BLOG 76: Ferris ends season with loss to Saginaw Valley

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State quarterback/receiver Tom Schneider carries the football around a block during Saturday’s home game at Top Taggart Field against Saginaw Valley State (FSU Photographic Services)

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State University’s season-ending 26-14 home football loss to Saginaw Valley State was, in many ways, a microcosm of the Bulldogs’ losses throughout the 2008 season.

The Bulldogs indeed showed some flashes of their potential, but too often were victimized by an abundance of mistakes at crucial times. In the end, a season that began with a promising 3-0 record ends with Ferris having to live with a 6-5 finish as the program looks ahead to evaluations, winter workouts and the spring campaign.

Against the Cardinals, Ferris fumbled the ball seven times and lost five in addition to throwing a pair of interceptions during a rainy and snowy afternoon Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Top Taggart Field. The turnovers, the large amount of turnovers, blew up potentially positive drives throughout the contest as Ferris lost field position, golden scoring opportunities and even up points on the scoreboard as a result of the giveaways.

The weather was challenging, but it was challenging for both teams and Saginaw Valley did the better job of adjusting.

“It was a sloppy day out there but in the end you have to be able to control the football and we didn’t do that nearly enough,” said Ferris head coach Jeff Pierce, who wrapped up his 14th season at the helm for the Bulldogs. “I give our defense a tremendous amount of credit because our defense definitely gave us a chance to win a football game and that’s one of the things that make this (loss) so disappointing and frustrating.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs enjoyed a spectacular 41-yard touchdown run from quarterback Kyle Parrish, who at one point looked as if he was down, in the first quarter and then a 9-yard touchdown run from quarterback Tom Schneider, who also played a little at receiver for the Bulldogs, in the first quarter as well. That, however, was as good as got for Ferris as Pierce’s squad was held scoreless through the second, third and fourth quarters.

Saginaw Valley trailed 14-10 at the end of the first, but bounced back for 13 points in the second quarter and added a field goal in the fourth quarter to put the Bulldogs away.

“We’ve lived on the edge most of this season and Saginaw Valley is a good football team,” Pierce said as his team’s roller-coaster season came to an end. “When you look at all the teams in this league there really is not much of a difference in the caliber of teams you’re going to face each weekend. It comes down to the team that plays the best and executes the best.”

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