Ball State University quarterback Nate Davis is known across the country for his arm but on Tuesday in the Cardinals' 45-22 victory against Western Michigan University it was his legs that did a lot of damage.
Davis tied his career high with 64 rushing yards and had multiple crucial runs. Twice Davis escaped the Western Michigan pass rush for runs of 20 or more yards, including a 22-yard run on third down in the second quarter.
"We talk all the time about that we have to get off the field on third down," Western Michigan linebacker Austin Pritchard said. "When we can't do it that's when bad things happen to us."
That drive ended with a field goal that gave Ball State a 17-14 lead. A lead they would never relinquish.
The other long run came in the fourth quarter when Davis scrambled to his left eventually tip-toeing his way for a 34-yard gain. The only other run longer than that in Davis' career is a 46 yard run last season.
Davis said the coverage the defense runs determines whether he will be able to get downfield.
"The defense dropped back in coverage and left lanes open," he said. "I saw them and just took off."
Davis is an athletic quarterback who has shown he is able to run well but receiver Louis Johnson said one of the reasons Davis can get long runs is because of his arm.
"A lot of times you see Nate get out but he might not cross that line of scrimmage. Him having the arm that he possesses he can throw it anywhere on the field at any time," Johnson said. "I think that's what keeps defenders back. He might be running but if he doesn't cross that line of scrimmage he can throw the ball anywhere."
It wasn't his longest run or even close to it but perhaps Davis' most important run came just before the end of the first half. Trying to punch in a late touchdown Davis scrambled to his right diving for a 6-yard touchdown.
The touchdown allowed the Cardinals to go into halftime up 24-14 rather than 17-14.
"It was very big for us," Davis said. "The guys blocked for me and I got in."
Early in the game Western Michigan got pressure on Davis. He was sacked once, however, in the first half.
Throughout his career, Davis has had a knack for taking one step forward or to the side to make a rusher just miss getting a sack. Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit said Davis' ability to avoid the rush was demoralizing to watch.
"We'd go up there and he would make some guys miss," he said. "You get pressure on him and all of a sudden he side-steps one guy and you got nobody behind him."
Cubit said his team was able to beat Ball State's blockers but not as often as they need to.
"I felt we got to him at times but just not enough," Cubit said.
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