In their regular season finale, Ferris State football rocked the Wayne State Warriors on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Top Taggart Field.
The Bulldogs (8-2, 5-1 in GLIAC) defeated the Wayne State Warriors (3-8, 2-4 in GLIAC) with the final score of 63-19. The win helps put an exclamation point on another winning season while also helping punch their ticket to the DII football playoffs.
Following their loss to Grand Valley, their second loss on the season, the Bulldogs needed to win the rest of their games if they wanted a shot at making the playoffs. Head coach Tony Annese was happy with how the Bulldogs came out.
“I was definitely pleased that our offense came out and got started quickly,” Annese said. “Our guys know you have to finish the season.”
Annese described the feeling of having to win out following the loss to the Lakers as “starting a second season,” and that he was “nervous as heck.”
To start the game, the Warriors scored first by nailing a 20-yard field goal. However the Bulldogs responded quickly with a 75-yard passing touchdown to junior wide-receiver Tyrese Hunt-Thompson to put the Bulldogs ahead.
Ferris’ defense proceeded to not allow another score for the rest of the first quarter. After a long Wayne State drive stalled out, the Bulldogs once again scored, this time it was Gulker rushing in for a 12-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs went on to score a four more touchdowns in the second half and only gave up 10 second half points en route to their 63-19 victory over the Warriors.
The Bulldogs stifling defense did not loosen up, only allowing one touchdown throughout the entire contest. Despite only letting up 19 points, sophomore linebacker Brennan Schwarz agreed with Annese that the defense did not play with a “good energy.”
“We played a little bit sluggish,” Schwarz said. “[We] might’ve had some big plays back that shouldn’t have crossed the line of scrimmage. But we got some turnovers and some young guys in there. So I think overall we did pretty well.”
The offense started quickly and had a big day, scoring nine touchdowns and having a combined 611 total yards between the ground (258 rushing yards) and air (353 passing yards). Senior quarterback Mylik Mitchell and sophomore quarterback Carson Gulker combined for six touchdowns (four rushing, two passing) in the game.
The connection between Mitchell and Hunt-Thompson was a big factor in the blow-out win. Hunt-Thompson pulled down one touchdown and went for 122 yards in the first half.
Hunt-Thompson believes the receiving core sits atop the Bulldog’s position groups due to how anybody can succeed.
“To me it’s a mindset thing,” Hunt-Thompson said. “For the past two years, [our best position has] been our defensive line and I think as the receiving core, with the plays we make, makes us feel like we’re the best group out there. Anyone can make a play and go for 100+ yards, even the people that don’t start or necessarily get in. ”
Hunt-Thompson finished the season with 692 receiving yards and eight touchdowns through 10 games played.
With the regular season wrapped up, the Bulldogs turned their attention to selection sunday to see if they made the playoffs. The Bulldogs will have a second date with their arch-rivals in Grand Valley to begin their playoff campaign.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they will be without Annese, as he has to serve his one-game suspension from last year’s NCAA reprimand. Annese believes that the Bulldogs are ready for the game without him.
“We actually practiced it a couple weeks ago when American International was here,” Annese said. “We have a pretty good sense of how we’re gonna structure the situation. The guys know they don’t need me to win or they don’t need too much from coaches to win. They just gotta go out and do their thing.”
The fifth-seeded Bulldogs will play the second-seeded and GLIAC champion Lakers at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale in a same-season revenge match on Nov. 18. Gametime is set for 1 p.m.