October 16, 1999
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Ashland at Ferris State October 16, 1999 |
The Game: The Ferris State University football team, which is presently in sole possession of first place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), will put its five-game conference winning streak on the line this Saturday (Oct. 16) as the Bulldogs celebrate their 73rd Homecoming against the Ashland University Eagles at Big Rapids, Mich.
Kickoff/Stadium: 2 p.m. (EDT)/Top Taggart Field (9,100).
Radio Coverage: This Saturday’s contest against Ashland 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 starts at 1:40 p.m. (EDT) with opening kickoff at 2 p.m.
The Records: Ferris State improved to 5-1 overall and 5-0 in the GLIAC with a convincing 62-20 road league triumph over Wayne State last Saturday (Oct. 9) at Wayne State Stadium in Detroit, Mich. The Bulldogs are 2-0 at home this season after posting a 3-2 home mark a year ago. 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).
Ashland won its fourth straight game while improving to 4-1 both overall and in the GLIAC following a 39-14 home conference win over 12th-ranked Michigan Tech last Saturday (Oct. 9) at AU’s Community Stadium in Ashland, Ohio. The Eagles, who are ranked 24th in this week’s Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette NCAA-II Poll and 28th in the USA Football’s NCAA-II Poll, are 2-1 on the road this campaign. AU finished 7-3 both overall and in the GLIAC (fourth-place tie) last season.
The Coaches: Ferris State – Jeff Pierce (Ferris State, 1979), 5th season, 35-17-0 (.673) — (2-2-0 vs. Ashland); Ashland – Gary Keller (Bluffton, 1973), 6th season, 32-25-0 (.561) — (2-3-0 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: Ashland holds a 9-4-0 advantage over Ferris State in a series which started in 1967 (10/7) with a 21-7 Eagles’ victory in Big Rapids. FSU suffered a 59-37 loss at Ashland last season (10/17) and was dealt a 26-7 home setback in the 1997 season opener (8/28), which snapped the Bulldogs’ four-game series winning string. Ferris, which is 2-4-0 at home and 2-5-0 on the road versus the Eagles, posted a 20-6 home triumph in 1993 (9/11) and won 20-13 at home in 1995 (9/9).
Last Meeting – 1998: Offense was the name of the game as both teams combined to set several conference scoring records. Ashland set a mark for most second-half points with 43 while the two teams combined for 70 second-half points and 48 fourth-quarter points, both league records. The two teams accumulated a conference-record 56 first downs. The Eagles, who scored 16 straight points to begin with, led 16-10 at halftime. The Bulldogs rallied as kicker Doc Proctor booted a 52-yard field goal and quarterback Matt McCarthy hooked up with flanker Neal Mozdzierz on a 24-yard TD pass with 11 ticks remaining before halftime. AU began the second half with two consecutive TD’s in the third quarter and led 31-10 with 10:08 left in the stanza, but Ferris countered as the McCarthy-to-Mozdzierz combination struck on a 14-yard TD pass play at the quarter’s 3:38 mark as the Bulldogs trailed 31-17. In the fourth quarter, the teams exchanged TD’s three times as the Eagles hit paydirt with 14:24 remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, cornerback Kelly Snell returned the ball 91 yards for a TD to get within 38-24. AU countered with a score at 12:10 before Ferris answered back through the air as split end Clarence Coleman was on the receiving end of McCarthy’s 32-yard TD pass. FSU, which faced a 45-31 deficit with 10:53 left, couldn’t prevent AU quarterback Mark Molk from scoring his second rushing TD. The Bulldogs’ final TD occurred at 2:59 when McCarthy threw a 21-yard pass to Mozdzierz. Ferris rolled up 407 yards in total offense, but allowed 603. McCarthy totaled 315 yards in passing and four TD’s after completing 28-of-51 attempts while Mozdzierz caught nine passes for 121 yards and three TD’s. Coleman had eight receptions for 104 yards. FSU received a 13-tackle effort from outside linebacker Charles Anderson and 10 by defensive tackle Ryan Morris.
Ashland Football – 1999: The Eagles feature one of the nation’s top defensive units as evidenced by ranking tied for eighth place in rushing defense (84.2 ypg.), 10th-place tie in scoring defense (14.0 ppg.), and are tied for 16th in turnover margin (1.20) this week. AU presently leads the GLIAC in scoring defense while ranking second in rushing defense, total defense (299.4 ypg.), and pass defense efficiency (100.1 rating pts.). Junior quarterback Jeff Leopold (53-89, 774 yds., 7 TD’s) is at the controls of the AU offense, which also includes frosh tailback J.R. McCoy (56-336 yds.) and junior flanker Jarrod Pruiett (16-382 yds., 3 TD’s).
