Davis put the Cardinals in front for good with 7:29 to play with his fourth scoring toss of the game and Ball State then survived two Central Michigan possessions -- one of which was briefly kept alive by a video review.

Ball State improved to 11-0 for the season and to 7-0 in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals will try to complete a perfect regular season next Tuesday when they host Western Michigan, which will carry a 9-2 record into the contest.

Central Michigan, which with a win would have clinched a berth in the conference title game, fell to 8-3 and 6-1.

Ball State trailed by a touchdown going into the fourth quarter, but Davis tied it on a 45-yard pass to Louis Johnson. An 11-yard Davis-to-Briggs Orbson scoring throw put the Cardinals in front.

Central Michigan then drove to the Ball State 33, but a sack and a poorly executed fake punt gave the ball back to the Cardinals. The Chippewas regained the ball at their own 13 with 62 seconds to go and quarterback Dan LeFevour appeared to be intercepted on first down.

A video review, however, showed the ball hit the ground before being scooped up and Central Michigan quickly drove to the Ball State 36. But LeFevour was then picked off by Sean Baker to end the threat.