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Ball State faces Buffalo in MAC title game

Dec 2, 2008 - 6:02 PM (12) Ball State (12-0) vs. Buffalo (7-5), 8:00 pm EST

DETROIT (Ticker) -- This year's Mid-American Conference championship game will have a decidedly new feel as it pits a pair of teams making their first appearance in the contest.

With a berth in the Motor City Bowl on line, No. 12 Ball State faces Buffalo in Friday's contest at Detroit's Ford Field.

The Cardinals (12-0, 8-0 MAC West), who set a school record for wins and rolled to their first undefeated regular season since 1949, have been established as a two-touchdown favorite.

Buffalo (7-5, 5-3 East) will attempt to do what no one was able to accomplish during the regular season - slow down Ball State's tandem of quarterback Nate Davis and running MiQuale Lewis.

The Cardinals clinched their first MAC West title with a 45-22 victory over Western Michigan on November 25. They are seeking their first MAC crown since 1996, when there was no conference title game.

"I am really happy for this group of kids and this senior class to come together and accomplish what they set out to get, but we're not finished yet," Ball State coach Brady Hoke said.

Lewis rushing for three touchdowns against Western Michigan, giving him 20 for the season and breaking Mark Bornholdt's previous school record of 19 set in 1979.

Lewis is the fourth-leading rusher in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 1,570 yards, while Davis is the sixth-rated quarterback in the FBS, having thrown for 3,095 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Ball State has won 11 of its 12 regular-season games by double figures. Its only test was a 31-24 victory at Central Michigan in which it had to rally from a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Coached by former Nebraska star quarterback Turner Gill, Buffalo heads to Detroit after a wild season. The Bulls were involved in six games that were decided on the final play, including three in overtime.

Buffalo clinched its first MAC East crown with a 40-34 double-overtime win at Bowling Green on November 21.

The Bulls won after the biggest comeback in school history, rallying from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter as Drew Willy threw two touchdowns in the final 2 1/2 minutes of regulation to force overtime.

Buffalo's top threats are running back James Stark, who has rushed for 1,226 yards and 14 TDs, and receiver Naaman Roosevelt, who has 86 receptions for 1,196 yards and 10 scores.

The Bulls are hoping to secure the school's first bowl bid. Fifty years ago, Buffalo turned down an invitation to the Tangerine Bowl after the school was told not to bring its two black players to the game.