FSU’s Last Game: Ferris State continued on the winning path as the Bulldogs amassed 668 yards in total offense en route to a 62-20 league victory at Wayne State last Saturday (Oct. 9) in Detroit, Mich. FSU dominated the first half with 52 unanswered points as the visitors held a 52-0 advantage at halftime. Ferris took a 7-0 lead at 12:05 into the contest as senior quarterback Matt McCarthy (Alma) hooked up with sophomore split end Clarence Coleman (Miami, Fla./Miramar) on an 84-yard TD pass play and then senior tailback Mo Harris (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough) scored his first of three first-half TD runs on a 15-yard run. Harris added two consecutive rushing TD’s (17 and 27 yards) before McCarthy threw for a pair of TD passes – seven yards to senior flanker Neal Mozdzierz (Royal Oak/Kimball) and five to junior tight end Josh Heppner (Marshall). Senior kicker Doc Proctor’s (Big Rapids) 24-yard field goal in the first quarter and a six-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Kyle Park (Goshen, Ind.) to Heppner accounted for the remainder of FSU’s first-half scoring. Following a scoreless third quarter, Wayne State was able to get on the scoreboard with back-to-back TD’s to make it 52-13 with 9:13 remaining in the contest. The Bulldogs then proceeded to go up 55-13 on Proctor’s 35-yard field goal with just under five minutes left before the Warriors countered 29 seconds later on a 55-yard TD run. Sophomore tailback John Zocco’s (Wallingford, Ct./Lyman Hall) two-yard TD run with 15 ticks remaining concluded the game’s scoring. Harris finished the afternoon with a game-high 151 yards rushing and three TD’s on 13 carries while sophomore tailback Miquel Cooper (Lansing/Sexton) had 61 yards on eight attempts. McCarthy completed 14-of-16 passes for 241 yards and three scores while Park was 15-of-21 for 148 yards and a TD. In receiving, Mozdzierz led the way with a game-high seven receptions for 61 yards and a TD. Coleman posted 162 receiving yards on five catches while Heppner garnered five receptions for 41 yards and two TD’s. Defensively, junior outside linebacker Rob Ridling (Sault Ste. Marie/Sault Area) and senior middle linebacker Steve Dillon (Traverse City) had a team-leading nine tackles apiece.
Ferris State 5-0(5-1) Northwood 4-1(4-1) Ashland 4-1(4-1) Michigan Tech 4-1(4-1) Hillsdale 3-1(5-1) Grand Valley 2-2(2-3) Northern Mich. 2-2(2-3) Mercyhurst 2-3(3-3) Indianapolis 2-3(3-3) Findlay 2-3(2-3) Saginaw Valley 2-3(2-4) Wayne State 0-6(0-6) Westminster 0-6(0-6)
Last Week’s GLIAC Results
Ferris State 62, at Wayne State 20*
at Saginaw Valley State 36, Westminster 30*
at Northern Michigan 32, Findlay 7*
at Grand Valley State 26, Mercyhurst 19*
at Ashland 39, Michigan Tech 14*
Northwood 17, at Indianapolis 8*
at Hillsdale 41, Gannon (Pa.) 7
This Week’s GLIAC Games
Ashland at Ferris State*, 2 p.m.
Gannon at Northwood, 12 p.m.
Indianapolis at Wayne State*, 12 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech*, 12 p.m.
Saginaw Valley State at Grand Valley State*, 1 p.m.
Westminster at Mercyhurst*, 1:30 p.m.
Hillsdale at Findlay*, 1:30 p.m.
All times are Eastern *GLIAC Game
FSU in This Week’s GLIAC Team Statistical Rankings
Scoring Offense: 1st 50.0 ppg.
Scoring Defense: 9th 27.7 ppg.
Pass Offense: 2nd 316.8 ypg.
Pass Defense: 4th 199.7 ypg
Kickoff Returns: 6th 19.7 ypr.
Punting: 13th 28.4 ypp.
Turnover Margin: 5thT 0.17 tpg.
Rushing Offense: 2nd 242.5 ypg.
Rushing Defense: 7th 161.3 ypg.
Total Offense: 1st 559.3 ypg.
Total Defense: 8th 361.0 ypg.
Punt Returns: 1st 15.3 ypr.
Pass Efficiency: 1st 154.8 rating pts.
Pass Efficiency Defense: 8th 128.8 rating pts.
Field Goals: 1st .667 (4-6)
Time of Possession: 8th 28:57 (173:46)
FSU in This Week’s GLIAC Individual Statistical Rankings
Rushing: 1st Mo Harris, 157.2 ypg.
9th Mike Collins, 61.0 ypg.
