The No. 1-ranked Ferris State hosted the Wayne State Warriors at Top Taggart Field on Saturday, October 11.
The Bulldogs (6-0, 2-0 in GLIAC) beat the Warriors (0-6, 0-2 in GLIAC) 59-0, which makes it the first time since 1970 that Ferris has had three straight shutouts in a season.
Ferris set the program record for most consecutive wins, between the regular season and the postseason, with their last loss being week zero of the 2024 season when they lost to Pittsburg State 19-3. They broke the record set between the 2021 undefeated season and the first five games of the 2022 season until they lost in week six to Grand Valley 22-21.
Wayne State received the opening kick and got a first down before the Warriors punted the ball away. Ferris State started its opening drive and marched down the field before redshirt freshman quarterback Wyatt Bower fumbled the ball, giving the ball back to the Warriors. Wayne State went three-and-out after the fumble.
The Bulldogs started the drive, and after two rushes of over ten yards by junior running back Zach Ahern, Bower found the endzone on a 34-yard scramble.
Senior defensive back Justin Payoute intercepted Wayne State’s pass, which turned into a Bulldog touchdown after a 4-yard rush by Bower to bring the score to 14-0, which would end the first quarter.
The Bulldogs scored 28 seconds into the second quarter, with Bower throwing to senior wide receiver Jeremiah Lee for the 6-yard touchdown to make it 21-0. Minutes later, Ahern scored on a 25-yard rush to make it 28-0.
Sophomore quarterback Chase Carter came in midway through the second quarter and scored on a 33-yard rush to make the score 35-0. Ferris put three quarterbacks in the game, with junior Carson Gulker both running and catching the ball.
Senior linebacker Isaiah Byars intercepted the pass from Warrior junior quarterback Champion Edwards and turned it into a 7-yard touchdown by senior wide receiver Cam Underwood with 19 seconds left in the first half to make it 42-0. Ferris State had 382 total yards in the first half compared to Wayne State’s 58 yards.
Ferris State received the kickoff to open the second half, and Carter scored on a 5-yard rush four minutes into the game. Almost 11 minutes later, redshirt freshman running back Jake Price scored on a 16-yard rush to bring the score to 56-0.
With two minutes left in the third quarter, senior defensive back Daviere Jones intercepted Wayne State’s pass at the goal line. Ferris State had five quarterbacks in the game, as sophomore quarterback Leeshaun Mumpfield came into the game in the fourth quarter and led a drive that ended in a field goal by junior kicker Eddie Jewett to make it 59-0, which would be the final score of the game.
Head coach Tony Annese loved what he saw from the backups that came in.
“It gives our starts a lot of rest,” Annese said. “Chase came in and ends up being our leading rusher with 114 yards. So, just use the quarterback position as an example and say it’s just unloading guys that can execute. Chase came in for Wyatt and did great. The team was excited with some redshirt freshmen and some true freshmen, and that’s how you build a program.”
Ferris State will play at Michigan Tech next week on Saturday, October 18, at 12 pm.