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BSU CB Trey Lewis Scores on Interception Return

The Cardinals (3-2, 2-1 MAC), playing their first game following a heartbreaking 41-40 loss to Nebraska last week, wasted little time in erasing any bad memories nor was there any evidence of any lingering after-effects from their loss. 

"After we watched the film (of the Nebraska game) Sunday, we just put that game out of our mind and focused on what we needed to do in this (game)," said Ball State tight end Darius Hill, who caught two touchdowns among his six catches for 80 yards in the Cardinals' victory over Buffalo.

The Cardinals opened the scoring, needing only 43 seconds in their first possession, on a one-yard touchdown run from freshman Frank Edmonds who was starting for the first time in place of sophomore tailback MiQuale Lewis who was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in the Cardinals' loss to Nebraska.

Edmonds, who finished with 124 yards rushing, electrified the home crowd of 14,333 when he took Ball State's first play from scrimmage 38 yards on a fake reverse that caught the Buffalo defense off-guard. It was a pattern that would continue throughout the contest.

The Bulls had barely enough time to recover from the Cardinals' quick strike when Ball State's defense put the Bulls in a 14-0 hole.

"We were in cover two," explained Lewis. "We put pressure on the quarterback and he threw it right to me."

"We really needed a spark," said Ball State head coach Brady Hoke on the critical Bulls' turnover. "It gives you a lot of momentum when you can come up with those kinds of plays on defense."

After the game Bulls quarterback Drew Willy shouldered the blame for the costly pick. "They came at us on that play with a corner blitz and I was trying to get the ball to our tight end. The ball sailed on me. I have to make that throw."

The Cardinals would add two more touchdowns before the half, on a pair of Nate Davis to Darius Hill touchdown passes, taking a 28-0 lead into the halftime locker room. The Cardinals outgained the Bulls 271-65 yards, limiting the Bulls to three first downs through the first two quarters of play.

The Bulls did not get on the scoreboard until James Starks scored on a one-yard run after the Cardinals had gone up 35-0 early in the third quarter on a Dante Love 9-yard touchdown run. Love would also add a 15-yard touchdown reception later in the contest.

Starks' touchdown was set up by the Bulls' longest play from scrimmage when Willy connected with junior wide receiver Ernest Jackson on a 54-yard pass to the Ball State 11-yard line. It was one of the few highlights for Buffalo.

While the Cardinals' offense was busy lighting up the scoreboard, the defense was equally active, limiting Starks, who scored both of Buffalo's touchdowns, to only 47 yards and an average of 2.5 yards per carry.

"Our goal was to get eleven helmets on him (Starks) every time he touched the ball," said Hoke.

The Bulls were also frequently their own worst enemy, committing eleven penalties for 108 yards, including consecutive offside penalties that at one point had the coaches on the Bulls' sideline befuddled, repeatedly telling their charges to "keep your eyes on the ball."

While the Bulls struggled, Ball State sophomore quarterback Nate Davis turned in another multiple touchdown performance, throwing for three touchdowns and 233 yards before being lifted late in the game with the contest well in hand.

The Cardinals have now won two straight Mid-American Conference games after dropping their season-opener to Miami.

"We wanted to come out and make a statement around the whole conference," said Ball State's Lewis afterward. "And that's what we did today."

After putting up 507 yards in offense and limiting the Bulls to 11 first downs, the rest of the conference has likely already noticed.

Ball State will have a chance to establish itself further in the MAC as they will battle defending champion Central Michigan (2-3, 2-0 MAC) in Muncie on Saturday with first place in the MAC West division on the line.