Ball State University
4-7 , 1-6
Toledo
9-2 , 6-1
Cardinals Drop 37-19 Decision to Toledo at Foggy Glass Bowl
November 16, 2016 | Football
Hazelton set career highs with 12 catches for 102 yards, while sophomore quarterback Riley Neal accounted for 345 total yards (260 passing, 85 rushing) and threw a pair of touchdowns.
But Ball State found itself trying to catch up all night against a Toledo team playing to keep its hopes alive for a Mid-American Conference West Division championship.
"We knew we were playing against a good football team," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "In the first half, we got off to a slow start. As always, our guys fought back."
After falling behind 17-0 early in the second quarter, the Cardinals (4-7, 1-6 MAC) clawed back with Neal doing much of the work on the ground. He ran for 71 yards on nine carries in the opening half to keep the offense moving.
Neal hit junior Corey Lacanaria for a second-quarter touchdown to put the Cardinals on the board, and sophomore Morgan Hagee tacked on the first of two field goals on the night to pull Ball State within one score.
But Toledo (9-2, 6-1 MAC) was able to add a field goal of its own before halftime and then scored again two plays into the second half. Kareem Hunt caught a short pass from UT quarterback Logan Woodside and took it 71 yards up the near sideline to push the lead back to 17 at 27-10.
"We thought coming out in the second half if we could get a stop defensively and then go down the field and put a score on the board, that we could change the momentum," Neu said. "Give Toledo credit for coming out to start the second half. They gained the momentum and really never lost it."
Woodside, the nation's leader in touchdown passes, threw three more of them Wednesday to bring his season total to 40. He finished the game 25-of-39 passing for 325 yards.
A depleted Ball State secondary did its best contain the Rockets' passing attack. The group became even thinner when it lost junior cornerback David Moore to a first-quarter targeting foul and senior safety Martez Hester to a third-quarter injury.
Sophomore corner Josh Miller intercepted Woodside in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter to keep hopes alive. The Cardinals went 80 yards on the ensuing possession, and Neal found Hazelton for touchdown as Ball State cut the lead to 37-19.
But Toledo recovered the Cardinals' onside-kick attempt and ran out the clock.
Ball State senior receiver KeVonn Mabon caught seven passes for 56 yards as he moved closer to the school record for career receptions. He will enter the final game of his career with 233 catches, five shy of Dante Ridgeway's all-time mark.
Ball State will close the season this coming Tuesday, Nov. 22 at Miami. The game will air on ESPN3.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Team Stats
BALL 0, TOL 7
TOL - JOHNSON,Jon'Vea 28 yd pass from WOODSIDE, Logan (VEST, Jameson kick) 8 plays, 93 yards, TOP 2:44
BALL 0, TOL 14
TOL - JONES, Corey 63 yd punt return (VEST, Jameson kick)
BALL 0, TOL 17
TOL - VEST, Jameson 37 yd field goal 5 plays, 16 yards, TOP 2:01
BALL 7, TOL 17
BALL - LACANARIA, C. 10 yd pass from NEAL, Riley (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:31
BALL 10, TOL 17
BALL - HAGEE, Morgan 24 yd field goal 11 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:43
BALL 10, TOL 20
TOL - VEST, Jameson 37 yd field goal 13 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:01
BALL 10, TOL 27
TOL - HUNT, Kareem 71 yd pass from WOODSIDE, Logan (VEST, Jameson kick) 2 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:41
BALL 10, TOL 30
TOL - VEST, Jameson 49 yd field goal 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:14
BALL 13, TOL 30
BALL - HAGEE, Morgan 37 yd field goal 11 plays, 45 yards, TOP 4:46
BALL 13, TOL 37
TOL - THOMPSON, Cody 42 yd pass from WOODSIDE, Logan (VEST, Jameson kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:45
BALL 19, TOL 37
BALL - HAZELTON JR.,D. 11 yd pass from NEAL, Riley (NEAL, Riley passfailed) 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:46
