OHIO 32, BALL STATE 18
TOLEDO, OH -- Matt McDonald threw for 392 yards and four touchdowns as Bowling Green 5-2 MAC), 6-2 overall) kept its MAC East title dreams alive with a wild 42-35 win over rival Toledo (5-2 MAC, 7-4 overall) Tuesday at the Glass Bowl.
The Rockets have already clinched a MAC West title, and with the win BGSU will battle Ohio next week to decide the MAC East crown.
Bowling Green jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the Battle of I-75, but the Rockets put two TDs on the board before halftime to trail by seven.
The Falcons remained in front until UT grabbed its first lead with 51 seconds remaining in the game. Tucker Gleason, getting the start at quarterback scored on a 1-yard run and the PAT put Toledo in front 35-34.
Gleason, a freshman, completed 22-of-40 passes, totaling 329 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. McDonald, meanwhile, matched that by completing 19-of-35 for 389 yards with four TDs and one pick for the Falcons.
His top target on the night was Odieu Hillare, who caught seven passes for a total of 243 yards and two touchdowns. The senior turned in one big play after another, averaging 34.7 ypc with a long of 59 yards. Still, on a night of big plays, Ta'ron Keith came through with one of Bowling Green's biggest. With the Falcons facing third and 10 at the Toledo 42 and 28 seconds remaining, Keith took a short pass from McDonald and threaded his way past UT defenders to the end zone.
OHIO 32, BALL STATE 18
MUNCIE, IN -- Sieh Bangura churned out 148 yards and two touchdowns among his 23 carries as the Ohio Bobcats defeated Ball State 32-18 Tuesday at Scheumann Stadium.
It was the freshman's second straight game over 140 yards and was particularly helpful on a night when quarterback Kurtis Rourke missed the second half. The junior completed 12-of-16 passes, totaling 169 yards with one TD before getting injured just before intermission. Sophomore CJ Harris filled in for the second half, completing 5-of-8 for 34 yards and running eight times for another 38 yards.
Ball State was on its way to a solid run game for most of two quarters. Sophomore Carson Steele logged 14 carries for 96 yards before an injury sidelined him for the final two quarters. BSU finished with 94 yards rushing for the entire contest.
Things were better in the passing game as quarterback John Paddock completed 29-of-48, totaling 273 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Brady Hunt led receivers with nine catches for 97 yards and a score.
Ball State opened scoring with a 21-yard Ben VonGunten field goal for the only score of the first quarter. Ohio's offense came to life in the second stanza as the Bobcats reeled off 17 straight points.
With Rourke out of the lineup, Ohio scored just one more TD - a 7-yard Banguar run early in the fourth quarter. However, the defense registered a safety and Nathanial Vakos booted two field goals to hold off the Cardinals.
Ohio hosts Bowling Green next week, with the MAC East title at stake. The Falcons edged Toledo in Tuesday's other MACtion matchup. . .