Findlay at Ferris State  September 18, 1999

Kickoff/Stadium: 7 p.m. (EDT)/Top Taggart Field (9,100).

Radio Coverage: This Saturday’s game versus Findlay can be heard live on WBRN-AM (1460) – Big Rapids. John Smith will call the play-by-play with Jason Edwards providing color commentary. The pregame show begins at 6:40 p.m. (EDT) with a scheduled 7 p.m. (EDT) opening kickoff.

The Records: Ferris State evened its overall record at 1-1 and is 1-0 in the GLIAC following a 56-14 conference-opening triumph over Saginaw Valley State last Saturday (Sept. 11) at SVSU’s Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium in University Center, Mich. FSU compiled a 3-2 home mark and was 2-4 in away contests last year. Last season, Ferris posted a 5-6 overall record and finished tied for sixth place in the GLIAC standings with a 5-5 mark. 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).

Findlay is 1-0 both overall and in the GLIAC after recording a 39-15 season-opening win over Wayne State last Saturday (Sept. 11) in both team’s league opener at Wayne State Stadium in Detroit, Mich. The Oilers were 5-5 both overall and in the GLIAC (sixth-place tie) last season in their inaugural season as a GLIAC member. UF was 1-4 on the road and 4-1 at home a season ago.

The Coaches: Ferris State – Jeff Pierce (Ferris State, 1979), 5th season, 31-17-0 (.646) — (0-1-0 vs. Findlay); Findlay – Doug Coate (Findlay, 1982), 1st season, 1-0-0 (1.000) — (0-0-0 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: Ferris State trails Findlay 8-3-0 in their all-time series which dates back to 1934 (10/27) with the Bulldogs losing 12-6 on the road. UF won the next five meetings before Ferris recorded a 36-16 road win (10/26/68). The Bulldogs are 3-2 in their last five games versus UF, including wins in 1970 (21; 10/31) and 1971 (28-13; 10/30). FSU, which is 1-4 at home and 2-4 on the road against the Oilers, suffered a 24-7 road loss last season (9/19).

Last Meeting – 1998: FSU dropped a 24-7 road decision to Findlay (9/19) in front of a Donnell Stadium crowd of 2,500. The Bulldogs, who trailed 3-0 after the opening quarter, took a 7-3 lead with 2:44 left to go in the first half on quarterback Matt McCarthy’s 16-yard TD pass to tight end Josh Heppner. However, the FSU lead was short-lived as the Oilers marched 76 yards down the field and scored on a one-yard TD run with :44 remaining in the half to claim a 10-7 halftime advantage. The score stayed that way until the fourth quarter when UF’s Jamie Smiddy scored two rushing TD’s (three and four yards) to account for the contest’s final points. The Oilers’ defense held Ferris to 182 yards in total offense while UF garnered 310 yards offensively. FSU quarterback Matt McCarthy threw for 137 yards on 13-of-30 passing with split end Brian Busen catching four passes for 45 yards. Defensive tackle Chris Boudrie’s 13 tackles paced the Bulldogs’ defense, which also received a 12-tackle output from outside linebacker Rob Ridling.

Findlay Football – 1999: The Oilers are led by redshirt frosh quarterback-punter Bryan Hieber, who passed for 218 yards and three TD’s in the win at Wayne State en route to attaining GLIAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors. Hieber also punted for a 36.0 average on two attempts. Senior tight end Darrell Ramsey had 216 yards and three TD’s on nine catches while senior running back Bret Swaney’s 87 yards led all rushers in the contest.

FSU’s Last Game: A 35-point first-half output by Ferris State propelled the Bulldogs to a 56-14 win over Saginaw Valley State last Saturday (Sept. 11) at University Center. Ferris cruised to a 35-0 halftime lead and never looked back as the Bulldogs won for the eighth time in the last nine meetings. Freshman tailback Mike Collins’ (Rochester Hills/Rochester) first of three rushing TD’s occurred on a three-yard scamper as FSU went up 7-0 after the opening quarter. In the second quarter, Ferris exploded for 28 more points as senior flanker Neal Mozdzierz (Royal Oak/Kimball) was on the receiving end of two TD passes (11 and 20 yards) from senior quarterback Matt McCarthy (Alma). Mozdzierz’s second TD, which came with 1:26 remaining before halftime, was sandwiched between a 19-yard TD run by senior tailback Mo Harris (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough) at 9:37 and Collins’ one-yard TD dash at the 6:53 mark. The Bulldogs continued their onslaught in the second half with a 21-point output. Collins increased Ferris’ lead with a two-yard TD run at 13:02 and then about four minutes later, McCarthy hit sophomore split end Clarence Coleman (Miami, Fla./Miramar) with a 30-yard scoring strike as the visitors held a 49-0 advantage. The Cardinals scored a pair of passing TD’s in the fourth quarter, but the outcome had long been decided. Ferris’ final points came with just under eight minutes left to go as junior fullback J.L. Holdsworth (Big Rapids) went up the middle from three yards out to paydirt. McCarthy completed 17-of-30 passes for 235 yards and four TD’s while Mozdzierz had eight receptions for 97 yards and Coleman garnered seven catches for 111 yards. Harris rushed for a game-high 181 yards on 24 carries and Collins had 118 on 22 attempts. Ferris compiled 596 yards in total offense with 313 of those via the ground. SVSU totaled 248 yards in offense, but was held to 97 yards rushing. Junior defensive tackle Ryan Morris (South Lyon) spearheaded the defense with 11 tackles while junior defensive end Dave Zuiderveen (Kalamazoo/Christian) and sophomore outside linebacker Charlie Pierson (St. Ignace/LaSalle) notched seven stops apiece.

