BLOG 16: Noe’s block preserves victory for Bulldogs

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State receiver Mike Ryan hauls in a pass Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs took on Ashland University in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football game at Community Stadium in Ashland, Ohio. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

ASHLAND, Ohio – Ferris State University senior linebacker Kevin Noe looked almost like he knew the snap count – and boy did he make Ashland University pay dearly.

As the Eagles lined up for a game-winning field-goal attempt, with Ashland trailing 25-24 on the scoreboard, Noe and his teammates were plotting spoiler roles. Noe timed the snap perfectly, blew his way through the line, and pounced all over the football as his block of a 32-yard field-goal attempt helped the Bulldogs hang on for a 25-24 victory to stun the crowd of 3,007 at Community Stadium in Ashland, Ohio.

“That was a big play for us to get right there to help us win that game,” Ferris head coach Jeff Pierce as he shook his head and released a deep-held sigh as members of his starting defense came through big on a field-goal attempt that would have won the game for the Eagles. “We certainly have some improvements that we need to make, in terms of the things that we do with our special teams, but special teams did come through for us when we needed a play right there.”

Special teams had been a trouble spot for the Bulldogs as a muffed punt attempt, a personal-foul facemask penalty and a missed extra-point attempt were among the special teams errors that nearly cost Ferris dearly. But, in spite of some of those miscues, in the special teams, the unit came up big – when it mattered most – as Noe swatted the ball away on the field-goal attempt that might have won the game, but instead silenced the partisan crowd on the Ashland side of the stadium.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs celebrated and breathed a sigh of relief – all at the same time.

“It wasn’t always pretty for us, but we got a stop we needed at the end,” Pierce said.

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