Toledo rolled the dice on the five-yard line against No. 25 Fresno State this weekend but lost. 

The Rockets gambled in the second overtime by trying the two-point conversion to win the game instead of tying it with an extra point.  Fresno State defender Nico Herron knocked down Aaron Opelt’s potential game-winning pass, directed to receiver Robin Bailey, giving the Bulldogs a 55-54 win.  Opelt dodged intense pressure and was forced to throw the ball into tight coverage.

“It was time for the game to go,” said Toledo coach Tom Amstutz. “That’s the one thing about college overtimes – you get to a point where it gets a little bit dangerous for the players. It was time to decide the game. We had a two-point play we’ve been working on all year. We felt confident in it, and we went for it. I would do it again just the same way, other than we would catch it.”

It was the latest game-ending time in Toledo’s 71-year-old stadium at 12:20 a.m., lasting one minute shy of four hours.   

“I don’t think we got tired,” said Opelt.  “We battled until the last second, to the last play. That’s what we pride ourselves in. That’s what Coach Amstutz gets us ready for. I’m proud of every player out there. They played their hearts out. It’s too bad we fell short on the last play.”

Toledo had to overcome a 41-31 deficit with 5:59 left in the game.  Fresno State lost its death grip on the game when Opelt connected with wide receiver Stephen Williams on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 2:52 to play.  The Bulldogs led 41-38 when Toledo recovered an onside kick.

Toledo’s Alex Steigerwald sent the game into overtime with a 33-yard field goal.  Both teams traded touchdowns in overtime until Fresno State prevailed.

Ball State continues undefeated streak

Ball State (4-0) rolled to a 42-40 win over in-state rival Indiana University on Saturday and remains the only undefeated team in the Mid-American Conference.

“Our kids played very hard in the face of adversity, and we are proud to get the win over a Big Ten team,” said Cardinal coach Brady Hoke.

Dante Love, the nation’s leading receiver at 144.3 yards per game (coming into Saturday’s game), suffered a cervical spine fracture and spinal cord injury with 10:45 left in the first half as Indiana’s Chris Adkins hit him hard, forcing a fumble that Indiana scored on.

Ball State issued a release yesterday stating that Love is never expected to play football again. Both sources confirmed that Love is expected to “live a normal and healthy life” after he undergoes rehabilitation because he has no paralysis in his arms or legs. 

Saturday MAC Football Results

Ball State 42, Indiana 20

Northwestern 16, Ohio 8

Purdue 32, Central Michigan 25

Penn State 45, Temple 3

Akron 22, Army 3

Missouri 42, Buffalo 21

Maryland 51, Eastern Michigan 24

Northern Illinois 48, Indiana State 3

Louisiana-Lafayette 44, Kent State 27

Western Michigan 41, Tennessee Tech 7

Cincinnati 45, Miami 20

Fresno State 55, at Toledo 54 - double overtime   

2008 MAC Football Standings

West Division

Ball State

1-0 MAC

4-0

Western Michigan

1-0 MAC

3-1

Central Michigan

1-0 MAC

2-2

Toledo

1-0 MAC

1-2

Eastern Michigan

0-1 MAC

1-3

Northern Illinois

0-1 MAC

1-2

East Division

Buffalo

1-0 MAC

2-2

Bowling Green

0-0 MAC

1-2

Kent State

0-0 MAC

1-3

Miami

0-0 MAC

1-3

Akron

0-1 MAC

2-2

Temple

0-1 MAC

1-3

Ohio

0-1 MAC

0-4