PREVIEW: Ferris State Visits Rival GVSU For National Quarterfinal This Saturday
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This Week's Action
The defending NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State University Bulldogs will visit West Michigan rival Grand Valley State for a NCAA D2 National Quarterfinal this Saturday. FSU is 10-1 to date this year and posted a perfect 14-0 overall record a year ago while winning the school's first NCAA D2 Football National Championship.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 17-14 win over previously unbeaten Pittsburg State (Kan.) in round two of the playoffs and have won their last six games in a row to date. This year marks FSU's sixth consecutive trip to the Super Region Championship game.
The Matchup
Grand Valley State owns a 12-0 overall record this fall and beat Northwest Missouri State 13-8 last week in the second round of the D2 Playoffs. GVSU narrowly edged FSU 22-21 in the regular-season on Oct. 15, rallying from a 21-10 deficit in the final period.
Media Coverage
Saturday's playoff game will be carried on a pay-per-view basis by FloSports and will also be aired locally by the Bulldog Sports Network and Sunny 97.3 FM with the veteran broadcast team of Rob Bentley (play-by-play) and Sandy Gholston (color) calling the action. Extended pregame coverage gets underway at 12 p.m. (ET). The contest will also be streamed with FREE live audio online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. Visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com for a complete listing of links.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the game can be purchased online at GVSUTickets.com or by calling the GVSU Athletic Ticket Office at (616) 331-3200. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the box office while availability remains.
Last Year's Run To The League Crown
Ferris State secured the program's 12th GLIAC Championship in 2021. The Bulldogs went unbeaten in conference action for the fifth time in seven seasons. The Bulldogs claimed the outright league championship by beating Grand Valley State in the regular-season finale in 2019. FSU had won its last 32 GLIAC games in a row dating back to 2017 prior to a home setback to GVSU this year on Oct. 15.
Eighth-Straight Playoff Berth
The Bulldogs, who began their 113th season of varsity competition this fall, are making their eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs last fall. FSU has now made six-straight NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal appearances and is currently one of only four teams in all of college football to win at least 11 games each of the last eight years (not counting the 2020 COVID season). The Bulldogs along with Northwest Missouri State are the only programs in Division II football to make the playoffs each of the past eight seasons.
Great Bulldog Stretch
The Bulldogs reached the NCAA DII National Championship game for the first time in school history in 2018, matching an all-time NCAA record with 15 victories (15-1). Over the two seasons of action in 2018 and 2019, not counting 2020 in which FSU did not play due to COVID-19, the Bulldogs were a combined 27-2 overall. FSU is now 52-3 in the last four seasons on the field.
Memorable Bulldog Run
Over the last eight seasons, including this year, the Bulldogs have compiled a 97-10 overall record and claimed a national title, five conference championships, posted five unbeaten regular-seasons, captured four regional titles and reached the national quarterfinals six times. Ferris State has also accumulated three Harlon Hill National Player of the Year trophies, twice had a student-athlete tabbed as the nation's National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and won 18 postseason games in addition to an appearance in the 2018 and 2021 NCAA D2 National Championship Games.
National Power & State's Best
Now in the 10th season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have become a national power on the Division II level. FSU has posted a 112-17 overall mark in his tenure and the Bulldogs have also posted the best winning percentage of all 21 collegiate programs in the state of Michigan along with the GLIAC since his arrival. Overall, Annese has won 84% of his games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep levels and owns 337 wins to date, which is the most of any current GLIAC member head coach at all levels.
National Rankings Info
Ferris State concluded the 2021 season ranked #1 nationally in the D2Football.com national poll along with #1 in the AFCA Coaches poll. FSU was also #1 in the NCAA.com D2 Power Rankings and was first in the CompughterRatings.com online poll. The Bulldogs were a consensus preseason #1 team in the nation heading into the 2022 season and are ranked fifth this week by D2Football.com along with the AFCA.
