The Ball State Cardinals improve one spot in the Associated Press Poll, ranking No. 24 in the nation. The 7-0 Cardinals received 166 votes in the poll, 69 more than last week.
Playing its first-ever game as a nationally ranked program, it took 30 minutes for No. 25 Ball State University to roll Saturday before pulling away with a 24-7 win against Western Kentucky.
Leaning on the running game, the Cardinals scored 17 points in the second half. The defense was 58 seconds away from posting its first back-to-back shutouts since 1978.
Running back MiQuale Lewis led the offensive attack with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown. He ran for 75 yards in the first two possessions of the second half.
Quarterback Nate Davis added 155 passing yards and threw for two touchdowns, including a 20-yard touchdown to Louis Johnson with 6:31 left in the fourth quarter. The score pushed Ball State's lead to 24-0 and sent many of the 16,319 Hilltopper fans to the gates.
Senior Trey Buice, Ball State's starting cornerback, broke his left hand in the first quarter and did not play the rest of the game. Coach Brady Hoke said Buice's status was unknown after the game and he did not know whether Buice's hand required surgery.
Western Kentucky quarterback David Wolke completed 17-of-29 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Jake Gaebler caught 10 balls for 100 yards and scored the lone Western Kentucky touchdown.
For more football coverage, read Monday's issue of The Ball State Daily News.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
