WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) _ Joe Gerena carried 15 times for 122 yards in guiding Army's option offense and the Cadets got their first victory of the season Saturday, 41-21 over Ball State.

Gerena kept Army's highly ranked option offense moving throughout the game, leading the Cadets to four touchdowns and two field goals. The Cadets (1-2) marched over Ball State (0-4) 63 times for 447 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per play.

Gerena ran for two touchdowns to start off the second half. His second, a 6-yard dash, put Army ahead 38-7 with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Halfback Brian Rooney had 12 carries for 115 yards.

Though outweighed by an average of 50 pounds per man by Ball State's offensive line, the Cadets' front line sacked Ball State's Brian Conn five times for 35 yards. Ball State ran 61 plays for 237 yards, 144 in the air.

The Cadets' one defensive black eye was poor pass coverage that led to Conn's 40-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Jordan 7:15 into the second quarter.

Linebacker Lyle Weaver made up for the error with a 40-yard interception return that put Army ahead 24-7 with 46 seconds left in the first half.