The Head Coaches
Ferris State – Tony Annese (Alma, 1983), 10th season, 112-17-0 (.868) – 10-3 vs GVSU). Annese recorded a 195-41 (.826) mark as a head coach in four stops at the high school level before totaling a 30-4 (.882) record in three years as the head coach at Grand Rapids Community College. His overall career mark at all levels is 337-62 (.845) to date and includes three prep state championships and two national JUCO crowns along with a D2 National Championship. He claimed his 300th win in 2018 with a national semifinal win at Minnesota State. The Bulldogs are 58-10 at home and 54-7 on the road under Annese in his tenure.
Grand Valley State - Matt Mitchell (Cornell, 1997), 12th season, 117-30 (.796); Career: 12th season, 117-30 (.796) - (5-10-0 vs. Ferris State). Mitchell took over as the seventh head coach in GVSU history in 2010 and was the first Laker coach to win his first eight games. The former Cornell letterwinner was a six-year Laker assistant, including the final two years as defensive coordinator. He previously was an assistant coach at Wartburg (Iowa).
Series History
Ferris State has captured 10 of the last 13 matchups, including eight of the last 10 regular-season games between the two West Michigan rivals. The two teams have both also squared off in the NCAA Division II Playoffs three times in recent history with GVSU winning in 2015 in Big Rapids before FSU returned the favor with a 47-32 triumph over the Lakers in 2016 in Allendale in the Super Region Four Championship game. A year ago, FSU posted a 54-20 second-round playoff win en route to the school's first national title. Bulldog head coach Tony Annese, who ranks as the nation's winningest active head coach at all NCAA levels (.850), owns an overall 10-3 mark against GVSU in his career. GVSU holds a 30-22-1 all-time series' advantage entering Saturday's showdown between the two schools with FSU having won 10 of the past 13 overall.
Harlon Hill Trophy Finalist
FSU standout senior defensive end Caleb Murphy (Dowagiac) has officially been tabbed as a finalist for the 2022 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. Murphy, who was chosen as the GLIAC Player of the Year, is among nine student-athletes from across the country in the running for the prestigious honor. Former Ferris State University quarterback Jason Vander Laan was a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy recipient as the country's top player in both 2014 and 2015 and FSU quarterback Jayru Campbell claimed the distinction in 2018 as a Bulldog player has won the award in three of the past seven years. FSU is one of only three schools in the country to have won the award a nation-leading three times along with Texas A&M-Kingsville and Valdosta State.
Gene Upshaw & Ted Hendricks Finalist
FSU's Caleb Murphy is also one of nine national finalists for the 2022 Gene Upshaw D2 Lineman of the Year honor along with being a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end regardless of level. The Bulldogs have had the last two recipients of the Upshaw Award. Murphy was tabbed as this year's GLIAC Player of the Year.
FSU News & Notes
Ferris State has won 26 consecutive road games going back to 2017 when FSU last lost on the road at Ashland ... Redshirt freshman QB Carson Gulker presently is third in the country in rushing touchdowns with 23 this year along with fourth in scoring (11.5 ppg.) ... FSU's Caleb Murphy is first nationally in sacks (24.5 sacks) along with first in tackles for loss (34.5 TFL) ... Last week's win over Pittsubrg State came against the fifth unbeaten squad FSU had hosted this year in Big Rapids. The Bulldogs played four unbeaten squads at home in the regular-season this year as Central Washington, Waldorf, Grand Valley State and Davenport were all unbeaten heading into their visit to Top Taggart Field ... The Bulldogs' Caleb Murphy topped a pair of school records last week, now owning the school single-season record with 24.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. He topped the records previously set in 2016 and held by former FSU standout Zach Sieler of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
One Touchdown Away
Bulldog redshirt freshman quarterback Carson Gulker is only one rushing touchdown away from matching the school single-season record of 24 set by FSU legend and two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jason Vander Laan in 2015. Gulker has 23 scores on the ground this season.
Eighth-Straight Playoff Berth
Ferris State is midst its eighth consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff appearance this fall, which represents the second-longest active streak in the country behind Northwest Missouri State. This also marks the eighth-straight year in which FSU has hosted at least one playoff game and the eighth consecutive year in which FSU played on Thanksgiving weekend.
