against Ball State in the second quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State cornerback Kenyon Reed (18) arrives to late to keep Ball State wide receiver Yo'Heinz Tyler (6) from a first down catch in the second quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Reed ended up also picking up an unnecessary roughness penalty at the end of the play.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State wide receiver Jamar Simpson (21) can't quite make the catch on the bomb as Ball State cornerback Antonio Phillips (21) gets a hand in to dislodge the ball in the first quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State defensive lineman E.J. Ane (91) crouches at midfield after the Aztecs fell 34-13 to Ball State in the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State tight end Jackson Canaan (85) can't bring in the pass in front of Ball State safety Bryce Cosby (5) losing out on a two-point conversion in the third quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State defensive lineman Tavion Woodard (52) swats a pass from San Jose State quarterback Nick Starkel (17) that ended up in a Cardinals interception in the third quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State linebacker Jimmy Daw (27) comes down with a tipped pass for an interception in the third quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State safety Malcolm Lee (28) holds on for dear life to San Jose State wide receiver Tre Walker (10) after his catch in the third quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State wide receiver Tre Walker (10) tries to jump out of the grip of Ball State safety Bryce Cosby (5) after a catch in the fourth quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt (9) strikes a pose after dropping a pooch-kick on the San Jose State two yard line late in the fourth quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State head coach Mike Neu runs back to his players with the championship trophy after the Cardinals beat San Jose State 34-13 in the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State wide receiver Antwan Davis (1) comes down with what was ruled a catch inside the ten after getting behind San Jose State cornerback Nehemiah Shelton (23) in the first quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State running back Donny Marcus (20) leaves the San Jose State defense in his wake on a big run in the second quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State running back Donny Marcus (20) gets hit high and low by San Jose State cornerback Kenyon Reed (18), left, and San Jose State linebacker Hadari Darden (41) in the first quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan reacts after his Spartans made a goal line stand against Ball State in the second quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt (9) slips just out of the reach of San Jose State defensive lineman Lando Grey (90) the first quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl, Tucson
San Jose State tight end Derrick Deese Jr. (87) comes down head first after getting hit at the knees Ball State linebacker Christian Albright (9) on his catch in the first quarter of the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl
San Jose State quarterback Nick Starkel (17), right, shares a bump with offensive lineman Jaime Navarro (54) as they get ready to go up against Ball State in the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
2020 Arizona Bowl
Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt (9) warms up for his holding duties just before they take on San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., December 31, 2020.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
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