fsutorch
Following a 42-0 rout of Northern Michigan that pushed their winning streak to an NCAA-record 35 consecutive games, the Ferris State Bulldogs are turning their attention to Saginaw Valley State. The top-ranked Bulldogs (5-0, 1-0 GLIAC) will host the Cardinals (2-3, 0-1 GLIAC) at Top Taggart Field on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m.
In the victory over Northern Michigan, Ferris State amassed 508 yards of total offense while limiting the Wildcats to just 176 yards. The ground game did most of the damage, with 11 different players carrying the ball and eight of them rushing for at least 17 yards. Sophomores Keyvell Cooper and Jake Price each scored on the ground, while quarterbacks Wyatt Bower (sophomore) and Chase Carter (junior) added one rushing touchdown apiece. Of the 176 yards allowed by the Bulldogs, 104 came from junior running back Noah Dobert, who carried the ball 24 times.
Saginaw Valley enters the matchup riding a three-game losing streak, with each defeat coming by 10 points or fewer. The Cardinals fell 35-28 to No. 25 Northwood, 21-17 to Kentucky State, and most recently 37-27 to No. 11 Davenport. During that skid, Saginaw Valley is averaging 368 yards and 24 points per game, with most of its production coming through the air via redshirt junior quarterback Connor Wolf. Wolf leads the GLIAC with 1,408 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and only three interceptions.
The Bulldogs' defense, which allows just 270 total yards and 162.8 passing yards per game, will look to contain Wolf and the Cardinals' aerial attack. Key contributors in the secondary include sophomore Quentin Pope (15 tackles, three pass breakups) and sophomore Trace Corlew (22 total tackles, three pass breakups).
Last season, Saginaw Valley was the only team to seriously challenge Ferris State in the regular season, pushing the Bulldogs to double overtime before falling 51-45. In that game, Bower struggled, throwing three interceptions and losing two fumbles. Reflecting on that performance, Bower said, "I think that we got caught up thinking we were unbeatable and we got punched in the mouth last year. This year we have the confidence in ourselves, and I think that we will be able to get it done at a high level."
Defensively, the Cardinals have surrendered 433 yards and 28.2 points per game. Their most recent outing against Davenport was particularly rough, as they gave up 544 yards and 37 points, including 363 yards on the ground. Offensively, Ferris State has been firing on all cylinders, averaging 516 yards and 44.6 points per game. Bower has been the standout, passing for 853 yards, eight touchdowns, and just two interceptions, while also leading the team with 302 rushing yards and five rushing scores. His top target has been junior wide receiver Jaylin Townsend, who has 15 receptions for 273 yards (18.5 yards per catch, sixth in the GLIAC) and two touchdowns.
Senior defensive back Jeremiah Housey spoke about the advantage of returning home to play in front of the Bulldog faithful. "Playing at home in front of our Bulldog fans gives us a lot of energy," Housey said. "Our fans bring a completely different atmosphere, and we feed off of that energy. We're excited to be back home, and we want to protect our home field and give our fans something to be proud of."
Key Analysis
Ferris State's record-setting winning streak and high-powered offense will be tested by a Saginaw Valley team that has kept games close despite its losing record. The Cardinals' passing attack, led by Connor Wolf, poses a threat, but the Bulldogs' stingy defense and home-field advantage could prove decisive. The memory of last year's double-overtime thriller may serve as extra motivation for Ferris State to avoid another scare.
Originally reported by fsutorch.