The No.1-ranked Ferris State Bulldogs welcomed their biggest rival to Top Taggart Field in the No.18-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers, for the annual Anchor-Bone Classic.
The Bulldogs (8-0, 4-0 in GLIAC) took down the Lakers (4-3, 2-2 in GLIAC) by a score of 38-31 on Saturday, Oct 25.
The first touchdown of the game came on a 28-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Wyatt Bower to junior slot receiver Taarik Brett.
This was far from the end for Brett, as Brett had a career day during the biggest game of the year thus far for the Bulldogs. Brett ran 10 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns, while catching five passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns.
Brett spoke about his career game.
“Honestly, it felt great,” Brett said. “All week I was telling my teammates that, you know, after Grand Valley coming off their loss to Saginaw Valley, they are coming in here treating it like a must-win game, so you know, it felt good for me to go out there and do what I needed to do to help the team win today.”
Grand Valley kept it close all game, as redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Schuster threw three touchdown passes in the first half, to make the score 28-24 going into halftime.
Both teams came out of the half slow, trading punts back and fourth with no points scored in the third quarter. The first points of the second half came on a 38 yard field goal from junior kicker Eddie Jewett to make the score 31-24.
Head coach Tony Annese spoke about the role that special teams had in the victory for the Bulldogs.
“Well, I’m the punt coach so that is the first thing I check,” Annese said. “You know Mitch Middleton averaged 43 yards on two punts, and Leeshaun had a 56 yard kick. So we run a weird punt formation, but it’s efficient. I thought the kickoff team did a really good job. We were scared to death of you know their return guys. But I mean they can both run really well, so I was nervous about that.”
Three costly penalties on the ensuing drive from the Lakers caused a turnover on downs, which ended up turning into a touchdown for the Bulldogs. This came courtesy of Bower on a 10 yard run to make the score 38-24.
A late 19 yard touchdown pass from Schuster to junior receiver Lynn El-Wyche made the score 38-31, but the Lakers failed to recover the onside kick.
The Bulldogs secured the game on a four yard run from senior quarterback Carson Gulker to secure the win for the Bulldogs and to keep the Anchor-Bone Trophy in Big Rapids for the second consecutive year.
Ferris State next take on the Northern Michigan Wildcats on Saturday, Nov 1 at 1 pm at Top Taggart Field for the final home game of the regular season.