Dec. 2, 2024
Ferris State football team dominates Central Oklahoma 78-17 to advance in NCAA DII playoffs
The nation's top-ranked Ferris State University Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II Super Region Three Championship game with a dominating 78-17 win over visiting University of Central Oklahoma on Saturday in the second round of the D2 Playoffs.
The Bulldogs generated 688 yards of total offense and ran for 485 yards on the ground despite snowy weather in the decisive win, ending the Bronchos' title hopes in the playoff game.
Ferris State, which is the top seed in Super Region Three, will host defending national champion Harding University in the regional final on Dec. 7, in Big Rapids.
"We were able to do some really good things out there today," Ferris State head coach Tony Annese said. "We had a resounding win, as resounding a win in the playoffs as I've ever had."
"Central Oklahoma won the MIAA. We know that they finished ahead of Pitt State, beat a good Central Missouri team. Emporia State is a really good. The list goes on of the good teams they've beat."
The Bulldogs opened the game strong offensively, scoring on their first offensive possession following a missed UCO field goal as Ferris State drove 80 yards in 14 plays. Junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss capped the drive with a one-yard TD run to give Ferris State the early edge.
Central Oklahoma responded by moving 65 yards in four plays to tie the game on Jaylen Cottrell's 46-yard reception from quarterback Jett Huff with 6:02 to play in the first quarter.
The Broncos took their only lead of the game to start the second quarter when Nicky Quevedo finished off a 10-play, 63-yard jaunt with a 27-yard field goal, making it a 10-7 game.
The Bulldogs took control from there. Junior tailback Kannon Katzer ran for three scores in the second quarter and Chambliss added another touchdown run along with a passing score as Ferris State surged in front and took a commanding 41-17 halftime lead.
Katzer's first score came on a 38-yard touchdown run to finish a seven-play, 87-yard scoring drive for the Bulldogs with 8:28 to play in the second. Then, following a Central Oklahoma turnover, the Bulldogs needed only three plays to move 22 yards on a short field with Chambliss reaching paydirt on a five-yard keeper.
Each of the next two Bulldog scores came from Katzer, who gashed the UCO defense in the second period. He scored on a 36-yard run to finish a three-play, 52-yard drive with 3:52 to go before half and then finished another short two-play, 43-yard march with a 38-yard touchdown run.
"Coming out, we have to set the tone, and we did," Chambliss said. "We knew they were a pretty good defense with some playmakers out there. Credit to our offensive line. They've been getting it done for us. Without them we're nothing. Credit to Kannon Katzer, who had a great game, and others for doing some great things along with our defensive unit for the way they played."
Central Oklahoma cut the margin to 34-17 on Terrill Davis' 52-yard touchdown run on a reverse with 2:08 left in the half, but Ferris State answered quickly and needed only 1:18 to move 66 yards in six plays. Chambliss found sophomore slot receiver Taariik Brett on a 15-yard touchdown throw with 42 seconds to play before halftime.
Any hopes of a Central Oklahoma comeback were dashed in the third quarter as Ferris State scored on the first drive after the break, needing only 1:04 to drive 67 yards in three plays. Chambliss found the endzone again on a 10-yard TD run and then finished off the next FSU drive with a 25-yard scoring carry, making the contest 55-17 midway thru the period.
The Bulldogs pushed the advantage on 62-17 late in the third on tailback Zak Ahern's one-yard run with 3:41 to go and fellow back James Coby made it 69-17 with 15 seconds left in the quarter on a 20-yard touchdown run.
In the fourth quarter, Ahern scored for a second time with a 65-yard sprint up the sideline and the Bulldogs also earned a safety late in the game with only 5:19 to go as Central Oklahoma bobbled a snap and the Bronchos' punter kicked the ball thru the endzone, accounting for the final margin.
Katzer had a big day for the Bulldogs with a career-high 200 yards rushing and three scores on 12 carries while Chambliss ran for 116 yards and four touchdowns on 18 attempts. Ahern added 69 yards and two scores.
In the passing game, Chambliss completed nine-of-18 throws for 203 yards and a touchdown. James Gilbert led the Bulldog receivers with 105 yards on three catches. Meanwhile, senior Emari O'Brien caught two balls for 44 yards and Brady Rose had two grabs for 20 yards.
The Bulldog defense limited the nation's top offensive unit to 442 yards overall as UCO compiled 207 yards on the ground and 235 thru the air. FSU forced four turnovers as linebacker Sefa Saipaia and safety Justin Payoute each intercepted a pass and the Bulldogs recovered two fumbles. Jalen Jones led the Ferris State defense with eight stops overall.
With the win, Ferris State advanced to the Super Region Three Championship Game for the seventh time in the last eight seasons overall. Ferris State is now 11-1 on the year while Central Oklahoma concluded the year with an 11-2 mark.