The Toledo Rockets are entering the final stretch of what has been a fantastic season for the team. The school is 9-1 and is ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in over ten years.
The season of success and a chance at a conference championship will be on the line on Tuesday night, as Toledo takes on the Ball State Cardinals at home in Ohio.
"For us and our staff and our kids, the thing that has gotten us to this point is our ability to focus on getting better each day," first-year Rockets coach Matt Campbell said. "That's the thing that makes November really special. We know how important that is. It's a great honor (to be ranked) but it's something you'd like to end the season with."
Toledo has won eight straight games since dropping the opener to Arizona in overtime 24-17.
A victory Tuesday would put Toledo in a tie with Northern Illinois at the top of the MAC West standings with a showdown still on the horizon between the two set for Nov. 14. The Rockets will travel to Northern Illinois for the game, with the winner most likely getting a spot in the MAC title game.
The Rockets have been high-powered on offense this season, scoring over 50 points twice, including against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 13. Toledo is averaging over 450 yards per game and is ranked in the top 30 in the nation in rushing yards.
Running back David Fluellen has been one the best players in the nation, amassing the third most rushing yards in the nation (1,181).
Ball State has been just as prolific on offense, and the Cardinals would love nothing more than to smash Toledo's chances at the MAC title game.
"I did share with our team yesterday after practice about Toledo moving into the Top 25," Ball State coach Pete Lembo said on Monday. "That's a great thing for the MAC. We've got some terrific teams in the league this year. We're just excited to be in a position where this game has a lot of meaning to it at this point."
Quarterback Keith Webbing has been stellar all season, throwing for 2,425 yards and 17 touchdowns with a rating of 131.8. The team is 3-2 in the MAC this year, but could finish strong with wins against Toledo, Ohio and Miami (OH).
The Cardinals defense has been the weakest unit this season, giving up 33 points per game.
"There certainly are some outstanding players on their offense," Lembo said. "And our offense is led by a pretty good offensive line and some underclassmen skill players who are coming along nicely. It'll be interesting."
Toledo has won numerous close games this season, including last Saturday against Buffalo 25-20 and two weeks ago against Cincinnati 29-23. The Rockets can continue to rise in the AP rankings with a win, but the team can't help but wonder what could have been if they won the first game of the season.
There are currently five undefeated teams left in the nation, including Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State, Notre Dame and Louisville.
"We've worked really hard the last nine months to develop that workmanlike approach to everything we do," said Campbell, a former player and coach at perennial Division III powerhouse Mount Union. "We try to worry about what we can control."
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