For the first six and a half minutes of Friday's game, Keith Wenning and the rest of Ball State's offense stood on the sideline. They watched as Toledo plodded down the field, going 80 yards in 15 plays for a touchdown.
Wenning and the Cardinals (6-6) responded with a nine-play, three-and-a-half minute drive of their own, only to see it end with a missed field goal. They wouldn't see the ball again until the second quarter, by which time they would be trailing the nation's eighth-best offense by two touchdowns.
"I was talking on the sideline with the skill players and we said that's the fastest quarter we've had this season," Wenning said.
Ball State would never overcome the 14-point deficit, losing 45-28 to Toledo to end the regular season Friday afternoon at Scheumann Stadium. The Cardinals extended their losing streak on Senior Day to three years, as well as their losing streak to the Rockets.
Ball State attempted a comeback, cutting the deficit to 14-7 midway through the second quarter when Jahwan Edwards barreled his way into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown, his 11th of the year. Pete Lembo even called for an onside kick, knowing the Cardinals needed to empty their playbook to keep up with the Rockets.
It didn't work, however, as Toledo was able to fall on the ball. Lembo wasn't about to second guess his decision.
"Our guys knew we were probably going to call it going into the game," Lembo said. "Don't look back."
Early in the third quarter, Toledo's lead had ballooned to 28-7. But Ball State's offense had the wind at their backs, which had been an advantage all afternoon. The Cardinals couldn't capitalize, watching their first three drives of the quarter end without points.
Ball State even reached Toledo's five-yard line, but couldn't find the end zone, turning the ball over on downs instead.
"We were able to move the ball on them, the fumble and then getting stopped on fourth-and-one those are killers you can't have," Wenning said. "Give them credit; they played their butts off on defense."
Wenning completed 36 of his 52 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions. The total gave him 287 completions this season, breaking Nate Davis' school record. Wenning also became just the fifth quarterback in Ball State history to complete more than 400 passes in his career.
After the game, Wenning downplayed his accomplishments and said he didn't know he broke Davis' record until a reporter told him.
His own production was not enough to overcome Toledo's overpowering offense. All-MAC wide receiver Eric Page caught 16 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown and Adonis Thomas ran for 141 yards and one touchdown.
In the end, the regular season petered out on Ball State and its senior class saw their final game in Scheumann Stadium end in another loss. Safety Sean Baker said he was avoiding the realization that he would never play a game in Muncie again. He is, however, excited about Ball State's future with Lembo as coach.
"I'm excited for next year already," Baker said. "I'm not going to be here, but I'm going to be a proud alum."
Lembo, too, was happy to focus on everything that has gone right in his first years as the Cardinals' coach and the bright future he sees in Muncie. Ball State started its year with a victory against Indiana, matched their win total of their last two years combined and are bowl eligible for the first time since 2006.
It has been a remarkable turnaround in the 11 months since Lembo was hired to replace Stan Parrish. Along the way, however, Lembo said he feels like these Cardinals truly became his own.
"I really like our players, I really do," Lembo said. "I really feel like these are my guys."
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