The Ferris State football team drops their first season opener since the 2013 season when they fell to FCS powerhouse North Dakota State on the road by a score of 56-16
The No. 3 ranked Bulldogs (0-1) fell to the No. 6 ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas (1-0) on the road Saturday night by a score of 19-3.
The matchup between Ferris and Pittsburg State was just their second meeting of all time, the first coming in the 2022 DII playoffs where the Bulldogs were victorious.
Turnovers and costly penalties plagued Ferris in the DII top 10 showdown over the weekend.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over four times compared to the Gorillas’ one giveaway. Junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw two interceptions, and Juniors Carson Gulker and Brady Rose each fumbled the ball once for Ferris. Junior defensive back Jalen Jones forced the lone turnover for the Bulldogs.
Due to the turnovers and mistakes, Ferris was dominated by Pitt. State in the time of possession game, the Bulldogs held the ball for just 21 minutes compared to the Gorilla’s 38 minutes of possession time.
Penalties were a major issue on both sides of the ball as Ferris committed 10 penalties for a total of 70 yards while Pitt. State committed just two penalties all game.
Rose prepare for battle. Photo courtesy of Ferris Athletics
The game was a defensive battle early, the Gorillas went into halftime with a 6-3 lead. However, the turnovers and miscues would catch up to the Bulldogs in the second half and Ferris would be held scoreless the entire half as Pitt. State extended their lead and finished out the game.
Ferris was outgained by the Gorillas 316 yards to just 171 yards. Chambliss led the Bulldogs in passing completing 13-20 passes for 133 yards. Gulker led the team with 33 yards on the ground on eight carries and senior Tyrese Hunt-Thompson brought in three catches for 68 yards to lead the Bulldogs in receiving.
Even with the loss, a few of the Bulldog defenders stood out with a great game. Junior safety Justin Payoute recorded thirteen tackles including one tackle for loss. Senior defensive lineman Arnold Saidov recorded 1.5 sacks for Ferris.
Although the Bulldogs fall to 0-1 their season is far from over. The goals of reaching the playoffs and winning the conference are still well within reach. Ferris still has ten games left on their schedule with three more out-of-conference games coming up before GLIAC play begins.
Ferris will host the Lake Erie College Storm (1-10 in 2023-24) on Saturday, Sept. 7 for the Bulldogs’ home opener this year. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. as Ferris looks to get back into the win column.