D2 Playoff History
Ferris State's berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs represents the 13th appearance in school history with the other five berths prior to the last eight years all coming during a memorable five-year stretch from 1992-96. Overall, the Bulldogs hold an all-time NCAA Playoff mark of 23-11 to date and made their deepest run a year ago by claiming the school's first NCAA Division II National Championship with one of the most dominant playoff runs in history. In 2018, FSU also reached the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. Ferris State has reached the national quarterfinals or beyond each of the last six seasons of action with four national semifinal berths in the stretch.
NCAA All-Time Record
FSU's Caleb Murphy set a new NCAA single-season record for sacks in a season last week, finishing with six sacks versus Pittsburg State to increase his total to 24.5 this year, representing the most ever for a player in all of NCAA football, breaking Terrell Suggs' mark at Arizona State from 2002.
Annese's 400th Game
Saturday's game will mark the 400th game in the head coaching career of FSU's Tony Annese at all levels. His overall career mark at all levels is 337-62 (.845) to date and includes three prep state championships and two national JUCO crowns along with a D2 National Championship.
All-Time Winningest Coach
This season, Ferris State head coach Tony Annese became the Bulldogs' all-time winningest coach, surpassing former FSU head coaches such as Jeff Pierce and Keith Otterbein. Annese has posted a 112-17 (.868) mark in his Bulldog tenure to date, moving past Pierce (102-85) atop the all-time chart. Otterbein, who is currently the head coach at Hillsdale, is third on the list with a 60-39 record during his Ferris State coaching career.
Rankings History vs GVSU
Saturday will mark the 11th consecutive time overall in which both FSU and GVSU have been ranked among the nation's top 15 teams at kickoff time. This year, in the regular season, represented the first time in which the Bulldogs and Lakers had been ranked first and second nationally in the major D2 polls at game time. It also represented the seventh-straight regular season matchup in which both teams had been ranked among the top 15 nationally at kickoff time. Both teams were previously ranked in the top 15 as well for postseason games in both 2015 and 2016 along with 2021. Seven years ago, when the Bulldogs notched a decisive 61-24 regular-season victory in 2015 in Allendale, it represented the first time both teams had been in the top 15 in 20 years since a 30-21 FSU victory over the Lakers on Sept. 30, 1995, in Big Rapids.
Overall, FSU and GVSU squads have both been found previously in the national rankings at kickoff time in the regular-season in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons along with postseason matchups in both 2015 and 2016 and 2021. FSU owns a 9-4-1 mark all-time against the Lakers when both squads are nationally-ranked.
More D2 Playoff Information
The NCAA Division II Football Committee announced the field of 28 teams for the 2022 NCAA Division II Football Championship. Twelve first-round games were conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. In addition, one team per super regional earned a first-round bye. The first-round winners all advanced to the second round with games on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Second-round winners will meet in the quarterfinals this week at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions next week. Seven teams selected per super regional make up the field of 28 teams. The championship game will be played December 17, at the McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
Playoff Streaming Information
Ferris State University's NCAA Division II football road game at Grand Valley State this Saturday (Dec. 3) will be streamed live online by FloSports as the national outlet has been granted official commercial rights to carry the contest. Kickoff for the playoff contest is slated for 1 p.m. (ET). It will be part of FloSports' subscription package and air on the same FloFootball platform which has carried Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contests throughout the fall.
Video for Saturday's playoff game on FloFootball will be produced by GVSU. Additionally, the game will air live on local flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network with a live free online audio stream offered at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. The veteran FSU broadcast team of Rob Bentley and Sandy Gholston will call the radio action. Pregame radio coverage begins at noon.
Fans can sign up for either a monthly or yearly subscription on FloSports. Any FloSports subscription provides access to the entire award-winning FloSports platform that also includes over 25 vertical sports categories including combat sports, motorsports, cheerleading, hockey, rugby, track-and-field/cross-country and more. FloSports is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
Gulker's First Weekly Honor
FSU redshirt freshman quarterback Carson Gulker claimed GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week award for the first time in his collegiate career following FSU's win over Michigan Tech (Oct. 22), which came the week following the setback to GVSU. Gulker accounted for all four Bulldog scores in FSU's Oct. 22 win over Michigan Tech. In the win, Gulker ran for a game-high 103 yards on 23 carries with three TD's on the ground while completing seven-of-13 passes for 174 yards and a score. His play helped the FSU offensive total more than 400 yards in the victory. He added another GLIAC Player of the Week honor after the Bulldogs' regular-season finale win at Wayne State on Nov. 12.
