Will they pack Scheumann Stadium Saturday?
That’s the site of this week’s Toledo Rockets vs. Ball State Cardinals matchup - a game that both sides realize could have huge ramifications in this year’s Mid-American Conference West Division race.
If anything, Toledo’s upset loss to Bowling Green last week only pushed this week’s game interest up a notch or two. The Rockets, preseason favorites in the West, showed . . .
at
Ball State Cardinals (4-2, 2-1 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 19 -- 2 p.m. ET
Scheumann Stadium -- Muncie, IN
ESPN+
Series: Toledo leads 24-19-1
ABOUT TOLEDO
-- The Toledo loss was the first since 2009 vs. Bowling Green and now puts the series record at an even 40-40-4. Saturday was the 100th anniversary of the first game between Toledo and BG in 1919.
-- UT’s troubles at Bowling Green started early. The Falcons put up 10 unanswered points in the first quarter. Toledo got on the board with a 66-yard pass play in 12:24 left in the second period, but that proved to the Rockets only points on the day. Bowling Green’s defense swarmed UT all day, recording nine tfl, five sacks, and four fumbles (recovering one). It also forced UT into poor field position, with three drives starting inside the Rockets five-yard line (from the one, two and four-yard lines).
-- Junior CB Samuel Womack intercepted his second pass of the season in the second quarter. He entered the game leading the nation with 11 pass breakups. He also added seven tackles on the day.
-- Starting quarterback Mitchell Guadagni was forced out of the Bowling Green game after being sacked in the third quarter. While in the game, he completed 17 of 20 passes for 194 yards and one TD. Redshirt freshman Carter Bradley came in for Guadagni and completed 4-of-8 passes for 34 yards. Junior Eli Bradley entered the game in Toledo’s final drive, going 2-of-7 for 33 yards.
-- Desmond Phillips led the Rockets with six receptions.Bryant Koback caught a career-best four passes, including his second TD pass of the season. Drew Rosi caught three passes for 48 yards, his most receptions since he grabbed five vs. Murray State on Sept. 14.
-- After Bowling Green blocked a Rocket punt, UT bounced back two plays later with an interception. Toledo then moved 76 yards, only to get a 23-yard field goal try blocked as the first quarter ended.
-- The Cardinals have a chance to move to 3-0 in MAC play for the first time since 2013. That is also the last year BSU defeated Toledo.
-- The Cardinals have trailed at halftime in five of their six games. A potent offense and some recent strong second-half play by the defense has helped BSU turn the tide. Opponents have totaled just two TDs and one field goal following intermission in those contests. The Cardinals outscored the opposition by 32 points in the second halves of the last three games.
-- Ball State’s largest comeback win in program history came against Toledo. Current Cardinals head coach Mike Neu was at quarterback that day as BSU rallied from a 30-3 deficit to win on the game’s final play, 31-30.
-- BSU ranks fourth nationally in turnovers gained (15) after forcing a season-high four turnovers last week at Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals have registered at least two turnovers in every game this season.
-- The Cardinals are third (MAC) in rushing defense(134.5 ypg), while Toledo leads the league in rushing offense (242.7 ypg). In limiting Eastern to 89 rushing yards last week, BSU kept its opponent under 100 rushing yards for the first time in two years.
-- RB Caleb Huntley is on a roll. Currently ranked fifth among MAC ball-carriers, he has surpassed 150 ypg in each of the last two contests.
-- Ball State ranks second (MAC) in pass offense (227.8 ypg). Quarterback Drew Plitt tops the league and he is third in pass efficiency. Justin Hall is second in receptions (6.0 per game).