BLOG 19: This week is a critical football game for Bulldogs

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State assistant football coach Whitney Bell demonstrates a technique to his players during defensive line drills in Big Rapids (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Let there be no mistake. This weekend’s Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football showdown with Findlay is a monumentally-huge game for Ferris State University’s team.

To this point, Ferris has not been perfect, but the Bulldogs are 2-0 with road wins over Tiffin (14-12) and an Ashland (25-24) team that at the time was nationally ranked. All the hard work has paid dividends for the Bulldogs, but it will be flushed down the drain if Ferris is unable to protect its home field in its opener at Top Taggart Field this weekend against the visiting Oilers.

While the Bulldogs’ season-opening win over Tiffin was not the best effort Ferris is capable of, it resulted in a victory against a group of fighting Dragons. In the tradition of what so many college football coaches hope, Ferris showed tremendous improvement between weeks one and two of the young season.

Points of improvement have been numerous for Ferris: The downfield passing game has gotten better and become more consistent, the Bulldogs’ running game made strides against the Eagles and the secondary (led by preseason All-American, senior Terrell Heggins) came around with some tough and physical play to complement the play of the line and the performance of the linebackers.

The play of the special teams unit needs to improve this weekend if the Bulldogs want to hold serve on their home field against the Oilers to treat Ferris’ fans to a win in their first opportunity to see the team at Top Taggart Field with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com