Ball State University
4-3 , 3-0
Toledo
4-3 , 1-2
MAC-Unbeaten Cardinals Roll to 52-14 Homecoming Rout of Toledo
October 19, 2019 | Football
Ball State rides smothering defense, dominant ground game to third straight win
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The redshirt sophomore linebacker got to the throwing arm of Toledo quarterback Carter Bradley on the Rockets' third play from scrimmage, creating an early takeaway and setting the tone for a Homecoming rout at Scheumann Stadium.
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From there it was double passes, reverses and jet sweeps, oh my. The Cardinals (4-3, 3-0 MAC) rolled to a 52-14 victory in their first home game in more than a month, remaining perfect in MAC play and atop to West Division standings by manhandling the preseason division favorite.
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"Winning is contagious," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "It's a great feeling. And we were determined to chase that winning feeling today. My hat is off to our football team. The chemistry, the hard work, the attitude, the effort. Just a great overall win for us."
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"Winning is contagious. It's a great feeling. And we were determined to chase that winning feeling today."
A Homecoming victory means just a little more to @BSUCoachNeu ?? ??#OTM | #1AAT pic.twitter.com/lY4sJwo3ck— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) October 19, 2019
Ball State's suffocating defensive performance kept Toledo (4-3, 1-2 MAC) on its heels. The Rockets' first-half numbers looked like this: 33 plays for 22 yards, minus-2 yards rushing, four sacks allowed, two fumbles lost, six consecutive punts … and zero points.
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Meanwhile, it was big play after big play on offense in Ball State's third straight win. Four of the Cardinals touchdowns came from more than 35 yards out, two of them via Malik Dunner. The converted running back took a double reverse 51 yards for one score and a jet sweep 39 yards for another.
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BSU quarterback Drew Plitt threw only 17 times on the day, hitting 11 of them for 206 yards and three touchdowns. The Cardinals didn't really need to throw. They were doing anything they wanted on the ground.
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Caleb Huntley topped the century mark for the third straight week, pounding for 119 yards on 20 carries. Backfield mate Walter Fletcher added 68 yards and a touchdown. All said and done, the Cardinals' 374-yard rushing total was its highest since a record-setting, 463-yard performance in 2009 at Eastern Michigan.
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Still plenty left in that bag of tricks! ??#WeFly down the sideline with one of the fastest Cardinals. Dunner providing more 1st half fireworks.#OTM | #1AAT pic.twitter.com/NvrAR7tT1j— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) October 19, 2019
"Our offensive line is just growing," Neu said. "The confidence level is growing. Coach (Colin) Johnson has done a great job with that group. They want us to ride their back. We always say the 'Ball State Way,' and it starts with the guys up front, both sides."
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Riley Miller caught two touchdowns, including one on a double pass. And Justin Hall scored twice, once on a 36-yard hookup with Plitt and once on a jet sweep of his own.
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Defensively, Ball State finally surrendered a touchdown on Toledo's opening drive of the second half but buckled down again after that. The Rockets added one more late score in the final minute of the game.
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Jaylin Thomas led the BSU defensive effort with 11 tackles, while Williams finished with 2.5 sacks. Clayton Coll forced a fumble and Antonio Phillips intercepted his third pass of the season. The Cardinals harassed Toledo's Bradley into a 14-for-34 performance through the air.
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Ball State's 52 points were its most ever against Toledo and vaulted the Cardinals' to their first win over the Rockets in six years.
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BSU will now get a shot at the overall MAC preseason favorite next week when Ohio visits Scheumann Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+.
3??-0?? in #MACtion and a DOMINATING win on Homecoming. Need we say more?#EveryAthleteMatters | @BallStateFB pic.twitter.com/J725iYLl5b
— Ball State Sports Link (@bsusportslink) October 19, 2019
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Team Stats
TOL 0, BALL 3
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 42 yd field goal 6 plays, 14 yards, TOP 2:05
TOL 0, BALL 10
BALL - MILLER, Riley 24 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:26
TOL 0, BALL 17
BALL - MILLER, Riley 39 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:12
TOL 0, BALL 24
BALL - DUNNER, Malik 51 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:34
TOL 0, BALL 31
BALL - FLETCHER, W. 3 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 11 plays, 55 yards, TOP 5:02
TOL 0, BALL 38
BALL - HALL, Justin 36 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 3 plays, 40 yards, TOP 0:26
TOL 7, BALL 38
TOL - JONES,Ronnie 44 yd run (DAVIS,Evan kick), 6 plays, 79 yards, TOP 2:33
TOL 7, BALL 45
BALL - HALL, Justin 12 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:02
TOL 7, BALL 52
BALL - DUNNER, Malik 39 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:04
TOL 14, BALL 52
TOL - JONES,Ronnie 1 yd run (DAVIS,Evan kick), 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:37
