FOOTBALL GAMEDAY: Ball State Welcomes Toledo for Community Day

Ball State (1-3, 0-1 MAC) vs. Toledo (3-1, 0-0 MAC)
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MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State welcomes Toledo to Scheumann Stadium this Saturday to continue league play in the Mid-American Conference and celebrate its annual Community Day. Local families and fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the first 1,000 fans receive a limited-edition 765 shirt at the gate, while supplies last. The first 250 students receive a limited-edition Ball State Nike cap, distributed in front of the new student section, Section T.

** Fans can also enjoy a variety of activities, promotions and community-focused experiences throughout the concourse before and during Saturday's game.

** Ball State hopes to even its MAC record at 1-1 following last week's MAC-opening loss at Kent State. The Rockets come to Muncie with four non-conference games under their belt, playing Ball State in their MAC opener.

** Ball State fell 26-13 at Kent State last week while the offense played without starting quarterback Keldric Luster. Injured with his left foot in a boot all week after the Liberty game, Luster didn't practice last week and gave way to reserve Tyler Mizzell, who took the reigns and passed for 164 yards against the Golden Flashes. Wide receiver Donovan Hamilton totaled a career-best 80 yards on seven catches and scored Ball State's first touchdown.

** Defensively, the Cardinals allowed 354 yards in total offense to Kent State, and struggled to contain the Golden Flashes who built a 17-0 lead before halftime. For the second straight week, fourth-year safety Sterling Smith recorded a career-high nine tackles to pace the Cardinals. Second-year linebacker Mikeah Webster had a career-best eight stops in his first action of the season, after missing the first three games with a lower leg injury.

** A continued area of concern for Ball State remains pre-snap and post-play penalties. Down from 11 penalties in games against both Stony Brook and Liberty, the Cardinals drew just seven yellow flags at Kent State, for 60 yards. Last year, the Cardinals averaged only 4.67 hankies per game -- second in the MAC and 22nd nationally.

WHAT A WIN MEANS:
** Ball State will remain unbeaten at home, and run its home record to 6-1 over two seasons under coach Mike Uremovich.
** The Cardinals will snap a four-game skid against Toledo, beating the Rockets for the first time since a 27-24 victory on Nov. 28, 2020.

BY THE NUMBERS
1.88 - Over eight returns, Ball State's punt return defense allows a mere 1.88 yards per return, tops the MAC and ranked 27th nationally.
28 & 9 - Defensive back Sterling Smith boasts a team-high 28 total tackles after registering a career-high nine stops in each of the last two games.
80 - Donovan Hamilton set a new career high with 80 receiving yards at Kent State. His seven catches matched the seven he had at UConn last year.
400 - Saturday's game against the Rockets is Ball State's 400th MAC game. Ball State is 201-195-3 in what is its 52nd season in the league.

FOOTBALL GAMEDAY: Ball State Welcomes Toledo for Community Day

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Players Mentioned

Donovan Hamilton

Keldric Luster

Tyler Mizzell

Mikeah Webster

Ball State University Athletics