It started as an improbability only the outrageous could imagine. It morphed into a dream with the combination of time and success.
Ball State University's 12-0 regular season became a reality Tuesday, packaged in the excitement of fireworks and a Scheumann Stadium record 23,861 fans.
The No. 15 Cardinals game against a Western Michigan University team looking to record its first 10-win season was supposed to be one of their biggest challenges of the season.
Instead, Ball State recorded a 45-22 win that claimed the Mid-American Conference West Division title outright and a spot in the conference's championship game Dec. 5 in Detroit.
"Every person's dream is to go undefeated," junior quarterback Nate Davis said. "That's what everybody dreamed on, and our team believed in it."
With a minute left in the game, many of the school-record 11,088 students lined the eastside fence under the grandstands. As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard, the students rushed the field with chants of "BCS" and "undefeated."
Coach Brady Hoke said the scene showed him how far the program has come in the six seasons he's been with the Cardinals.
"I thought about when we played Bowling Green [State University] my last game of my first year here," Hoke said. "There was about 2,000 people here."
It looked like the game would remain competitive late in the second quarter. Ball State place-kicker Ian McGarvey connected on a 43-yard field goal that gave the Cardinals a 17-14 lead with four minutes left in the first half.
After a defensive stop, however, Ball State drove 55 yards on seven plays and finished the second half with a 6-yard touchdown run from Davis.
Ball State went on to score three touchdowns in the second half and finished the game scoring 31 of the last 38 points.Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit said Davis' touchdown before halftime put all the momentum on the Cardinals' sidelines.
"Right there, you just knew it was going to be hard to come back," Cubit said.
While Ball State's offense was piecing touchdown drives together, its defense pitched a near-shutout in the second half against one of the MAC's highest rated offense. The Broncos' lone touchdown in the final half came with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter and closed the score to 38-22.
The Cardinals' defense atoned for its touchdown with a 35-yard interception return for touchdown from senior cornerback Trey Lewis. Lewis also led Ball State's defense with 11 tackles, including 2.5 for lost yardage.
"I feel great inside," Lewis said. "I wanted come out in my last game at Scheumann Stadium and go out with a bang."
Davis led the offense, completing 17-of-25 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. He added 64 rushing yards on seven carries, including the 6-yard score.
Sophomore running back MiQuale Lewis finished with 120 yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns. Quale's last touchdown was his 20th of the year and broke the single-season school record for rushing touchdowns.
"It means a lot to me, but it doesn't say that much [about me]," Lewis said. "That's all on the offensive line. They establish the line of scrimmage each game. They play on the other side of the ball."
Western Michigan quarterback Tim Hiller finished with 145 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Senior receiver Jamarko Simmons caught six passes for 84 yards.
After the game, Hoke was unable to fully enjoy his team's accomplishment. Instead, he said his focus would turn to the MAC Championship Game, where the Cardinals will play East Division champion Buffalo.
"The season's not over, and we're going to be able to play a 13th game," Hoke said. "I'm a tunnel vision guy, and we're going to look at what's next on our radar and what's next for us."
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