Nov. 4, 2024
Ferris State football team, ranked No. 2 in the nation, tops Northern Michigan 55-9 for seventh win in a row
The No. 2-ranked Ferris State University football team ran for 325 yards and rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense in a decisive 55-9 road victory over winless Northern Michigan University on Saturday at the Superior Dome.
The Bulldogs, coming off a 34-7 win over previously top-ranked rival Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic last week, beat NMU for the 13th straight time to move to 8-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the GLIAC.
"Grit is a characteristic of our team," head coach Tony Annese said. "We fought hard, and we played hard. The execution wasn't great at times, but I give them credit. Our kids know how to be competitors and I'm proud of them."
Ferris State finished the game with 507 yards of offense on 60 plays, including 325 rushing yards on 42 attempts. FSU also threw for 182 yards and the Bulldog defense held Northern Michigan to only 246 yards while forcing two turnovers in the win.
The Bulldogs took the early edge as junior linebacker Iosefa Saipaia scooped up a NMU fumble midway through the first quarter and raced 56 yards to the end zone on a fumble recovery return on the Wildcats' first offense possession to put Ferris State in front early.
The score stood until the 7:42 mark of the second quarter when junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss of Grand Rapids reached the endzone on a one-yard scoring run to cap a four-play, 57-yard scoring drive, giving the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.
NMU responded with a blocked punt for a safety to trim the margin to 14-2 with only 4:48 to go in the opening half.
The Bulldogs then scored twice in the final four minutes to push the advantage to 27-2 at the break. Ferris State’s Brady Rose raced to the end zone on an 11-yard scoring run with 3:56 to go after the defense set up a short field with a fumble recovery at the 13-yard line.
After Rose's score, the Bulldog defense held Northern Michigan on third down and the offense got the ball back and drove 60 yards in only four plays before Chambliss scored for the second time on a four-yard carry with only 59 seconds to play in the half.
The Bulldogs started the second half strong as tailback Kannon Katzer raced 66 yards for a score only two plays into the period, giving FSU a 34-2 lead. Later, with 6:34 to play in the third, quarterback Chase Carter sprinted 28 yards to pay dirt on his first offensive play of the game to make it 41-2 in FSU's favor as he finished a lengthy 12-play, 64-yard march.
Ferris State tailback James Coby closed the third quarter scoring with a 34-yard rushing touchdown with 2:59 to go as the Bulldogs took a 48-2 lead into the final frame. Coby's score capped a four-play, 50-yard drive.
The Bulldogs' final score came with 8:12 remaining on Carter's 35-yard scoring throw to redshirt freshman wideout Tae Boyd, ending a 10-play, 77-yard scoring possession.
Finally, NMU closed the scoring when quarterback Jake Blitz found receiver Michael Love on a long 78-yard bomb with 6:35 to play in the game.
Katzer ran for a game-high 126 yards for Ferris State on five carries while Chambliss completed seven-of-15 passes for 141 yards. Jeremiah Lee led the Bulldogs in the receiving game with two catches for 17 yards while Taariik Brett hauled in a 53-yard reception and Rose had a 48-yard grab.
"I think all of us running backs had a good, all-around game," Katzer said. "I give a lot of credit to all of our running backs for what we were able to do. We had a lot of guys who were out there busting long running plays the whole game. It's cool to see from our group."
Defensively, Saipaia had 10 tackles for Ferris State in addition to his fumble recovery return for a score. Nine of his stops came in the first half of play. Safety Michael Edwards added eight tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss.
"I think we could have definitely started the game better, but I'm proud of our guys to come out at halftime and be the team that we know that we can be out there," Saipaia said. "We know we need to finish stronger. But you know, the standard is the standard for us and I'm proud of my guys."
For Northern Michigan, Jahi Wood led the Wildcats with 48 yards rushing. Blitz completed two-of-eight passes for 105 yards. Love had two catches for 92 yards and Sam Peiffer grabbed two receptions for 32 yards.
The Bulldog defense limited NMU to only a five-of-13 showing on third down. Meanwhile, Ferris State went nine-of-13 and was two-of-three on fourth down along with three-of-five in the redone.
Ferris State will return home to host Saginaw Valley State University in a battle of two of the GLIAC's top teams next Saturday, Nov. 9, at Top Taggart Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Big Rapids.