BIG RAPIDS - The Ferris State Bulldogs are heading to the NCAA Division II National Championship game. The Bulldogs overcame a slow start on offense and a turnover filled first half Saturday afternoon to rally for a 48-38 win over Slippery Rock. This marks the first title game appearance for Ferris State since 2022 and their third trip to the championship in the past four years. The Bulldogs won it all in that 2022 appearance. They will face top-seeded Valdosta State next Saturday in Texas.
Trinidad Chambliss scored 3 rushing touchdowns, and Kannon Katzer added one as well. The Bulldog defense had four interceptions in the game as well, with one being a pick-six. 2 of the other interception occurred in the end zone.
Ferris State head coach, Tony Annese talked about what he told the team at halftime during his postgame press conference.
“We’re just happy to be heading to Texas. We feel blessed to be able to do it, our guys know what it’s all about. At halftime, we were probably a little nervous and I just walked in at halftime, and I said, hey, a lot of times we’re up at halftime. We always say 0 to 0. I said, Let’s just think about it that way again, even though we’re down 11. Think about trying to get a grasp of what we need to do to perform at the level that we can perform at,” said Annese.
The National Championship will be next Saturday at 2 P.M. Eastern.