• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Ball State looks to win MAC West title

Nov 25, 2008 - 3:17 PM Western Michigan at (15) Ball State (11-0) 7:00 pm EST

MUNCIE, Indiana (Ticker) -- Ball State has one more test before it can complete an undefeated regular season.

The 15th-ranked Cardinals look to clinch the Mid-American Conference West Division on Tuesday when they host Western Michigan.

A victory will put Ball State (11-0, 7-0) in the MAC title game against surprising Buffalo, the winner of the East Division.

The Cardinals are looking to become the first MAC team to roll through the regular season undefeated since Marshall in 1999.

After winning its first 10 games by double figures, Ball State received its first challenge of the season last week at Central Michigan, rallying from a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 31-24 victory.

Nate Davis threw four touchdowns and MiQuale Lewis rushed for 177 yards, helping Ball State set a school record with its 11th win of the season.

In the process, the Cardinals likely ended Central Michigan's two-year reign as MAC champions, although the Chippewas could still get into the title game if tiebreakers break right in a three-way deadlock with Ball State and Western Michigan.

Ball State could get another challenge against Western Michigan, whose only loss in conference play came against Central Michigan (38-28).

The Cardinals have been the glamour team in the MAC this year, but Western Michigan (9-2, 6-1) has quietly put together a solid season of its own and could sneak into the MAC title game with a win over Ball State, coupled with an Eastern Michigan win over Central Michigan.

A 27-17 victory over Toledo on November 15 gave the Broncos nine wins in a season for only the third time in school history and the first since 2000.

Western Michigan's only other defeat was a 47-24 season-opening loss at Nebraska.

While Davis and Lewis lead Ball State's offense, the Broncos also boast a dangerous duo in quarterback Tim Hiller and running back Brandon West.

Hiller has completed 305-of-448 passes for 3,382 yards and 33 touchdowns, while West has rushed for 909 yards - the fifth-best total in the MAC.

Ball State rallied for a 27-23 win over Western Michigan last season as Davis passed for 358 yards.