Ball State's pass-oriented spread offense and Navy's run-based triple-option attack marched up and down the field at will, piling up the points and yards at a dizzying pace. It became obvious midway through the third quarter that the first team to get a defensive stop would gain the upper hand.

Ball State came up with that game-changing stand, stiffening at its own 3-yard line while clinging to a five-point lead late in the third quarter. Defensive tackle Drew Duffin and linebacker Bryant Haines led the charge as the Cardinals stuffed Navy quarterback Jarod Bryant on a keeper on fourth-and-one.

"Obviously, that fourth-and-one was the turning point of the game," Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. "If we score (a touchdown), it's a totally different game."

Bryant followed fullback Eric Kettani into the hole and was met by a Duffin, Haines and a horde of Cardinals as the Midshipmen were forced to turn the ball over on downs with 2:21 left in the third period. Niumatalolo did not regret calling that play in that situation.

"It's been good to us many times. They (the Cardinals) just made a good play," he said.

Quarterback Nate Davis completed 21 of 28 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns as Ball State outscored Navy 35-23 before an overflow crowd of 22,517 at Scheumann Stadium and a national television audience on ESPN.

Wide receiver Dante Love and tailback MiQuale Lewis also posted eye-popping statistics as Ball State piled up 493 total yards. Love had nine receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns while Lewis rushed for 120 yards on 21 carries for the Cardinals (2-0).

"We needed more stops," said Niumatalolo, whose defense didn't force a punt until late in the fourth quarter, but did come up with two interceptions. "They have so many weapons and Davis has such great composure. They can beat you running or throwing the ball. It's kind of like pick your poison and we couldn't find a way to stop them."

Navy (1-1) kept pace for the better part of three quarters by confounding the Ball State defense with its triple-option, which piled up 346 yards rushing. Slot back Shun White rushed for 128 yards on 13 carries to lead the Mids, who never punted in the game.

Quarterback Jarod Bryant took 31 option keepers for 94 yards while fullback Eric Kettani rumbled for 92 yards on 11 carries for Navy, which led just once in the wild affair. The Midshipmen sandwiched touchdowns on either side of halftime to take a 23-21 lead that was short-lived.

Navy came out of the locker room and struck quickly to start the second half as White broke loose for a 71-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. White took a pitchout, cut back toward the middle of the field and found a wall of blockers. Kettani showed superb speed in leading the speedy senior down the right sideline before cornerback B.J. Hill made a touchdown-saving tackle at the 8-yard line.

It didn't matter as Bryant ripped off a 7-yard run on the next play then dove over on the next play to put the visitors ahead by two with just 1:37 elapsed in the third quarter.

Trailing for the first time in the game, Ball State responded with an impressive 11-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to retake the lead, 28-23, at the 7:33 mark of the third period. Davis hit Love with an 18-yard pass to set up the score and those two connected again for an 8-yard scoring play that brought the fourth-largest crowd in Ball State history back to life.

Navy was attempting to answer with a touchdown of its own that could have put the visitors ahead 30-28 when the key fourth-down stop occurred. Bryant completed a 26-yard pass to White to open the series, quickly moving the Mids into enemy territory. White took a pitchout 12 yards on third-and-two to keep the drive alive and had a chance to score the go-ahead touchdown.

On third-and-six from the Ball State 8-yard line, White got a pitch at full speed and probably would have scored had he cut inside a Tyree Barnes block. Instead, White was run out of bounds at the 3-yard line by cornerback Trey Buice, the man Barnes was blocking.

"We didn't execute on offense. We had too many mistakes as a team to get the win," said White, who felt the failure to convert on fourth-and-one proved costly. "We were on the goal line and couldn't get one yard. They took the momentum and ran with it."

Navy had to feel good about going into halftime trailing just 21-15 since things did not go well for most of the initial 30 minutes. The Midshipmen traded field goals for touchdowns in falling behind 21-9 with 3:54 remaining in the second quarter.

However, Kettani burst through a big hole up the middle and rumbled 45 yards to the Ball State 19-yard line to set up Navy's only touchdown of the half. Bryant kept the ball on a triple-option play, split two defenders and raced untouched into the end zone to bring the Midshipmen within five points with 1:11 left.

Davis had a terrific first half, completing 12 of 17 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. However, Davis also tossed two interceptions with cornerback Blake Carter and linebacker Ram Vela coming up with the picks.

BALL ST. 35, NAVY 23

Navy 6 10 7 0 - 23

Ball St. 14 7 7 7 - 35

First Quarter

BSU-Love 61 pass from N.Davis (McGarvey kick), 13:48.

Navy-FG Harmon 49, 9:17.

BSU-Love 6 run (McGarvey kick), 5:41.

Navy-FG Harmon 29, :11.

Second Quarter

Navy-FG Harmon 28, 8:55.

BSU-Orsbon 30 pass from N.Davis (McGarvey kick), 3:54.

Navy-Bryant 14 run (Harmon kick), 1:11.

Third Quarter

Navy-Bryant 1 run (Harmon kick), 13:23.

BSU-Love 8 pass from N.Davis (McGarvey kick), 7:33.

Fourth Quarter

BSU-D.Hill 35 pass from N.Davis (McGarvey kick), 12:46.

A-22,517.

Navy BSU

First downs 22 26

Rushes-yards 59-346 29-162

Passing 67 326

Comp-Att-Int 6-11-1 21-28-2

Return Yards 2 13

Punts-Avg. 0-0.0 1-41.0

Fumbles-Lost 2-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 1-6 3-33

Time of Possession 33:01 26:59

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Navy, S.White 13-128, Bryant 31-94, Kettani 11-92, Shinego 2-25, Doyle 2-7. Ball St., M.Lewis 21-114, Love 6-37, N.Davis 1-12, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING-Navy, Bryant 6-11-1-67. Ball St., N.Davis 21-28-2-326.

RECEIVING-Navy, Barnes 3-27, Finnerty 2-13, S.White 1-27. Ball St., Love 9-165, Grant 4-36, M.Lewis 3-35, D.Hill 2-41, Orsbon 2-38, Ifft 1-11.