TOLEDO, Ohio – Once again Ball State held a double-digit lead in the first quarter against a Mid-American Conference opponent. And once again, Ball State would watch it vanish.
For the second week in a row, Ball State was unable to hold a big lead early in the game, and lost 31-24 at Toledo on Saturday night. The loss came just a week after Ball State blew two 21-point leads against previously-winless Eastern Michigan before falling in overtime.
Against the MAC-leading Rockets, the Cardinals (2-6, 1-3) started quickly. Ian McGarvey kicked a 35-yard field goal on their first drive of the game. Keith Wenning and wide receiver Jack Tomlinson connected for two touchdown passes to give Ball State a 17-0 lead with just under five minutes to play in the first quarter.
The touchdowns receptions were the first of Tomlinson's career.
But after the first quarter, it was all Toledo (5-3, 4-0). The Rockets scored 31 unanswered points, starting on the first play of the second quarter when Austin Dantin threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eric Page.
After Dantin's first of two rushing touchdowns of the night, the Rockets tied the game as the first half expired with a 25-yard field goal.
The Rockets then took the lead on the first play of the third quarter on a 35-yard rush by running back Adonis Thomas.
Ball State had a chance to tie the game late in the third quarter, but MiQuale Lewis fumbled just as he was about to cross the goal line and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. Lewis was switching the ball from his right hand to his left when it was knocked loose.
The Cardinals cut the Rockets' lead to a touchdown with 12 seconds left on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tori Gibson. But after recovering the onside kick, Ball State was unable to find the end zone.
Lewis finished the night with 94 yards, his highest total since breaking the single-game school rushing record last season. Tomlinson had five catches for 89 yards, more than doubling his season total for receiving yards.
For more on this game, read Sunday's edition of The Ball State Daily News.
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