AMHERST, N.Y. – Behind each end zone in UB Stadium, a banner proclaims "2008 MAC Champions." The banners are large enough to show up on film for all opposing players to see.
The meaning of the banners wasn't lost on the Ball State upperclassmen who were a part of the team ranked No. 12 in the country that was supposed to get to hang their own banners in Scheumann Stadium. But Buffalo upset Ball State in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game two years ago, ruining the Cardinals perfect season.
Memories of that loss served as motivation throughout the week and made the Cardinals' 20-3 victory Friday night in front of 11,355 fans that much sweeter.
"People remember that," safety Sean Baker said. "We wouldn't have felt bad running the score up if we had the opportunity."
The Cardinals would have to settle for winning back-to-back games for the first time since their 12-game winning streak in 2008. They didn't trail after the first play of the second quarter when Keith Wenning found wide receiver Otis Brown over the middle for a 32-yard touchdown.
The strike gave them a 7-3 lead, and from there, the Ball State defense would go to work. Buffalo was limited to 154 yards of offense and turned the ball over four times. Three of the turnovers were credited to Baker, who made two interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
"Baker played like old Baker," coach Stan Parrish said.
Baker's first interception of the game gave him the Ball State career record, passing Shafer Suggs and Mike Lecklider with 15. He added to the record in the third quarter with his second pick of the night. In between, he added the 26-yard fumble return on the first play of the third quarter.
Baker stripped the ball, with an assist by middle linebacker Travis Freeman, and then scooped it up and found nothing but open field in front of him. He raised the ball over his head and streaked into the end zone.
"It came right out," Baker said. "I just wanted to make sure they knew I had the ball."
The three points allowed by Ball State was its lowest total since shutting out Toledo in 2008. Baker said the goal was to stop the Bulls' rushing attack, which the Cardinals did. Buffalo gained just 95 yards on the ground, led by backup quarterback Jerry Davis with 43.
Linebacker Davyd Jones said the defense played with better energy.
"Every person that plays defense brought energy and enthusiasm," he said. "We hit them and they felt it."
Defensive end Robert Eddins knocked Bulls' quarterback Alex Zordich out of the game in the first quarter with a rib injury. He was replaced by Davis, but the Bulls became a one-dimensional team. Davis was intercepted twice and completed just 1-of-10 passes for -1 yards.
Wenning, meanwhile, did what Ball State needed him to do to win. He completed 18-of-26 passes for 174 yards and didn't make any costly mistakes.
"Keith managed the game the way a quarterback's got to," Parrish said.
Wenning was backed by a stronger and healthier rushing attack, led by Eric Williams. The sophomore rushed for 109 yards, the second 100-yard game of his career and his first since Opening Night.
Williams had been hampered for the last few weeks by injuries, but is back to full health. His return eased the loss of MiQuale Lewis with a shoulder injury early in the game.
But Friday night was about the defense and Ball State's small revenge of the 2008 MAC Championship Game upset. After the victory, Baker said he would remove the end zone championship banners.
"I'd be more than happy to do it," he said, "if I won't get in trouble."
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