Chris Clancy rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown in BSU's win over Toledo Tuesday night on ESPN2.
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State football team 6-5 (4-2 Mid-American Conference) utilized an efficient offense and clutch defense to throw, run, and kick its way past a scrappy Toledo squad 5-6 (3-4 MAC). The Ball State football team shined Tuesday evening under the lights of Sheumann Stadium in front of a national audience, defeating the Toledo Rockets 41-20 on ESPN2.
"It was a very satisfying win against a team who came in very hot," Coach Brady Hoke said at his press conference after the game. "Obviously I was a little concerned in the beginning of the game when a couple things didn't go our way, but in the second quarter our offense really got on track and we were able to figure things out defensively."
Cardinal quarterback Nate Davis connected on 14-21 passes for 265 passing yards in the win while rushing for 17 yards and a career high two touchdowns on the ground. Running back Chris Clancy covered 103 yards for Ball State. Davis' three touchdown passes gave him 25 on the year which is most for any Cardinal quarterback in a single season. He also is tied for second on the all-time career touchdown list with 43.
The Cardinals fell down early with Toledo efficiently scoring the game's first touchdown in the first: 28 seconds of the contest as running back Jalen Parmele would run six yards for the score. With the PAT, Toledo had a quick 7-0 advantage.
Ball State would quickly respond on the very next drive as Davis and Darius Hill connected for a 27 yard touchdown pass for the Cardinals, tying the score at 7-7.
On the next drive for Toledo, WR Nick Moore would grab the second touchdown for Toledo from quarterback Aaron Opelt on a nine yard reception.
The Cardinals would not score on the next drive, giving the ball back to Toledo. The Rockets would take the ball and drive down the field in nine plays and 86. The Ball State defense would hold the Rockets to a field goal, making the score 17-7.
The Cardinals ignited the student section with their next drive, going 65 yards, concluded by a 39 yard pass from Davis to Dante Love for the score. The extra point attempt failed and the Cardinals trailed by four points, 17-13.
"Our offense was really clicking, but we had to find answers defensively," Coach Hoke said. "Our defense needed to step up and they did."
Both teams would be held scoreless in the second quarter until 8:29 remaining, when Toledo's Alex Steigerwald would nail a 27 yard field goal, giving the Rockets a 20-13 lead.
Ball State's next possession would end in a punt after the drive stalled on the Cardinal's side of the 50.
Ball State's Alex Knipp would intercept Opelt's first pass of the Rockets next drive, giving the Cardinals a possible last possession before the half.
"We started to put doubt into the offenses mind and they were starting to throw the ball high and we were able to get an interception," Coach Hoke said.
Nate Davis started off the next drive by throwing 31 yards to junior Louis Johnson for a first down completion. Later in the drive, on third and goal, Davis would run in from the one yard line for a Cardinal touchdown tying the score at 20-20.
Ball State would get the ball to start the third quarter and would make quick work of the Toledo defense, going 9 plays and 57 yard in 4:19, capped off by a Nate Davis quarterback sneak to give Ball State the lead, 27-20.
"Coming out in the second half and taking the opening kickoff down the field for a score was a big momentum booster for us," Hoke said. "It gave us the momentum we needed and our defense used that and stepped up to the challenge."
The Cardinal defense would not allow another point in the game, starting on the next drive for the Rockets. The Cardinals defense would step up and force Toledo into a fourth down situation. The Rockets would punt the ball back to the Cardinals on an interesting play as Opelt would look for a pass before kicking it rugby-style.
"We changed a couple of things on defense," Hoke said. "They out flanked us a little in the first half so we changed the coverage a bit. We also started tackling better and were getting more guys to the football."
Ball State would be forced to punt on their next drive, giving the Ball back to Toledo who only trailed by 7. Toledo took the ball down the field but was faced with a fourth and seven. The Rockets decided to go for it, but the pass from Opelt would be incomplete and Toledo would give turn the ball over on downs.
On the ensuing drive, quarterback Nate Davis would find Dante Love, one of his many weapons, for their second touchdown connection of the game. The series took a total of 2:06 with the Cardinals driving 80 yards in just four plays to push their lead to 34-20.
The turning point of the game for Toledo would come with 14:00 to go in the game, when Opelt would be helped off the field after an injury. He would be replaced by freshman D.J. Lenehan. On Lenehan's third play from scrimmage, he would be picked off by Ball State sophomore Brandon Crawford, who returned it 26 yards for his first career interception.
Chris Clancy would rush the ball four times on the next drive, before Davis would find his tight end, Darius Hill, for second and goal. Clancy would score two plays later on a one yard rush to extend the lead at 41-20. The drive took seven plays, 61 yards, and 4:08 off the clock.
Ball State would go to Clancy nearly exclusively on the next drive as he would gain nearly 80 yards on the ground before being stopped at the 20 yard line. The ensuing field goal attempt would go wide left.
The last two drives would yield no points for either team as Ball State was able to stop the Toledo rushing attack and get a 41-20 victory to become bowl eligible.
For the Cardinals, this victory was a giant step in the right direction. The Cardinals have become bowl eligible and did it in front of the home crowd on senior night.
"It was really important to get this win for our seniors. That was one of our first priorities," Hoke said with a smile on his face. "It was great to send our senior players out with a victory like this.
"Obviously the Northern Illinois game is very important," Hoke said. "The other teams in the league have to play as well, and we would sure like to get one of the three bowls."
Ball State is in action again on Saturday, November 24th against Northern Illinois at 3 p.m. central time.
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