Attempting to launch the University of Toledo's fourth-quarter comeback at Ball State University on Saturday, quarterback Aaron Opelt turned his eyes upfield to his favorite target wide receiver Eric Page.
But the Cardinals had Page locked down in coverage, forcing Opelt to look elsewhere. He set his sights on wide receiver Stephen Williams and fired the ball. The pass never reached its intended target as cornerback Charlie Todd stepped in front of Williams and picked it off.
"Coaches teach us to never give up," Todd said. "I stayed low so the QB couldn't see me, read his eyes and jumped it as soon as he threw it."
Todd returned his first career interception 57 yards to Toledo's four-yard line. The Cardinals took advantage and scored a touchdown to take a 22-14 lead.
It was a play the junior-college transfer said he could have made earlier in the season, but he admitted to feeling much more comfortable five games into his Ball State career.
"It's a very high learning curve," Todd said. "Since the first day I wasn't ever worried about getting there, I was just waiting to get there."
Ball State's defensive backs have been a work in progress this season. That was especially noticeable in Saturday's loss, as Opelt passed for 422 yards. Williams had 231 receiving yards and Page notched 152.
Secondary coach Daryl Dixon said the pair was the second best the Cardinals had seen this year, behind only Auburn University.
"They were pretty good," Dixon said. "They had very good skill guys. Big and physical and could run."
Dixon said Ball State can take a lot away from losing the game on a 51-yard touchdown pass in the final minute.
"There can't be any better lesson than what happened," he said. "On film, in life or how they felt Saturday in the locker room. It was a mistake. It's a hard lesson to learn, and none of us ever want to happen again but that's one of the greatest lessons you can learn."
Todd said the Cardinals tried to pick up cornerback Koreen Burch, who was beat on the play.
"It wasn't his fault we lost the game," Todd said. "He needed to know that. That could have been me in the same situation."
Dixon said Ball State was in its quarters coverage and Burch misplayed the route.
"He bit on a route he's seen a million times," Dixon said. "It's a learning experience. The play happened; its over now."
After the game coach Stan Parrish said he was confident in the play calling of his defensive coaches. Todd reiterated that the problem was the players' execution.
"We have to listen to assignments better," the junior said. "Coaches are teaching us the right thing to do. We can't do our own thing."
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