Football Team Improves To 11-0

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. ? The Ball State University football team (11-0, 7-0 MAC) remained undefeated with a 31-24 road victory at Central Michigan (8-3, 6-1 MAC) Wednesday night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The 11-0 start for the Cardinals is the best in school history.

Junior H-back MiQuale Lewis rushed for a career high 177 yards breaking his previous record of 166 which was set this season at Indiana.

Daniel Ifft caught his third touchdown reception this season at 7:49 in the third quarter to tie the game at 17-17.

Central Michigan would then take back the lead at the 14:21 mark in the fourth quarter but the Cardinals senior wide receiver Louis Johnson would catch his second touchdown pass of the night making it a 24-24 ball game. Johnson's catch was his fourth touchdown reception this season and the ninth of his career. It also marked the second two touchdown reception game of his career.

The Cardinals defense stopped the Chippewas from scoring allowing the Cardinals to take its second lead of the night after junior quarterback Nate Davis connected on an 11-yard pass to freshman wide receiver Briggs Orsbon with 7:29 left in the game. Orsbon's catch was his fifth touchdown pass of the season.

In the closing minutes Ball State's defense stopped the Chippewas scoring drive as freshman free safety Sean Baker made his fifth interception of the season.

Davis connected on a 20-yard pass to Johnson with 1:56 left to play in the first quarter to give the Cardinals a 7-0 edge over the Chippewas.

Central Michigan would answer back in the second quarter with a touchdown at the 13:09 mark and then take the lead after a 31-yard field goal from Andrew Aguila.

Sophomore kicker Ian McGarvey nailed a 21-yard field goal just before the half to tie the ball game 10-10.

For only the third time this season, Ball State fell behind at Central Michigan by a 10-7 margin. The Cardinals tied the game 10-10 at the half, and continued its streak of never being behind at halftime. Ball State fell behind 3-0 at Miami University before taking a 7-3 advantage and never trailing in the game again. The Cardinals also trailed 3-0 at Indiana before taking a 7-3 lead and never trailing again.

1st quarter

Ball State 1:56- Nate Davis 20-yard pass to Louis Johnson (7 plays, 77 yards, 3:19) (Ian McGarvey kick)

Ball State 7, Central Michigan 0

2nd quarter

Central Michigan 13:09 ? Dan LeFevour 24-yard pass to Joe Bockheim (10 plays, 63 yards, 3:47) (Andrew Aguila kick)

Ball State 7, Central Michigan 7

Central Michigan 4:15 ? Andrew Aguila 31-yard field goal (50 plays, 73 yards, 6:57)

Central Michigan 10, Ball State 7

Ball State 1:05 ? Ian McGarvey 21-yard field goal (9 plays, 61 yards, 3:13)

Central Michigan 10, Ball State 10

3^rd quarter

Central Michigan 12:32 ? Ontario Sneed 8-yard run (6 plays, 63 yards, 2:28) (Andrew Aguila kick)

Central Michigan 17, Ball State 10

Ball State 7:49 ? Nate Davis 18-yard pass to Daniel Ifft (10 plays, 87 yards, 4:43) (Ian McGarvey kick)

Ball State 17, Central Michigan 17

4^th quarter

Central Michigan 14:21 ? Dan LeFevour 38-yard pass to Kito Poblah (4 plays, 72 yards, 52 seconds) (Andrew Aguila kick)

Central Michigan 24, Ball State 17

Ball State 12:51 ? Nate Davis 45-yard pass to Louis Johnson (4 plays, 56 yards, 1:30) (Ian McGarvey kick)

Ball State 24, Central Michigan 24

Ball State 7:29 ? Nate Davis 11-yard pass to Briggs Orsbon (9 plays, 74 yards, 3:02) (Ian McGarvey kick)

Ball State 31, Central Michigan 24

Next Event

Team Stats

Nate Davis

Players Mentioned

Sean Baker

Nate Davis

Daniel Ifft

Louis Johnson

MiQuale Lewis

Ian McGarvey

Briggs Orsbon

Players Mentioned

Sean Baker

Nate Davis

Daniel Ifft

Louis Johnson

MiQuale Lewis

Ian McGarvey

Briggs Orsbon