Bowling Green, KY -- (Sports Network) - Nate Davis threw for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14-of-22 passing to lead 25th-ranked Ball State in a 24-7 victory over Western Kentucky.

MiQuale Lewis gained 112 yards with a TD on 18 carries for the Cardinals (7-0), who are ranked in the AP Top-25 for the first time in the program's 84- year history. Louis Johnson had four grabs for 56 yards and a score, while Briggs Orsbon had three catches for 24 yards and a TD.

David Wolke tallied 161 yards on 17-of-29 passing with a TD and a pick and added 58 yards on the ground for the Hilltoppers (2-5), who have dropped three in a row and four of their last five tilts overall. Jake Gaebler had 10 catches for 100 yards and the only score for WKU.

After an offense-starved opening quarter, Davis hooked up with Orsbon for a five-yard touchdown pass to break the scoreless tie and cap a 69-yard trek. The score gave Ball State a 7-0 lead with 13:50 left in the second stanza.

The next five possessions didn't produce any points, as the 7-0 score held up through the intermission.

Ian McGarvey missed a 21-yard field goal wide right on Ball State's first drive of the second half, but the visitors forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Western Kentucky drive.

The Cardinals took over at their own 29 and proceeded to march down the field. A 38-yard run by Lewis highlighted the touchdown trek and Lewis also punched it in from a yard out with 6:14 left in the third to give Ball State a 14-0 cushion.

As the game shifted to the fourth quarter, Ball State took over at its own 33 with 14:41 left. Davis hit Johnson for a 19-yard gain to kick off the drive, and the Cardinals moved the ball into Hilltoppers territory until the trek stalled at the 19. McGarvey then nailed a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-0 with 8:06 left in regulation.

A quick three-and-out from WKU led to a 20-yard touchdown reception from Johnson, which ballooned the Cardinals' lead to 24-0 with 6:31 to play.

Gaebler hauled in a 20-yard TD with under a minute left in the game to finally get WKU on the scoreboard, 24-7. The scoring strike lasted eight plays and went 72 yards in 2:05.

Game Notes

Ball State's success comes in the wake of a career-ending spinal injury to star wideout Dante Love...Ball State beat WKU a year ago to tie the head-to- head series and took a 2-1 lead after Saturday's win.