After taking down the Davenport Panthers by a score of 44-23, the Bulldogs have secured an undefeated regular season for the eighth time in program history. The Bulldogs look to keep the momentum rolling into the playoffs.
There are plenty of questions and storylines about the Bulldogs heading into their 30th playoff game since head coach Tony Annese took over the program in 2012.
Will Chase Carter take the starting job?
Redshirt freshman quarterback Wyatt Bower has had a great start to his college career, throwing for 1,709 yards and 18 touchdowns, and not throwing his first interception until week nine. But in his last two games against Saginaw Valley and Davenport, Bower has gone 9-18 with 75 yards and three interceptions and four fumbles, while running 15 times for 96 yards and one touchdown.
Both of these games saw sophomore quarterback Chase Carter end up taking the starting snaps for the rest of the game, leading the Bulldogs in back-to-back comeback victories. In the last two games, Carter has gone 11-15 for 222 yards and four touchdowns through the air, while adding 39 rushes for 220 yards and another three touchdowns.
With Bower being a redshirt freshman, growing pains are bound to happen. Does Annese decide to stick with Bower like he has all season, does he start Carter after his back-to-back wins, or does he go back to the dual quarterback system like we’ve seen in years before?
Can the run defense tighten up before the playoffs?
While Ferris’ defense is one of the best in the nation, they’ve started to struggle slightly in the last four games of the season. In the first seven games of the season, the Bulldogs allowed, on average, 9.57 points per game, with the most points coming in a 41-34 victory over Tiffin in week three, but in Ferris’s last four games, they’ve allowed 33.5 points per game.
This is likely due to the Bulldogs allowing a combined 667 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in the last four games, as the Bulldogs have been great at stopping the running game in the first eight games of the season. In those games, the Bulldogs had allowed only 63.8 yards per game and only three touchdowns, with the most coming against Michigan Tech, where the Huskies ran for 115 combined yards.
Ferris’ passing defense still looks strong, only allowing 131 yards through the air and four touchdowns, while also snatching two interceptions in those games. Can the Bulldogs’ run defense tighten up before they take on a tough playoff opponent?
Looking ahead
The number one-seeded Bulldogs were selected to face off against their former GLIAC foes in the Northwoods Wolves, for the first round of the D2 playoffs. The two programs have a long and storied history, stretching back to 1972 when the two teams first faced off, and since then, the Bulldogs hold a 28-19 record against the Wolves, with their last matchup coming in 2021 when the Bulldogs took down the Wolves 67-25.
The Wolves are led by a redshirt sophomore quarterback and receiver duo of Ethan Hamby and Case Boos. Hamby has been one of the best quarterbacks in the G-MAC, throwing for 2,256 yards with 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions, while rushing for 323 yards and five touchdowns. Boos has 49 receptions for 645 yards and four touchdowns.
On defense, the Wolves are led by senior defensive back Cole Simpson, who, on the season has 80 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and has snagged six interceptions, which is tied for third in the nation.
The No.1-ranked and GLIAC champions, Ferris State Bulldogs, will take on the Northwood Wolves at Top Taggart Field for the first round of the D2 playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 pm.