Oxford, Ohio -- (Sports Network) - MiQuale Lewis was one yard short of matching his career high as his 165 yards on the ground and two touchdowns powered 14th-ranked Ball State to a 31-16 victory over Miami-Ohio to keep the Cardinals' dream season alive.

Nate Davis threw for 289 yards with a touchdown and interception on 17-of-24 efficiency for Ball State (10-0,6-0 MAC), which is off to the best start in the program's history and remained one of five unbeaten teams at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

Briggs Orsbon hauled in seven catches for 97 yards, while Darius Hill caught a touchdown during a four-catch, 70-yard effort for the Cardinals, who have won each game this season by at least 12 points.

The Cardinals have arguably their toughest game of the season Wednesday, November 19 when they travel to play Central Michigan, which is a perfect 5-0 in the Mid-American Conference.

"It's an accomplishment but we've got to win the conference," Ball State head coach Brady Hoke said. "We've weathered ten storms but now we have two more important ones...Obviously it's great to win, it's great coming here. Winning on the road and in the conference isn't easy to do."

Daniel Raudabaugh, filling in for an injured Clay Belton, threw for 254 yards and a score on 25-of-42 throws for Miami-Ohio (2-8, 1-5), which has dropped three straight.

Chris Givens caught three passes for 66 yards and the RedHawks' lone touchdown, and Thomas Merriweather ran for a team-high 65 yards on 18 carries.

Miami-Ohio appeared ready for an upset after recovering a fumble at Ball State's 45 early in the third quarter. But the Cardinals defense held strong and forced the RedHawks to kick a field goal.

Nick Parseghian's 31-yard boot made it 17-16 with 10:48 to play in the quarter, but BSU responded with a quick scoring strike.

Lewis rushed for 42 yards and Orsbon hauled in a 36-yard grab to the RedHawks goal line before Lewis finished things off with a rush up the middle for a TD.

The Cardinals all but put the game away with a 12-play, six-minute drive that spanned into the fourth quarter. Lewis penetrated the end zone from a yard out to go up 31-16 with 10 minutes left to play.

With what little hope Miami-Ohio had at handing the Cardinals their first loss fell by the wayside when Armand Robinson dropped a sure pass in the end zone on 4th-and-7 with six minutes left.

"It's frustrating. I think we went toe-to-toe with them," Miami-Ohio head coach Shane Montgomery said. "They just made more plays than we did. It's frustrating because it's been happening all year. When it comes down to pressure situations, we aren't making plays. We have to give them credit... they made the plays."

Ball State recovered a fumble on Miami-Ohio's first possession and Lewis ran seven straight times for 57 yards to get down to the goal line. On 4th-and- goal, however, Madaris Grant dropped a catchable ball in the corner of the end zone to keep the game scoreless.

The RedHawks proceeded to hold the ball for the next 9:17, converting four third downs before settling for a Parseghian 39-yard field goal three minutes into the second quarter.

A 34-yard kickoff return after Miami's field goal gave BSU good field position, and Davis hit Darius Hill from 17 yards out for the go-ahead score.

The RedHawks drove into the red zone with their next try but again mustered just three points on Parseghian's 37-yarder with 5:57 to play in the half.

A 46-yard swing pass to Lewis highlighted BSU's next drive that resulted in Davis calling his own number at the goal line on 3rd-and-goal.

The touchdown put the Cardinals ahead 14-6, but Givens came down with Raudabaugh's jump ball deep in BSU territory and outran the secondary before diving into the end zone for a 49-yard score with 55 seconds left in the half.

Three Davis completions for a total 37 yards left 0.4 ticks remaining before the intermission buzzer, and Ian McGarvey got enough behind his 46-yard attempt to make it 17-13 in favor of the visitors at the break.

Game Notes

The RedHawks have not beaten a Top 25 team since topping No. 17 Bowling Green on November 4, 2003...Miami-Ohio next plays at Toledo on November 21...The ReHawks still hold a 16-10-1 edge in the series...BSU has not allowed a foe to score over 20 points in any of its last seven outings.