View a photo gallery from the game.
For senior captains Briggs Orsbon, Sean Baker and 15 other seniors on the Ball State football team, Friday's 45-28 loss to Toledo was the last game they will play at Scheumann Stadium.
Both players had significant roles in their final home game.
While Orsbon had a team-high nine receptions for 96 yards, Baker led the defense with 18 tackles in the loss. But Ball State's defense struggled again on third down defense as Toledo converted seven of 15 third downs.
It's not common for a group of players to go through three different head coaches in a span of four seasons. This senior class went through that, going from Brady Hoke to Stan Parrish to current coach Pete Lembo.
After the game, both Orsbon and Baker reflected on their roller coaster careers they have had in the four years at Ball State.
"I came in to an undefeated season, the last two seasons not so good," Orsbon said. "Coach Lembo came in and everyone accepted him. The coaches were great with knowing we had a transition to make. They're knowledgeable and good people. We bought in to what they brought, which I think led to the success we had this season."
It's no secret that Ball State (6-6) has improved from the past two seasons. The Cardinals matched the win total from the previous two seasons combined and with two games left to play in the Mid-American Conference, controlled its destiny to win the West Division.
The team also never had a below .500 record at any point during the season.
Baker said after the past two seasons, this season brought his career into almost a full circle.
I think everything in the past built up for to year," Baker said. "The new coaching staff came in and all we talked about was winning. That's all they ever knew. We just took that next step this year and everything worked out great and it gave us a chance to make a run at the end of the year."
He also said even though he won't be back next season, he's excited for the future of Ball State football.
Whether the senior class will get one more game to play this season is still yet to be determined.
If Friday's loss ends up being the final game of Baker's career, he isn't about to let the feeling of playing his last game in Muncie sink in.
"I'm trying to delay it for awhile," he said.
Should Ball State get picked for a bowl game, Orsbon is ready to jump on the opportunity.
"It would mean the world to us for one more shot to get out there and play," Orsbon said. "We would really go out there and make the best of it."
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