Ball State 41, Toledo 20

Ball State won a battle of two 5-5 teams seeking bowl eligibility Tuesday, 41-20, in front of the ESPN2 cameras on Senior Night at Scheumann Stadium.

After 80 seconds, the teams were on pace for 600 total points, but the brisk offensive pace cooled and Ball State dominated the second half en route to a decisive 6^th win of the year.

Toledo jumped to a 7-0 lead just 28 seconds in to the game after two Jalen Parmele runs combined for 46 yards and a score. But the Cardinals wasted no time answering, marching 68 yards in just 4 plays to score on a 27-yard TD catch by Darius Hill to know the contest at 7.

Ball State turned out an impressive home crowd for the season finale at remodeled Scheumann Stadium. Not only were the ESPN cameras in town, but there may have been some bowl scouts watching as well. Buzz around the stadium focused on the International Bowl in Toronto, and the Cardinals’ offense would likely appeal to the folks in Toronto, who have the right to select third in the MAC bowl pecking order.

Despite the speculation, Cardinal QB Nate Davis and coach Brady Hoke focused their post-game comments on the importance of sending Ball State’s seniors off with a win. But it was a crew of underclassmen that carried the Cardinals to victory.

Davis, a sophomore, had one of his best games of the year, throwing for three scores and running for two, including a spectacular 1 yard run in the second quarter that tied the game at 20. Davis dropped to pass, was flushed from the pocket, and sprinted toward the right pylon. From about a yard and a half out, Davis leapt for the end zone and snuck the ball across the endline. Ian McGarvey’s extra point tied it.

The QB’s main partner in crime on this night was another underclassman, junior Dante Love. Davis found Love on two gorgeous deep throws, including a 39-yard toss in the first half that Love snatched just behind him while streaking in to the end zone. That score brought Ball State to within 17-13 late in the first quarter. With 7 catches and 34 receiving yards in the season finale, Love will have 80 catches and 1000 yards on the year.

Sophomore RB Chris Clancy gave Ball State plenty of tough yards on the ground while the Cardinals protected their lead. The third string RB finished with 13 carries for 103 yards.

Neither team let off the accelerator much in the first half, but Ball State was the squad able to keep pushing the hardest after the break, thanks in part to Toledo injuries. Jalen Parmele, Toledo’s star RB, rung up 94 yards on 16 carries in the first half, but only carried 8 times in the second half after getting dinged up with an unspecified injury.

Rocket QB Aaron Opelt threw some great deep passes in the first half, but injured a shoulder in the third quarter. DJ Lenehan was 0-4 with an INT in his stead.

Toledo wraps the season at Bowling Green in the battle for the Peace Pipe on the day after Thanksgiving. Ball State goes to Northern Illinois next Saturday.

Toledo 36, Iowa State 35

Two freak special teams plays helped Toledo rally late to beat Iowa State, and earn its first win of the 2007 campaign Saturday night at the Glass Bowl.

After the Cyclones’ (1-3) Jamicah Bass scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with five and a half minutes to play to beat Iowa State up 35-24. But Jalen Parmele took the ensuing and short kickoff 82 yards for an amazing touchdown, pulling Toledo within 5, at 35-30. Parmele (16 carries, 74 yards) ran hard all night, but it was his special teams play that instantly brought momentum back to the Rocket sideline.

Toledo botched the extra point attempt, but kicked back to ISU back within striking distance. The Cyclones couldn’t move the ball, and lined up to punt. A short snap to punter Mike Brandtner skidded through the sophomore’s legs, and Brandtner immediately set about trying to pick up the ball. He tapped and juggled the ball backwards to his own goal line, but could never find the handle. Eventually, Toledo’s Greg Hay fell on the ball just across the end line for a Rocket touchdown to give Toledo a 36-35 lead. Aaron Opelt’s two-point conversion pass was unsuccessful.

The Cyclones still had one more chance, and got some help from Toledo before they even touched the ball. Hay’s special teams score set off a wild celebration in the south end zone which drew a 15-yard excessive celebration flag. Kicking off from the 15, the Rockets gave ISU possession at its own 47. The Cyclones converted a couple first downs, but stalled at Toledo’s 21. Bret Culbertson’s 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked with 14 seconds left, sealing the win for the Rockets.

“I’ve never experienced a loss like this,” said Iowa State head coach Gene Chizik. “That’s why I feel so bad for our guys – because they all fought really hard.”

The only place the Cyclones came up short was on the scoreboard. ISU outgained the Rockets, 397-297, posted more passing yards (251-199), more rushing yards (146-98), almost twice as many first downs (22-12), and converted an impressive 12 of 22 third and fourth down conversions.

Toledo drew first blood, getting a 13-yard run from Parmele at the 7:30 mark of the first period. The first drive epitomized Iowa State’s day; after a Brandtner punt pinned the Rockets at their own five, ISU killed themselves with two crucial mishaps. Cyclone CB Allen Bell found himself beat badly while defending a deep Aaron Opelt pass, and committed an obvious pass interference penalty to bring the Rockets out to their own 20. Two plays later, Toledo attempted a reverse to Andrew Hawkins. The Cyclones had Hawkins cornered for a 12 yard loss, but he slipped two tacklers and wiggled his way to the sidelines, where ISU LB James Smith committed a 15-yard facemask penalty. The 27-yard swing on the play gave Toledo first down at their own 42; Parmele scored eight plays later.

The teams traded scores during the first half, with the Cyclones’ JJ Bass (34 carries, 134 yards) tallying a 10-yard TD score at the end of the first. In the second stanza, Opelt scored on a 1-yard sneak before ISU’s Wallace Franklin turned the second catch of his career in to a 5-yard touchdown, tying the game at 14 heading to the locker room.

Toledo’s thrilling win continued a remarkable string of success at their old home, the Glass Bowl. Toledo is now 39-5 in their last 44 at home.