VAN WIEREN NAMED GLIAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ferris Quarterback Leads Bulldogs To Season's First Victory

Ferris State quarterback C.J. Van Wieren scored three touchdowns, including the game winner, in the Bulldogs' win over Mercyhurst Saturday. (Photo by Sandy Gholston)

Ferris State University football sophomore quarterback C.J. Van Wieren (Holland/West Ottawa) has been named this week's (Sept. 26) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Bulldogs' 33-27 conference victory over Mercyhurst last Saturday (Sept. 24) at FSU's Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich.

Van Wieren rushed for a game-high 194 yards and scored three touchdowns while throwing for 219 more yards as the Bulldog offense rolled up a season-high 533 yards in total offense. The signal caller averaged 6.9 yards per carry and scored on TD runs of two, 21, and five yards in FSU's sixth annual Hall of Fame game. His five-yard TD rush with 8:45 remaining in the fourth quarter proved to be the winning margin for Ferris. Van Wieren completed 18-of-30 passes in the game.

In five games this season, Van Wieren is Ferris' top rusher with 274 yards and three TD's on 62 carries while averaging 4.4 yards per attempt. He's also completed 52.4% (44-84) of his passes for a team-best 544 yards with a pair of TD's. Van Wieren is averaging 108.8 yards in passing per contest to date this season.

Van Wieren is also a member of the Ferris State men's basketball team.

Ferris, which is presently 1-4 both overall and in the GLIAC for the 2005 campaign, will go up against the University of Findlay Oilers this Saturday (Oct. 1) evening at UF's Donnell Stadium in Findlay, Ohio. A 7 p.m. (EDT) opening kickoff is scheduled for the conference encounter.