Cardinals Lose Lead Before Halftime, Fall to Rockets at Home

Saturday, October 3

Muncie, Ind.

2 p.m.

Ball State University

1-4 , 0-2

Toledo

4-1 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Toledo	6	9	7	17	39
Ball St.	7	3	7	7	24

PDF Box Score

The Ball State football team competes against Toledo University at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana on October 03, 2026. Photo by Bobby Ellis/Ball State University

Photo by: Bobby Ellis/Ball State University

October 03, 2026 | Football

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. — The Ball State Cardinals football team fell to the Toledo Rockets 39-24 in head coach Mike Uremovich's second-ever home loss since taking over the program last season.

The Cardinals got out to a faster start thanks to an early touchdown from tight-end Alex Scherle and found themselves with a 10-6 lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half. After a well-placed punt, fourth-year quarterback Keldric Luster was forced to throw the ball away in the end zone, but was called for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety for the Rockets.

The Ball State defense forced a turnover on downs on the resulting drive, handing the ball back to Luster and the offense at 10-8. The Texas native found fifth-year wide receiver Jamarion McDougle for a highlight-reel one-handed, 37-yard catch down the right sideline -- the longest catch of McDougle's career -- to move the Cardinals to the Toledo 15-yard line. Ball State failed to score a touchdown after McDougle's catch, and third-year transfer Brody Boehm was wide-left on a 26-yard field goal try.

Adding insult to injury following the missed field goal, the Rockets moved the length of the field in the half's final minute and, on the final play of the first half, Toledo quarterback John Alan Richter found second-year wide receiver Daryl Barnett Jr. in the back corner of the end zone as time expired. The score gave the Rockets their first lead of the game at 15-10, and capped a 14-point swing.

After giving up a rushing touchdown to the Rockets with under three minutes remaining in the third quarter, fourth-year running back TJ Horton totaled 66 of his 90 yards on the ground on a long rushing score that was the Cardinals' longest carry of the season, and brought the Cardinals back within at 22-17.

A quick Toledo score at the beginning of the fourth quarter pushed the lead back to 12 points, and a Rockets' field goal ballooned the lead to 32-17 with 3:30 remaining in the game.

Luster found fourth-year receiver Jabari Smith for a 33-yard TD grab with 2:09 remaining to give the Cardinals a final chance at 32-24, but a defensive lapse allowed Toledo running back CJ Miller to cap his 196-yard day with a 68-yard rushing touchdown to push the lead back to 15.

Despite the offense's best efforts, the Cardinals came up short on their final series when a pass from Luster deflected off of Scherle's hands for a game-sealing interception.

Luster finished the game with 21 completions on 33 attempts for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow fourth-year quarterback Tyler Mizzell also saw eight snaps under center, with half coming on the first offensive possession of the game for Ball State. Most of Mizzell's work was done on the ground, with the transfer from Concord University carrying the ball three times for 18 yards.

Using Luster and Mizzell in tandem, the Cardinals went 75 yards on 10 plays, and chewed 4:51 off the clock in a possession that matched Ball State's longest drive of the season.

The Cardinals' run game was dominated by Horton who rushed for 90 yards on just nine attempts, but another fourth-year running back in Johnny Thompson Jr. got his fair share of reps, carrying the ball nine times for Ball State.

Wide receiver Donovan Hamilton led Ball State in receiving, tallying 70 yards on six catches. Smith ended with six catches for 60 yards and the touchdown in the closing minutes. McDougle was the third Cardinal to have over 50 yards receiving in the game, racking up a total of 58 on five catches including the one-handed catch.

For the Toledo offense, the story of the day was pounding the rock on the ground. As a team, the Rockets racked up 352 rushing yards on 51 attempts. CJ Miller handled most of the shares, getting the ball 20 times for a total of 196 yards and two touchdowns. Connor Walendzak was the other Rocket carrying a large share of the running game, earning 103 yards on 16 carries including a touchdown.

Ball State (1-4, 0-2 MAC) returns to action next weekend against the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, Illinois. Meanwhile, Toledo (4-1, 1-0 MAC) hosts Buffalo next weekend.