BLOG 38: Bulldogs take aim at improved Northern Michigan program

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State assistant football coach Phil Fortier instructs linemen during a drill in practice (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris can hardly afford to dwell too much on its tough, hard-fought 31-13 gridiron loss last weekend at rival Grand Valley.

Coming to Big Rapids, this weekend, is a hungry and capable Northern Michigan squad coming off a 47-21 loss to its chief rival, Michigan Tech, before a record crowd in the Superior Dome in Marquette. That game was played before a national television audience and picked up by Fox Sports Detroit. The Wildcats and Bulldogs will battle in the Hall of Fame Game at Top Taggart Field on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m.

“We know we still have some work to do with a good Northern Michigan football team (1-2 overall and 1-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) coming to campus. We’re going to have to be ready to play some football and we have to put (the Grand Valley game) behind us,” said Ferris head coach Jeff Pierce, who has a 10-3 record during his career as a head coach against the Wildcats. “We have to come out ready to play a good football game.”

That has never been truer for Ferris which still has plenty to play for this season. The Wildcats are a strong and disciplined team that plays hard and plays smart football.

Ferris, playing for just the second time this season at home, has to protect its home field to keep alive hopes and dreams of big things by the end of the campaign.

On the Wildcats’ side, Mark Bossuah is Northern’s top rusher with 360 yards and averaging 120 per game. He also is responsible for three touchdowns on the ground. NMU has a solid passing game to balance its offense. Defensively, The Wildcats are aggressive and have shown an ability to get to the quarterback with 11 sacks.

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