Two weeks ago, the Ball State University football team looked like it had a lock on its first bowl game in 11 years, while the University of Toledo was struggling to reach .500.
In tonight's 7:30 p.m. match-up, the two teams are playing different roles. After two consecutive losses, the Cardinals are 5-5 and looking for the third consecutive week to become bowl eligible. In contrast, Toledo has won its last two games by a combined 75 points and is perhaps the hottest team in the Mid-American Conference.
Knowing his team must win its last two games to earn a bid to a bowl, Ball State senior captain Cortlan Booker said the players realize the importance of today's game.
"The stakes are getting higher because we're running out of opportunities," Booker said. "Now we have a traditional MAC power in the Toledo Rockets and the magnitude of this game is just huge."
Toledo has scored 122 points in its past two games - including a 70-21 victory against Northern Illinois University two games ago - and has the most prolific scoring offense in the MAC, averaging 36.5 points per game. The Rockets' primary weapon offensively is senior running back Jalen Parmele, who is 10th in the nation with 1,306 rushing yards. As good as Toledo's offense has been, its scoring defense has allowed 39.2 points per game, which is the most in the conference.
After leading the MAC in scoring through most of this season, Ball State is fourth in the conference, averaging 31.1 points per game. Though Ball State coach Brady Hoke acknowledged the game could easily be dominated by both offenses, he doesn't expect either team's defenses to roll over and play dead.
"I think if you look at the paper and what it could be, I think there's some truth to [today's game being a shootout]," Hoke said. "Also, though, I think there's a lot of pride in their kids and a lot of pride in our kids defensively."
Cardinals' senior safety Eddie Burk said he understands the challenge Toledo's offense will give Ball State's defense. While Burk knows not many teams have been able to slow the Rockets' offensive attack, he said, the Cardinals' defense believes it can step up to the task.
"Toledo has always, always been one of the top competitors and programs in the MAC," Burk said. "You can never take anything away from Toledo. The mind-set of the defense is that you want to stop them."
Ball State won three of its final four games the last two seasons. The one loss it had last November was an eight-point defeat at the University of Michigan, who was ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time.
To make a bowl, Hoke said he knows his team will need another strong finish to close out this season.
"I think you always want a strong finish," Hoke said. "I think [the next two weeks] is going to say a lot about the 83rd Ball State football team and the leadership of it. I believe in this team, there's no question."
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