The dream scenario was coming together for Ball State University.
A touchdown in the final minute, the gutsy call to go for a two-point conversion, the Statue of Liberty play putting the Cardinals ahead and all of it against the backdrop of Homecoming.
The stage was perfectly set for Ball State's first victory of the season, the one that would break its six-game losing streak and give Stan Parrish his first win as its head coach.
But instead of reading 00:00, the clock at Scheumann Stadium still had 42 seconds on it.
Quarterback Aaron Opelt and the University of Toledo only need 15 of them to break the hearts of the 14,140 Ball State fans in attendance Saturday.
After a 34-yard kickoff return gave the Rockets the ball at their 49-yard line, Opelt connected with wide receiver Stephen Williams for a 51-yard touchdown, giving the visitors a 37-30 victory.
"We thought we should have won that one," wide receiver Briggs Orsbon said. "They took it away from us at the end. We had several chances offensively, defensively to put that one away."
Ball State took a 16-14 lead into the fourth quarter. It was the first time all year the team had a lead going into the final period. They extended their advantage when cornerback Charlie Todd picked off an Opelt pass and returned it 57 yards to Toledo's four-yard line.
Running back MiQuale Lewis found his way into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown run giving the Cardinals a 22-14 lead.
Then things started getting screwy.
Ian McGarvey missed his first extra point since 2007, breaking a school record streak of 81. That kept Toledo a touchdown and two-point conversion away from tying the game.
"I thought when we should have been up nine, we were over the hump," Parrish said. "We were over the hump a couple times."
On the next drive, Opelt took Toledo down the field in five plays for a touchdown and two-point conversion. The Rockets would take the lead on their next possession when Opelt found tight end Tom Burzine for a four-yard touchdown.
Down seven points, quarterback Kelly Page led the Cardinals 66 yards down the field in just under four minutes. With 42 seconds left in the game he found wide receiver Tori Gibson open on a slant route for a 10-yard touchdown. That score brought Ball State within one point.
Parrish called for a two-point conversion to go for the win, and after a Toledo timeout Lewis found the end zone on the Statue of Liberty play.
"I made up my mind at midfield, I was going to play to win it because we couldn't stop them," Parrish said. "We've practiced that play for two years. We practice that every Thursday night, and I always tell them someday we're going to win a game on that play and by God we should have."
Jake Hogue kicked off to Kenny Veal, who returned the ball to almost midfield, setting up Opelt and Williams' final late game heroics.
"As much as a failure, late in the game, as the DBs were the kickoff coverage gave them the opportunity to call different plays," Parrish said.
Williams beat cornerback Koreen Burch down the sideline and ran into the end zone uncontested.
Defensive end Robert Eddins said the entire defense failed Saturday.
"Any guy would feel down if you got the winning touchdown caught on you," Eddins said. "There's a lot went into this loss. They shouldn't have scored in the second half. The offense scored more than enough points."
Ball State had an 84-yard drive in the second quarter, its longest of the season. Page threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, both career highs.
Opelt completed 30 of his 38 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns. Williams caught 10 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
Now the Cardinals must find a way to put their stunning loss behind them.
"We just got to stay focused," Lewis said. "Come in Monday, positive attitude. We can't let Toledo beat us twice."
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