The Game: The Ferris State University football team will conclude its 1999 regular season this Saturday (Nov. 13) as the Bulldogs square off against archrival Grand Valley State University Lakers in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action in Allendale, Mich.

Kickoff/Stadium: 1 p.m. (EST)/Arend D. Lubbers Stadium (6,000).

Radio Coverage: This Saturday’s contest at Grand Valley State can be heard live on WBRN-AM (1460) – Big Rapids. John Smith will provide the play-by-play and Jason Edwards will assist with color commentary. The pregame show begins at 12:40 p.m. (EST) with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

The Records: Ferris State, which is listed 26th in this week’s Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette rankings, is presently 6-3 overall and 6-2 in the GLIAC after suffering a 40-37 conference road loss to Hillsdale two weeks ago (10/30) at HC’s Frank D. “Muddy” Waters Stadium in Hillsdale, Mich. Last season, Ferris posted a 5-6 overall record and was 5-5 (sixth-place tie) in the GLIAC. The Bulldogs were 3-7 both overall and in the conference in 1997. Prior to two seasons ago, FSU had won an unprecedented five consecutive GLIAC titles (1992-96).

Grand Valley State stands at 5-4 overall and 5-3 in the GLIAC to date after recording a 21-7 conference home victory over Michigan Tech last Saturday (Nov. 6) at GVSU’s Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Mich. The Lakers were NCAA Division II Playoff participants last season after compiled a 9-3 overall record while claiming the GLIAC title with a first-place 9-1 mark. GVSU is 3-2 at home this season after registering a 4-2 home mark last year.

The Coaches: Ferris State – Jeff Pierce (Ferris State, 1979), 5th season, 36-19-0 (.655) — (1-3-0 vs. Grand Valley State); Grand Valley State – Brian Kelly (Assumption, 1983), 9th season, 70-28-2 (.467) — (4-3-1 vs. Ferris State).

Pierce, the 1995 GLIAC Coach-of-the-Year, had served 12 years as a Bulldog assistant coach prior to being named head coach in 1995. He spent seven years as Ferris’ defensive coordinator.

The Series: Grand Valley State has a 16-11-1 lead over Ferris State in the series, which commenced in 1971 (10-9) with a 57-0 FSU home victory over the Lakers. GVSU has won the last three meetings, including a 56-53 road overtime decision over Ferris in last season’s finale (11/14) at Big Rapids, Mich. FSU had went 3-0-1 against the Lakers prior to the last three contests and two victories – 23-0 (10/17/92) and 27-21 (10/1/94) occurred in Allendale. GVSU registered a 36-17 triumph in its most recent home appearance (9/21/96) versus the Bulldogs. Ferris is 6-7-0 on the road and 5-9-1 at home against the Lakers.

Last Meeting – 1998: Plenty of scoring was featured in the regular-season finale at FSU’s Top Taggart Field as Grand Valley State pulled out a 56-53 overtime win over Ferris State before 4,965 fans in this conference matchup. FSU kicker Doc Proctor’s 42-yard field goal with a second remaining in regulation sent the contest into overtime tied at 50-apiece. The Bulldogs went up 53-50 in the extra session on Proctor’s 29-yard field goal before the Lakers responded on running back Rick Granata’s six-yard TD run for the game-winning points on their offensive series. Ferris started out claiming a 21-7 lead after the opening quarter on two TD’s by tailback Mo Harris – a one-yard run and an eight-yard pass reception from quarterback Matt McCarthy. Harris’ five-yard TD scamper in the second quarter accounted for the host’s lone points as FSU claimed a 28-14 halftime advantage. The Bulldogs then went up 38-21 after three quarters of play with third-quarter TD’s by split end Clarence Coleman on a 55-yard punt return and a Proctor 21-yard field goal. GVSU overcome a 47-28 fourth-quarter deficit to go ahead 50-47 with :29 left in regulation. McCarthy passed for 415 yards while Coleman and Mozdzierz had 13 catches apiece for 244 and 112 yards, respectively. Tailback Kurt Dubowski rushed for 133 yards and Harris posted a 120-yard total.

Grand Valley State Football – 1999: The Lakers have won five of their last six games and are midst a two-game winning streak entering this weekend’s action. Frosh quarterback Curt Anes (109-212, 1,630 yds., 8 TD’s) is at the controls of an offense, which also includes the their top rusher in frosh running back Brent Lesniak (134-843 yds, 6 TD’s) and leading receiver – junior wide out Grant Malecke (52-796 yds., 3 TD’s). The GVSU offense is currently averaging 428.4 yards in offense, including a 224.1 rushing average. Defensively, the Lakers rank third among the GLIAC leaders in total defense (329.3 ypg.). Paving the way are frosh linebacker William Gray (88 tackles) and junior strong safety Terry Fosher (73 stops).

