KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Interstat) — In a dominant performance on both sides of the ball, the Western Michigan Broncos shut out the Ball State Cardinals 42-0 in a Mid-American Conference football game Saturday at Waldo Stadium.

The victory, witnessed by an announced crowd of 18,427, propelled Western Michigan to a .500 record at 3-3 overall, while Ball State fell to 2-3.

The game was never in doubt as Western Michigan’s offense, led by a spectacular dual-threat performance from quarterback Broc Lowry, consistently moved the ball, and a relentless defense smothered Ball State’s attack from start to finish. The Broncos’ defense recorded six sacks and forced two critical turnovers, holding the Cardinals to just 75 total yards of offense.

Ball State’s offense, which had shown life in recent weeks, was completely neutralized. Cardinals quarterback Kiael Kelly, a Tampa, Florida native, was under constant pressure and finished with just 68 passing yards and 7 net rushing yards. The Cardinals managed only eight first downs in the game and never advanced the ball inside the Western Michigan 30-yard line.

The tone was set early. After forcing a quick three-and-out from Ball State, the Broncos’ offense embarked on a methodical 11-play, 80-yard drive. The series was capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge from running back Ofa Mataele, giving Western Michigan a 7-0 lead with 1:56 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Broncos extended their lead in the second quarter. Following a Ball State fumble recovered by safety Tate Hallock, Western Michigan needed just five plays to find the end zone again. Lowry connected with versatile weapon Michael Brescia on a 5-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 14-0.

Western Michigan’s defense continued to set the table. After another Ball State punt, the Broncos orchestrated a 73-yard scoring drive. A 25-yard run by Aveion Chenault set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Jalen Buckley, widening the margin to 21-0 with 8:16 left in the half.

Ball State showed a brief flicker of life just before halftime, moving the ball to near midfield, but the drive stalled, and the Broncos took their three-score lead into the break.

Any hope of a Ball State comeback was extinguished on Western Michigan’s first possession of the second half. The Broncos marched 73 yards in 10 plays, with Lowry finishing the drive by hitting Chenault for a 14-yard touchdown pass, making the score 28-0.

The fourth quarter saw the Broncos add two more touchdowns to complete the rout. The first came on a spectacular 37-yard touchdown run by Lowry, showcasing his elusiveness and speed. Lowry, a Canfield, Ohio native, finished an efficient day completing 23 of 27 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for a game-high 108 yards and another score on 13 carries.

The final touchdown was scored by the backup unit. Quarterback Brady Jones, a Murrieta, California native, found tight end Cade Conley for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 3:42 left to seal the 42-0 final.

Defensively, Western Michigan was led by a ferocious pass rush. Defensive lineman Nadame Tucker was unblockable, recording 3.5 sacks and seven total tackles from his spot on the defensive front. The Broncos’ defense as a whole tallied 11 tackles for loss.

For Ball State, the defensive effort was led by linebackers Joey Stemler and Alfred Chea, who each recorded seven tackles. Safety Eric McClain intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter for the Cardinals’ lone takeaway.

The loss was a stark contrast to Ball State’s previous outing, a 20-14 victory over Ohio. The Cardinals will look to rebound next Saturday when they host Akron.

Western Michigan, which has now won two straight after its victory over Massachusetts last week, will have a bye week before traveling to face Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 25.

The final score defied the pregame projections. Ball State had been installed as an 8.5-point underdog, and the Interstat game simulator had projected a 35-25 Western Michigan victory. The combined point total of 42 fell just under the over/under line of 43.5.