Cardinals roll past Buffalo

Ball State scored the game's first 35 points en route to an easy 49-14 victory over the Universtiy of Buffalo Bulls in Mid American Conference play on Saturday.

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State football team jumped out to an early lead, racked up more than 500 yards of total offense and cruised to a 49-14 victory over Buffalo Saturday at Scheumann Stadium.

Running back Frank Edmonds scored the first and last of Ball State’s seven touchdowns on the day as the Cardinals improved to 3-2 (2-1 Mid-American Conference).

Edmonds – a freshman making his first collegiate start in place of the injured MiQuale Lewis – helped Ball State control the game on the ground with 127 yards on 24 carries to go along with his two touchdowns.

“It’s good to come back home and see everyone is red,” Ball State coach Brady Hoke said. “Our guys did a good job of putting a disappointing loss last week behind them.”

Edmonds’ first touchdown put the Cardinals on the scoreboard four minutes into the game. Just 16 seconds and one play later, cornerback Trey Lewis intercepted a Buffalo pass and returned it 26 yards to put Ball State up 14-0.

Ball State added a third first-quarter touchdown on Nate Davis' first touchdown pass of the game. Davis hit tight end Darius Hill for a two-yard score as the Cardinals took a three touchdown lead.

Davis finished the game 21-of-30 passing for 233 yards and three scores. Hill topped the Cardinals in receiving with six catches for 80 yards.

The duo connected for a second touchdown halfway through the second quarter on an 18-yard pass and Ball State took a 28-0 lead into halftime.

The Cardinal defense pitched a first half shutout, holding Buffalo to 65 yards through two quarters and forcing two turnovers. Ball State also forced the Bulls into five first half punts.

“I thought both sides of the ball really fed off each other well,” Hoke said. “Defensively, we got the two turnovers and put good pressure on the quarterback.”

Buffalo (1-4, 1-1 MAC) found some offense in the second half and managed two scores, both on short touchdowns runs by James Starks.

The Cardinals, though, put up three touchdowns of their own after the break. Receiver Dante Love ran nine yards for a touchdown and caught a 15-yard score from Davis in the third quarter. Edmonds then closed out the scoring with his second touchdown run at the 9:17 mark in the fourth quarter.

For the game, Ball State out-gained Buffalo 507 yards to 219. The Cardinals rushed for 274 yards and held the Bulls to 83 yards on the ground.

Ball State returns to Scheumann Stadium next Saturday to host MAC foe Central Michigan at Noon.