FSU’s Last Game: Hillsdale freshman kicker Blake Barisich’s 43-yard field goal with five seconds left proved to be the game winner as the Chargers posted a 40-37 conference home evening win over Ferris State (Oct. 30) in Hillsdale, Mich. Hillsdale, which held a 30-point advantage (37-7) with 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, squandered its lead as the Bulldogs erupted for 30 unanswered points to knot the game at 37-all with 1:32 left in the contest as senior tailback Mo Harris (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough) scored on a two-yard run and the two-point conversion pass from senior quarterback Matt McCarthy (Alma) to freshman flanker Doug Searles (Marshall) was successful. The host Chargers had claimed a 30-7 halftime advantage as the Bulldogs’ lone first-half points came with 5:34 remaining in the opening quarter on McCarthy’s 66-yard TD pass to senior flanker Neal Mozdzierz (Royal Oak/Kimball). HC quarterback Kyle Keefer, who passed for two TD’s in the first half, rushed from a yard out with under two minutes left in the third quarter to put the Chargers up 37-7 before FSU made its valiant comeback in the final quarter. The Bulldogs posted four consecutive TD’s in the stanza with the first three via the pass. The fourth quarter’s initial TD came on a 13-yard TD pass play from McCarthy to Searles with 14:48 showing on the scoreboard and then minutes later, Mozdzierz was on the receiving end of a 13-yard McCarthy pass as Ferris trailed 37-21 at the 12:17 mark following McCarthy’s two-point conversion pass to Mozdzierz. The Bulldogs then cut into the HC lead again (37-29) with just under four minutes left as McCarthy hooked up with junior split end Ira Childress (Baldwin) on a 74-yard TD pass followed by a two-point pass conversion from McCarthy to sophomore split end Clarence Coleman (Miami, Fla./Miramar), setting the stage for Ferris to tie the game with 1:32 remaining. Both teams combined for 497 total offensive yards as the Bulldogs accounted for 497 yards. McCarthy threw for a career-high 441 yards on 36-of-64 passing and four TD’s while Coleman led the receivers with 12 receptions for 106 yards. Searles had 70 yards in receiving on eight catches and Childress garnered five receptions for 110 yards. Junior outside linebacker Rob Ridling (Sault Ste. Marie/Sault Area) racked up a personal career-best 24 tackles (12 solo) while sophomore free safety Alvin Grier (Benton Harbor) had 16 stops and junior defensive tackle Ryan Morris (South Lyon) notched 14 tackles.

1999 GLIAC Standings

 Northwood     	 7-1 (8-1)
 Hillsdale 	 6-2 (8-2)
 Ferris State	 6-2 (6-3)
 Ashland 	 6-3 (6-3)
 Northern Mich.  5-3 (5-4)
 Grand Valley 	 5-3 (5-4)
 Michigan Tech 	 5-4 (5-4)
 Indianapolis  	 4-4 (6-4)
 Mercyhurst 	 4-5 (5-5)
 Saginaw Valley  4-5 (4-6)
 Westminster 	 2-7 (3-7)
 Findlay 	 2-7 (2-7)
 Wayne State 	 0-10(0-10)
 

Two Week’s Ago GLIAC Results
at Hillsdale 40, Ferris State 37*
Wayne State at Michigan Tech*
Indianapolis at Northern Michigan*
Westminster at Gannon (Pa.)
Saginaw Valley State at Mercyhurst*
Grand Valley State at Ashland*
Northwood at Findlay*

Last Week’s GLIAC Results
at Indianapolis 30, Ashland 10*
at Saginaw Valley State 38, Hillsdale 33*
Mercyhurst 28, at Findlay 14*
Westminster 24, at Wayne State 14*
at Northwood 41, Northern Michigan 30*
at Grand Valley State 21, Michigan Tech 7*

This Week’s GLIAC Games
Ferris State at Grand Valley State*, 1 p.m.
St. Joseph’s (Ind.) at Wayne State, 12 p.m.
Northwood at Michigan Tech*, 12 p.m.
Hillsdale at Indianapolis*, 1 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Westminster*, 1 p.m.
Findlay at Ashland*, 1:30 p.m.
All times are Eastern *GLIAC Game

