BIG RAPIDS – The Ferris State University football team wasted little time in making a big statement Saturday as the Bulldogs ran back the opening kickoff for a score and never looked back in a decisive 43-3 win over visiting Ashland University at Top Taggart Field.
In the Bulldogs’ second-straight home game, sophomore Taariik Brett took the opening kickoff 90 yards to the house for a score and Ferris State built a quick 14-0 edge in taking control.
The Bulldogs rolled up 530 yards of total offense and the FSU defense held the Eagles to 130 total yards, including only 21 rushing yards on 27 attempts.
“It was a complete victory. I’m very proud of our guys,” head coach Tony Annese said. “We talked about playing up to our standards and our expectations. It was a super win against a strong opponent.”
Ferris State junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss picked up where he left off the previous week by completing 23 of 30 passes for 286 yards and two scores. He also ran for two touchdowns in the victory.
Following Brett’s game-opening return for a score, the Bulldog defense held and the offense marched 75 yards in only eight plays on its first possession to take a two-score lead less than seven minutes into the game on Chambliss’ one-yard scoring run.
Ashland earned its only points late in the first quarter on a 30-yard field goal from A.J. Rhodes on a drive that covered 62 yards but was aided by a couple of key Bulldog penalties.
However, Ferris State increased its lead in the second period as Chambliss engineered an 80-yard jaunt that resulted in a two-yard TD run from tailback Kannon Katzer, making the score 20-3 in FSU’s favor. Later, the Bulldogs increased the margin to 27-3 when Jeremiah Lee hauled in a 12-yard scoring throw with 6:29 left in the half, capping a five-play, 61-yard journey to pay dirt.
The Bulldog defense got into the scoring act by stopping the Eagles in the end zone for a safety and on the following possession, Ferris State drove 63 yards in 12 plays and took more than five minutes off the clock before scoring on a seven-yard run from Chambliss to close the opening half.
Ferris State added the game’s only score of the second half when Chambliss found senior receiver Tyrese Hunt-Thompson on an 11-yard TD throw less than four minutes into the third period to finish off a 48-yard scoring drive.
“We just attack every day, focusing on getting better every day.,” Hunt-Thompson said. “Trinidad came out today and led us to a complete game.”
From there, the Bulldogs were able to manage the clock and Ferris State utilized several substitutes the rest of the way.
Ferris Tate rolled up 197 yards on the ground, including a team-high 63 yards from Markel King, and threw for 333 overall in the triumph.
The Bulldogs had 30 first downs in the game. James Gilbert hauled in a squad-best five grabs for 54 yards while Emari O’Brien netted four catches for 85 yards while Hunt-Thompson finished with four receptions for 49 yards. Cam Underwood also made three catches and had 68 yards receiving.
Defensively, the Bulldogs allowed 109 yards passing to the Eagles and only the 21 yards rushing. AU quarterback Trevor Bycznski finished nine-of-24 passing for 109 yards but was also intercepted twice.
FSU’s defense was paced by senior linebacker Jason Williams with five tackles, including assisting on a sack and a tackle for loss. Michael Edwards, Sefa Saipaia and Stanley Lambert all chipped in with five tackles as well.
“We’re holding ourselves to a high standard every day,” Saipaia said. “Team chemistry has been big for us, holding each other accountable and playing together as a unit.”
The Bulldogs, who are 2-1 overall, will have a bye on the schedule this coming week and return to play on Saturday, Sept. 28, with a long non-conference road contest at American International in Springfield, Mass. Kickoff is set for noon.
