MUNCIE, Ind. – Junior Peny Boone's three-yard touchdown run with 1:31 remaining lifted Toledo to a 13-6 Mid-American Conference win over Ball State at a rain-soaked Scheumann Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The victory moved the Rockets' record to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in league play and extended their winning streak to six games. Toledo also earned bowl eligibility for the 14^th consecutive season, the eighth-longest streak in the country.

With both teams bogged down by inclement weather, Toledo won the battle in trenches, outgaining Ball State 376-205. Boone rushed for 148 yards, his fifth consecutive 100-yard game, 91 yards of which came in the decisive fourth quarter. Toledo held the Cardinals to just 38 yards in the air on 4-of-16 passing. Safety Maxen Hook, a native of nearby New Palestine, Ind., put the game on ice with an interception with 54 seconds to play.

"Tough day, tough weather. Not a great environment," said Head Coach Jason Candle. "So to just to be able to get some gritty tough yards, tough defensive plays and third-down stops was really key. I was impressed by our defense. We held them without a touchdown. We weren't as efficient or rhythmic in our offense as we have been in weeks past, but we still gained a lot of rushing yards on a defense that hasn't given up a lot of rushing yards."

The game was tied 3-3 headed into the fourth quarter before the teams exchanged field goals, setting up Toledo's game-winning drive. Dequan Finn completed a 32-yard pass to Jerjuan Newton to the BSU 40-yard line, and Boone took it from there, rushing four times in the next five plays, the last one for a three-yard score.

After Hook's interception, Boone snuffed out any hope for a Ball State comeback by racing 39 yards to the BSU six-yard line. Toledo ran the clock out from there to claim its sixth-straight victory.

First Quarter

• Toledo opened the scoring on its opening drive with a 26-yard field goal from Luke Pawlak.
• The Rockets missed a chance to add to their lead when Ball State recovered a fumble on the UT eight-yard line.

Second Quarter

•  Ball State tied the score with a 28-yard field goal with 4:17 left in the half.
• The Cardinals stopped Toledo on downs and took over on BSU 48-yard line with 1:51 left but were not able to take advantage of the favorable field position, leaving the game tied 3-3 at halftime.

Third Quarter

• Toledo was stopped on downs on its first possession of the second half, then both teams traded punts the rest of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

• Toledo broke the tie on a 27-yard field goal by Pawlak to take a 6-3 lead with 10:23 left.
• The Cardinals answered on their next drive with a short field goal of their own, a 26-yarder with 4:56 remaining.
• Peny Boone capped off a six-play, 72-yard drive by finding the end zone from three yards out for the game's only touchdown with 1:31 remaining.
• Maxen Hook ended Ball State's final drive with an interception on fourth down at the BSU 45-yard line.

Up Next

      The Rockets travel to Miami on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Post-Game Notes

• Toledo's win makes it 6-1 for the first time since 2017. It is also the first time the Rockets have won six straight since the 2015 season when they began the season 7-0.
• With six wins, Toledo is now bowl eligible for the 14^th consecutive season, which is the eighth-longest streak in the FBS and the second-longest among "Group of Five" schools behind Boise State. 
• Toledo begins the MAC season with a 3-0 mark for the second straight year.
• Toledo moves to 27-21-1 all-time vs. Ball State. The Rockets have won their last three meetings against the Cardinals, including two in a row in Muncie.
• Peny Boone ran for 148 yards on 22 carries for his fifth-consecutive 100-yard outing. The 148 yards are the second-most in his Rocket career.
• Dan Bolden led the defense with 10 tackles, his second-highest output of his career (12 vs. WMU earlier this year). He added 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Maxen Hook's interception on the Cardinals' final drive was his second this season and fourth as a Rocket.
• Toledo offensive line did not allow a sack for the fourth straight game. The Rockets have allowed just two sacks in seven games this season, the fewest in the nation.