Talk about making a good first impression on your fans, team and -most importantly - your coach.
Freshman Nate Davis did that and more on his second collegiate pass and third snap under center.
Not only did he throw a touchdown pass, but gave his team the lead and changed the momentum of the game in the process.
"He is going to be a good football player for us," said Ball State University football coach Brady Hoke. "He gave us a little spark in there. Joe struggled just a little bit, but Lynch also did some good things earlier in the game."
It was a shot in the arm for Ball State on both sides of the ball.
All this took place after coach Hoke and his staff caught the Eastern Michigan defense napping. After giving the Eagles a healthy dose of starting quarterback Joey Lynch, the backup Davis hooked up with Louis Johnson from 46 yards out to give the Cards a 14-10 lead with 6:55 to go in the first half.
Unfortunately for Eastern Michigan, Davis was far from finished.
The Ohio native led the BSU offense to the endzone each of the four times he was in control of his offense, three of which he finished on his own.
"Nate Davis played really well," Eastern Michigan head coach Jeff Genyk said. "Obviously the trick plays affected us and especially some of our young players in the secondary."
On his second of three strikes in the air, Davis received some assistance.
The Cardinal defense pinned Eastern Michigan inside its own 10-yard line, forcing a botched punt by Andrew Wellock to give Ball State an excellent field position.
Davis took the advantage and tossed his second touchdown pass of the game in as many tries, this time finding Dante Love from 9 yards out.
He capped off his scintillating evening on a fade route in the back of the endzone to Darius Hill, good for 6 yards and the proverbial exclamation point.
On eight pass attempts, Davis connected with all but one. He finished with 122 yards passing and rushed the ball for 7 yards and his only carry of the game.
It is still too early to tell if this will stir up a quarterback controversy. More importantly, Ball State will now have not one, but two quarterbacks that opposing teams will have to prepare for week in and week out.
"We are really glad to have him," Hoke said. "I didn't know how much we would play him, it was dictated on the game."
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