MUNCIE, IN ? The University of Toledo racked up 417 yards of offense but it was not enough to overcome Ball State's high-powered attack in a 41-20 loss in Muncie on Tuesday night.

 

Toledo jumped out to a 17-7 lead but was outscored 34-3 thereafter. The loss drops Toledo to 5-6, 3-4 in the MAC and effectively knocks the Rockets out of contention for one of the Mid-American Conference's three bowl games. Ball State moves to 6-5, 4-2 MAC.

 

            Toledo not only lost the game but lost quarterback Aaron Opelt to injury for the second time this season. Opelt went out of the game with an injury with 14:04 left in the fourth quarter after scrambling for a 19-yard run. Toledo was trailing at the time, 34-20. Freshman D.J. Lenehan came in for Opelt and threw an interception on his first pass, which the Cardinals converted into a long touchdown drive to seal the win.

 

            Senior RB Jalen Parmele ran for 123 yards and one touchdown. Opelt was 20-of-30 for 203 yards and one TD. Sophomore WR Stephen Williams had nine receptions for 135 yards.

 

            Toledo scored on its first three possessions jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first quarter. Parmele scored on a four-yard run just 28 seconds into the game, and Opelt found junior WR Nick Moore for a nine-yards with 8:28 to play in the opening period.

 

            But Ball State fought back and tied the score at 20-20 at halftime on a one-yard run by QB Nate Davis. The Cardinals scored two TDs on their only two possessions in the third quarter to take a 34-20 lead.