BIG RAPIDS – The Ferris State University football team cruised to a 55-13 victory against Roosevelt University before a boisterous Homecoming crowd on Saturday.
But Roosevelt, in the first matchup between the two universities, posed more of a challenge than many expected and became just the second team this season to score more than seven points against the Bulldogs. The Lakers scored on a pair of field goals and an end zone fumble recovery.
“Roosevelt did a good job keeping the ball away from us,” Ferris State head coach Tony Annese said after the game. “They had a good game plan for us. Our defense made some really good plays. All in all, it was a great Homecoming victory. I am proud of these guys. They keep coming to work every day.”
Roosevelt, located in Chicago, is new to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and new to NCAA Division II competition.
The Bulldogs improved to 4-1 on the season and are ranked No. 5 in the nation. The team is coming off a record-setting 84-7 road win at American International College last week in Springfield, Massachusetts.
While Ferris State has scored early in their wins this season, Roosevelt held the Bulldogs off the scor board until late in the first quarter, when junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss connecting with running back Kannon Katzer on a 65-yard touchdown pass. The Bulldogs never looked back.
“Our O-line did a really good job blocking today,” said Katzer, a junior from Spokane, Washington. “We have great threats on the outside which makes it tough for teams to defend us.”
Ferris State led 28-10 at halftime, and the team added four touchdowns in the second half to get to the 55-point mark for the third time in four games.
After opening the season with a 19-3 loss to Pittsburg State, Ferris State has outscored opponents 238-26.
Chambliss, from Grand Rapids, was 18 for 30 in passing for 224 yards, connecting for three touchdowns and adding 43 yards and score on two rushing attempts.
On defense, Ferris State intercepted Roosevelt quarterback Carson Budke three times and held the opposition to 265 yards of total offense.
“I’m proud of our guys,” said Sefa Saipaia, junior linebacker, from Fort Collins, Colorado. “We got off to a slow start, but we got back together at halftime and came out stronger after that.”
The contest was the first of seven GLIAC games for Ferris State, which next week faces Wayne State University. Roosevelt falls to 0-4 and will play Saginaw Valley State University at home next week.
- Ferris State University