FSU in This Week’s GLIAC Team Statistical Rankings
Scoring Offense: 1st 47.2 ppg.
Scoring Defense: 9th 26.6 ppg.
Pass Offense: 2nd 304.0 ypg.
Pass Defense: 6th 200.9 ypg
Kickoff Returns: 4th 20.7 ypr.
Punting: 13th 27.7 ypp.
Turnover Margin: 10th -0.33 tpg.
Rushing Offense: 2nd 234.1 ypg.
Rushing Defense: 8th 153.9 ypg.
Total Offense: 1st 538.1 ypg.
Total Defense: 8th 354.8 ypg.
Punt Returns: 1st 14.9 ypr.
Pass Efficiency: 3rd 142.5 rating pts.
Pass Efficiency Defense: 11th 126.8 rating pts.
Field Goals: 5th .556 (5-9)
Time of Possession: 10th 27:49 (250:27)

FSU in This Week’s GLIAC Individual Statistical Rankings
Rushing: 1st Mo Harris, 163.2 ypg.
Passing Yards: 2nd Matt McCarthy, 267.3 ypg.
Total Offense: 2nd Matt McCarthy, 263.6 ypg.
    9th Mo Harris, 163.2 ypg.
Receptions: 1st Clarence Coleman, 7.22 rpg.
    4th Neal Mozdzierz, 6.56 rpg.
Receiving Yards: 2nd Clarence Coleman, 109.7 ypg.
    6th Neal Mozdzierz, 92.9 ypg.
All-Purpose Running: 1st Mo Harris, 191.4 ypg.
    2nd Clarence Coleman, 188.3 ypg.
    8th Neal Mozdzierz, 114.2 ypg.
Interceptions: 8thT Charlie Pierson, 3 total (127 yds.)
Passing Efficiency: 2nd Matt McCarthy, 142.7 rating pts.
Punt Returns: 2nd Clarence Coleman, 14.8 ypr.
Kickoff Returns: 3rd Clarence Coleman, 28.3 ypr.
Scoring: 3rd Neal Mozdzierz, 8.7 ppg.
    4th Mike Collins, 7.8 ppg.
    5th Clarence Coleman, 7.6 ppg.
    7thT Mo Harris, 7.3 ppg.
    9thT Doc Proctor, 7.0 ppg.
Field Goals: 6th Doc Proctor, 0.56 fgpg. (5-9)
Tackles: 4thT Rob Ridling, 10.2 avg.
    9th Charlie Pierson, 9.4 avg.
    13thT Steve Dillon, 8.6 avg.
    Ryan Morris, 8.6 avg.
    17thT Alvin Grier, 8.1 avg.
    32ndT Devin Hutchings, 6.9 avg.
    34th Dave Zuiderveen, 6.7 avg.
Quarterback Sacks: 3rdT Dave Zuiderveen, 11 total (-68 yds.)
    3rdT Jeff Puffer, 11 total (-62 yds.)
Tackle For Loss: 3rd Dave Zuiderveen, 20 total (-89 yds.)
    6thT Jeff Puffer, 14 total (-68 yds.)

Bulldog Bites: Senior quarterback Matt McCarthy set FSU single-game passing records at Hillsdale for yards (441), attempts (64), and completions (36). The team offensive co-captain is only 183 yards shy of becoming the school’s career passing leader. McCarthy has thrown for a 8,354 career yards while current all-time leader Dave DenBraber (1984-87) amassed an 8,536-yard total . . . Senior flanker Neal Mozdzierz needs 120 more receiving yards to set FSU’s all-time record. Mozdzierz has 2,457 yards to date on a school-best 196 receptions and would surpass Cedric Gordon’s (1985-87) 2,576-career yard total (151 career catches) . . . Ferris continues to lead the NCAA Division II national leaders this week in total offense (538.1 ypg.) and scoring offense (47.2 ppg.) while ranking fourth in passing offense (304.0 ypg.) and 21st in rushing offense (234.1 ypg.).

FSU On The Internet: Ferris State University Athletics’ web home page can be accessed through the university’s home page address at http://www.ferris.edu. The football section features a wide variety of Bulldog gridiron information, including video clips of selected FSU contests. The video highlights can be viewed at:  http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/sports/football/videoclips/homepage.htm. The GLIAC has its own web site at http://www.gliac.org.

Bulldogs of the Week: Following each game, individual players will be recognized by the FSU coaching staff for their outstanding performance. Individual(s) will be selected on offense, defense, specialty teams, and for extraordinary effort (every player, every play).