The NCAA Division II football playoffs continue this Saturday and we’re onto the second round. Among the final 16 teams left standing is Ferris State. After securing a victory last weekend in the opening round of the playoffs, the Bulldogs now look to stay alive on Saturday.
FSU (10-1) picked up a hard-earned 24-19 win last week in their first-round game at home against Ouachita Baptist (AR). The Bulldogs actually trailed 10-0 to Ouachita after one quarter of play and as many as 13-0 to start the game. Their first score did not come until late in the second quarter when senior running back and East Grand Rapids product Jahaan Brown punched it in from one yard out.
Ferris did not take their first lead until early in the third quarter when senior defensive back and Lansing Everett product Jaleel Canty recovered a fumble and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. Ouachita eventually reclaimed the lead early in the fourth after a pair of field goals but Ferris sophomore quarterback Travis Russell, from Grand Rapids West Catholic, tallied the game-winning touchdown on the ground late in the fourth to give Ferris a win and advance.
Ferris State as a team rushed nearly 300 yards against the Tigers last week. Russell and fellow quarterback, senior Reggie Bell, were responsible for 199 yards combined, part of a Bulldogs rushing attack that paced the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season.
Head coach Tony Annese & Co. now hit the road and head west for Kansas to play undefeated Fort Hays State, who is the top-ranked team in this region of the Division II field.
Ferris State continues their quest for their first ever football championship in school history this Saturday (November 25). Kickoff is tabbed for 2 p.m. ET. Fans can view the game on the Bulldog Sports Network and listen on Sunny 97.3 FM WDEE. You can also follow along on the team’s verified Twitter and Facebook pages for in-game updates.
