BLOOMINGTON, Indiana (Ticker) -- Antwaan Randle El rushed for a touchdown and threw for two more in a big first half and Indiana made some key defensive plays in a 21-9 victory over intrastate rival Ball State, its 15th straight season-opening home win.

Randle El ran for 118 yards on 22 carries, including a five-yard score that capped an 80-yard march with 2:20 left in the first quarter. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 154 yards, connecting twice with Versie Gaddis for TDs in the second quarter.

In the first half, Randle El was 5-for-5 for 122 yards. He hit Gaddis with a 21-yard scoring toss with five minutes left in the second quarter and the duo struck again for an 81-yard TD with 1:08 remaining in the half, making it 21-0.

Randle El's TD run came after linebacker Justin Smith picked off Brian Conn at the Indiana 7-yard line, thwarting Ball State's opening drive. The Hoosiers outgained the Cardinals 250-92 in the first half.

Ball State finally got on the scoreboard when Kevin Jennings booted a 34-yard field goal with 1:47 left in the third quarter. An interception and 15-yard return by linebacker Byron Driver set up Conn's four-yard TD toss to Jermaine Jordan with 8:13 to play.

But Conn's conversion pass fell incomplete and Ball State did not score again. Conn was intercepted by freshman defensive end Derek Barnett with 4:48 left and Indiana ran out the clock with four first downs.

Gaddis caught three passes for 117 yards for the Hoosiers, who held a 371-269 edge in total yardage and remained perfect in home openers since a loss to Kentucky in 1984.

Conn was 17-of-30 for 149 yards. Jordan caught six passes for 66 yards and Nick Dunbar added 58 yards on 11 carries.

Indiana's 33-6 home win in 1997 was the first meeting between the schools, which are just 100 miles apart. Hoosiers senior linebacker Vince Lidy is the older brother of Ball State sophomore linebacker Allen Lidy.