Johnson's 3 TDs lead Toledo past Ball State 58-17
Rockets' Johnson runs 87 yards for TD
Toledo's Diontae Johnson scores an 87-yard touchdown on a punt return.
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Diontae Johnson made four catches for a career-high 170 yards and two touchdowns, and returned a punt 87 yards for a score to help Toledo cruise past Ball State 58-17 on Thursday night.
Logan Woodside was 8-of-17 passing for 267 yards and three touchdowns for Toledo (7-1, 4-0 Mid-American Conference). Terry Swanson added 105 yards rushing and a TD on just 11 carries as the Rockets rushed for a season-high 335 yards.
Swanson's 71-yard touchdown run gave Toledo a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter and after a Ball State three-and out, Woodside connected with Desmond Phillips for a 35-yard score.
Johnson's 67-yard score extended it to 24-7 with 1:21 left before halftime and his one-handed catch went for an 88-yard TD on Toledo's first play of the second half. After another Ball State three-and-out, Johnson had Toledo's longest punt return for a TD since Eric Page's 85-yarder in 2011 against Eastern Michigan.
Zack Blair made his first collegiate state for Ball State (2-6, 0-4) but Drew Plitt replaced him with 7:15 left in the first quarter. Plitt was 15 of 34 for 97 yards. Malik Dunner's 41-yard touchdown run up the middle in the first quarter gave the Cardinals a 7-3 lead.
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Game Information
2023 Mid-American Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Miami (OH) | 7-1 | 11-3 |
Ohio | 6-2 | 10-3 |
Bowling Green | 5-3 | 7-6 |
Buffalo | 3-5 | 3-9 |
Akron | 1-7 | 2-10 |
Kent State | 0-8 | 1-11 |
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Toledo | 8-0 | 11-3 |
Northern Illinois | 5-3 | 7-6 |
Eastern Michigan | 4-4 | 6-7 |
Western Michigan | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Ball State | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Central Michigan | 3-5 | 5-7 |