MUNCIE – Toledo used several big plays in the second half to pull away from the Ball State football team Thursday evening for a 58-17 victory at Scheumann Stadium.

Toledo quarterback Logan Woodside threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring tosses of 88 and 67 yards to Diontae Johnson. Johnson also had an 87-yard punt return touchdown for the first-place team in the Mid-American Conference West Division.

Ball State’s touchdowns came on the ground from sophomore running back Malik Dunner and redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Plitt.

Plitt took over for starter Zack Blair, who suffered an injury early in the game. Blair was making his first career start for an injured Jack Milas, and Plitt became the fourth quarterback to see action for the Cardinals (2-6, 0-4 MAC) this season.

“It’s hard when you step in like that,” Ball State coach Mike Neu said. “I thought Drew handled himself well. The situation he was dealt, for him to step in and play the way he did and compete, I’m proud of him. He did some good things and led us to two touchdown drives.”

It was a 24-10 game at halftime after Morgan Hagee’s 43-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter pulled Ball State within two scores. But Toledo (7-1, 4-0 MAC) scored four touchdowns in the third quarter to open it up.

“We hung in there in the first half and came back out in the second half and just gave up too many explosive plays,” Neu said. “Those are things we just can’t have happen … We are going through a tough time, but I wouldn’t want to go through it with any other group.”

Caleb Huntley ran for 91 yards on 24 carries to lead the Ball State offense. Dunner added 62 yards on the ground, including his 41-yard touchdown run.

The Cardinals piled up 204 yards on the ground, their second highest total of the season. However, Toledo finished with 602 total yards of offense, the most allowed by Ball State this fall.