1999 GLIAC Standings
GLIAC Overall

Last Week's GLIAC Results
Ferris State 56, at Saginaw Valley State 14*
at Michigan Tech 41, Mercyhurst 26*
Findlay 39, at Wayne State 15*
at Indianapolis 9, Westminster 6*
at North Dakota 29, Northern Michigan 0
at Northwood 41, Grand Valley State 30*
at Hillsdale 29, Ashland 17*

This Week’s GLIAC Games
Findlay at Ferris State*, 7 p.m.
Westminster at Northwood*, 12 p.m.
Saginaw Valley State at Wayne State*, 12 p.m.
Edinboro (Pa.) at Mercyhurst, 1:30 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Hillsdale*, 2 p.m.
Indianapolis at Grand Valley State*, 7 p.m.
Ashland at Northern Michigan*, 7 p.m.

All times are Eastern *GLIAC Game

FSU in This Week’s GLIAC Team Statistical Rankings
Scoring Offense: 1st 45.5 ppg.
Scoring Defense: 9th 34.5 ppg.
Pass Offense: 3rd 278.5 ypg.
Pass Defense: 6th 184.5 ypg
Kickoff Returns: 3rd 26.6 ypr.
Punting: 4th 39.2 ypp.
Turnover Margin: 11thT -1.50 tpg.
Rushing Offense: 1st 234.0 ypg.
Rushing Defense: 7th 140.5 ypg.
Total Offense: 1st 512.5 ypg.
Total Defense: 7th 325.0 ypg.
Punt Returns: 6th 7.0 ypr.
Pass Efficiency: 5th 131.2 rating pts.
Pass Efficiency Defense: 6th 120.6 rating pts.

FSU in This Week’s GLIAC Individual Statistical Rankings
Rushing: 1st Mo Harris, 157.5 ypg.
    7th Mike Collins, 75.0 ypg.
Passing Yards: 3rd Matt McCarthy, 229.5 ypg.
Total Offense: 4th Matt McCarthy, 221.0 ypg.
Receptions: 3rd Clarence Coleman, 8.0 rpg.
    4th Neal Mozdzierz, 7.5 rpg.
Receiving Yards: 4th Clarence Coleman, 105.0 ypg.
    6th Neal Mozdzierz, 98.5 ypg.
All-Purpose Running: 3rd Clarence Coleman, 173.5 ypg.
    4th Mo Harris, 173.0 ypg.
    7th Neal Mozdzierz, 127.0 ypg.
Interceptions: 3rdT J.J. Moreland, one total
Passing Efficiency: 6th Matt McCarthy, 135.3 rating pts.
    10th Kyle Park, 109.5 rating pts.
Punt Returns: 3rd Clarence Coleman, 8.7 ypr.
Kickoff Returns: 1st Clarence Coleman, 51.0 ypr.
Punting: 5th Doc Proctor, 39.2 avg.
Scoring: 4th Neal Mozdzierz, 16.0 ppg.
    9th Mike Collins, 9.0 ppg.
Tackles: 4thT Rob Ridling, 9.0 avg.
    20thT Ryan Morris, 8.0 avg.
    45thT Dave Zuiderveen, 6.0 avg.
    45thT Devin Hutchings, 6.0 avg.

Proctor Named GLIAC Player-of-the-Week: Doc Proctor has been selected this week’s GLIAC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week for his efforts at Saginaw Valley State last Saturday. Proctor connected on all eight of his extra-point attempts, which was just one shy of the FSU single-game record. He also had three punts totaling 124 yards for a 41.3-yard average. Proctor earned the honors twice last season – at Winona State (9/7) and versus Northern Michigan (10/3).

Bulldog Bites: Neal Mozdzierz became FSU’s all-time receiving leader at Saginaw Valley State, surpassing Cedric Gordon’s (1985-87) 151-career catch total. Mozdzierz, who had eight catches for 97 yards in the contest, presently has 152 career receptions for 1,818 yards and 13 TD’s. Gordon amassed 2,576 yards and 26 TD’s during his collegiate career . . . Mo Harris moved into third-place on the school’s career rushing list following his season-high 181-yard rushing effort at SVSU. Harris has totaled 2,854 yards and 28 TD’s on 481 carries and surpassed Chris Pulliams’ (1993-96) 2,743-career yard total . . . Doc Proctor’s 207-career points to date moved him ahead of Pulliams (204 points) into third place on Ferris’ all-time scoring charts while Harris is presently fifth with 198 career points . . . J.L. Holdsworth had a “career” game at SVSU with 17 yards rushing and a TD, both of which were firsts in his collegiate career.

Bulldogs At Home: Ferris State is 57-42-2 (.574) at Top Taggart Field since 1980 and sports a 44-31-2 (.584) conference home mark during that span. The Bulldogs are 36-15-2 (.698) overall this decade, which includes a 31-12-2 (.711) league record.

FSU On The Internet: Ferris State University Athletics’ world wide 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.

Up Next: Ferris State concludes its league homestand Saturday, Sept. 25, against the Northwood University Timberwolves. Starting time is 1:30 p.m. (EDT) at FSU’s Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich.

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, ever play).

Date Opponent Bulldogs of the Week