AUBURN, Ala. - In the books it will go down as the fourth straight loss for the Ball State University football team to open the season.
But given Ball State's recent offensive play and history in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Saturday's 54-30 loss to Auburn University had a fresher air about it.
The Cardinals struck first, less than three minutes into the game when running back MiQuale Lewis found the end zone from two yards out. Ball State took advantage of great field position after a muffed punt was recovered by safety Kyle Hoke at the 18-yard line.
Auburn wouldn't answer until 10 minutes later. Quarterback Chris Todd threw the first of his school-record five touchdown passes to tight end Tommy Trott to tie the game at seven. That started a streak of 30 unanswered points for the Tigers.
Ball State trailed 33-10 entering halftime and would never get closer than 20 points down for the rest of the night.
However, the 30 points set a season high for the Cardinals and was 10 times their total from the schools' two previous meetings. Ball State was shutout 30-0 in 2001 and lost 63-3 in 2005.
The Tigers amassed more than 500 yards of total offense, the second time this season the Cardinals have allowed that many.
Most of it came in the air as Todd threw for 287 yards and completed 19 of his 26 passes before being removed at the start of the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Terrell Zachery caught five passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. The pair hooked up for a 65-yard strike and a 46-yard score, two of Auburn's big plays. Four of the Tigers' scoring plays were longer than 20 yards.
Ball State attempted a late comeback. After quarterback Kelly Page threw a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zane Fakes, cornerback Jason Pinkston intercepted backup quarterback Nick Caudle, giving the visitors the ball at Auburn's 33-yard line. But the Cardinals were held to a field goal out of the possession.
The game was delayed 24 minutes because of inclement weather. It rained heavily about two hours before game time, leaving the field in poor condition. It would resume raining intermittently throughout the game, but not as heavily.
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