Passing Yards: 2nd Matt McCarthy, 265.5 ypg.
Total Offense: 2nd Matt McCarthy, 261.5 ypg.
Receptions: 2nd Neal Mozdzierz, 8.33 rpg.
3rd Clarence Coleman, 7.00 rpg.
Receiving Yards: 2nd Clarence Coleman, 124.0 ypg.
3rd Neal Mozdzierz, 113.7 ypg.
All-Purpose Running: 2nd Clarence Coleman, 194.8 ypg.
3rd Mo Harris, 178.7 ypg.
6th Neal Mozdzierz, 140.2 ypg.
Passing Efficiency: 1st Matt McCarthy, 156.3 rating pts.
Punt Returns: 2nd Clarence Coleman, 15.1 ypr.
Scoring: 3rd Neal Mozdzierz, 9.7 ppg.
4th Mike Collins, 9.0 ppg.
6th Doc Proctor, 8.3 ppg.
7th Clarence Coleman, 8.0 ppg.
Field Goals: 3rdT Doc Proctor, 0.67 fgpg. (4-6)
Tackles: 8thT Rob Ridling, 9.3 avg.
8thT Charlie Pierson, 9.3 avg.
18thT Steve Dillon, 7.5 avg.
21stT Ryan Morris, 7.3 avg.
25thT Alvin Grier, 7.0 avg.
32ndT Dave Zuiderveen, 6.7 avg.
38thT Devin Hutchings, 6.2 avg.
Quarterback Sacks: 2nd Dave Zuiderveen, 10 total (-64 yds.)
6thT Jeff Puffer, six total (-34 yds.)
Tackle For Loss: 2nd Dave Zuiderveen, 15 total (-74 yds.)
8thT Jeff Puffer, nine total (-40 yds.)
Bulldog Bites: Ferris State is ranked 18th nationally this week by Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette NCAA-II Top 40 poll after occupying the 19th-place spot in last week’s poll . . . The Bulldogs continue to lead the nation in total offense (559.3 ypg.) this week while ranking second in scoring (50.0 ppg.), fourth in passing (316.8 ypg.) and 16th in rushing (242.5 ypg.) . . . Senior kicker Doc Proctor, the GLIAC’s Special Teams Player-of-the-Week two weeks ago (10/2) for his performance at Northern Michigan, was also selected co-special teams player-of-the-week by Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette . . . The Bulldogs’ 668 yards in total offense at Wayne State (10/9) was a yard shy of tying the school record of 669 yards set against Grand Valley State last season (11/14) . . . FSU is 28-25-2 (.527) in homecoming contests dating back to 1931 and the Bulldogs have won nine of their last 10 encounters, including a 37-13 victory over Wayne State last season (10/10) . . . Senior tailback Mo Harris is 64 rushing yards away from tying Chuck Evans (1974-77) as the FSU’s all-time rushing leader. Harris has totaled 3,482 career yards to date while Evans compiled a 3,546-yard total . . . Ferris’ five victories to date this season already equals last year’s win total (5-6) . . . The Bulldogs have surpassed the 500-yard single-game total offense mark four times this fall . . . FSU is currently operating at 90% (27 of 30) scoring efficiency inside the red zone (opponent’s 20-yard line).
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.
Up Next: Ferris State concludes the home portion of its regular-season schedule as the Bulldogs entertain the Michigan Tech University Huskies in GLIAC play at FSU’s Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids. Starting time is slated for 1:30 p.m. (EDT).
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).
| Date | Opponent | Bulldogs of the Week |
| Sept. 2 | North Dakota State | Offense-Neal Mozdzierz Defense-Rob Ridling Specialty-Clarence Coleman EPEP-Todd Budden |
| Sept. 11 | Saginaw Valley State | Offense-Matt McCarthy Defense-Ryan Morris Specialty-Jason Wells EPEP-Dennis Strey |
| Sept. 18 | Findlay | Offense-Neal Mozdzierz Defense-Jeff Puffer Specialty-Mike Stempki EPEP-Dave Zuiderveen |
| Sept. 25 | Northwood | Offense-Jason Losinski Defense-Devin Hutchings Specialty-Ryan Hodges EPEP-Mo Harris |
| Oct. 3 | Northern Michigan | Offense-Clarence Coleman Defense-Dave Zuiderveen Specialty-Doc Proctor EPEP-Charlie Pierson |
| Oct. 10 | Wayne State |
Offense-Mo Harris |
| Oct. 16 | Ashland (HC) | |
| Oct. 23 | Michigan Tech | |
| Oct. 30 | Hillsdale | |
| Nov. 13 | Grand Valley State |
Home games listed in bold HC – Homecoming