Playoff Record Under Annese
The Bulldogs have posted a record of 18-6 in the NCAA Division II Playoffs under head coach Tony Annese, which includes a 4-0 mark a year ago en route to the school's first NCAA Division II National Championship. The Bulldogs have not had a season end prior to the national quarterfinals since 2015 and have advanced to at least the D2 National Semifinals in four of the past five seasons.
High National Marks
Ferris State currently ranks second in the country in total defense (216.5 ypg.) along with 15th in total offense (443.0 ypg.) this season. FSU is also currently first among GLIAC schools in total defense and second in total offense this campaign. The Bulldogs are also among the nation's top 15 teams in both scoring defense (13.9 ppg.) and scoring offense (36.0 ppg.) this year.
Impressive Streaks
FSU had won 43 regular-season matchups in a row, which is a school record, prior to its setback to rival Grand Valley State on Oct. 15. The Bulldogs had also won 32-straight GLIAC matchups. FSU officially topped the school mark for longest unbeaten regular-season stretch at 43 games. FSU had went 40-0-2 over a 42-game stretch from 1992-96. The Bulldogs had won 26 consecutive regular-season home games prior to the loss dating back to 2016.
School Record Win Streak
Ferris State broke a school record for most consecutive wins overall with a road victory on Sept. 10 at Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bulldogs went 14-0 last year and won their first five games this season to stretch their winning streak to 19-straight games overall prior to an Oct. 15 setback. The 19 consecutive wins topped the 15 in a row FSU reeled off in 2018 before falling in the national championship game.
GLIAC Defensive Player of Week
FSU's Caleb Murphy was tabbed as the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this year following the Bulldogs' win at Saginaw Valley State on Oct. 8. In the victory, Murphy netted three sacks for a loss of 23 yards and a game-high five tackles for loss resulting in minus 25 yards for the game. He also added six total tackles, including four solo hits, while helping the Bulldog defense limit SVSU to 247 yards of total offense and only 52 yards rushing on 41 tries. The Bulldogs held the Cardinals off the scoreboard for nearly the final 27 minutes in the comeback win and SVSU did not pick up a first down after its early second half score. Murphy currently leads the country in sacks and tackles for loss this year.
Record Book Performance
Ferris State reached several school milestones in a Sept. 24 homecoming win over Waldorf, including largest margin of victory at 66 points. The Bulldogs' 69 total points was the third-best scoring output in program history and was only six shy of the school-record 75 points recorded at McKendree in 2014. QB Carson Gulker tied both the school and stadium record with five rushing TD's held by Jason Vander Laan against Texas A&M Commerce in 2015 and Trevor Bermingham versus Midwestern State in 2016. In addition, FSU's 69 total points was a stadium record and the 35-points in the second quarter matched the Top Taggart Field mark previously set against Tiffin in 2014.
100th Win For Coach Annese At FSU
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese notched his 100th victory at the Bulldog helm with last year's 55-7 national semifinal win over Shepherd. Now in his 10th season with the Bulldogs, Annese owns a 112-17 (.868) record, making him the nation's winningest active NCAA coach regardless of level.
Preseason All-Americans
A pair of Bulldogs were named to the 2022 College Football America Division II Starting Lineup Preseason All-America team, including junior defensive end Caleb Murphy (Dowagiac) and senior punt returner Marcus Taylor (Orlando, Fla./Oak Ridge) as first-team preseason All-Americans. Lindy's Sports also tabbed a pair of Bulldogs as Preseason All-Americans, including junior defensive end Caleb Murphy as a first-team honoree and senior offensive guard Adam Sieler (Pinckney) as a second-team choice. In addition, Murphy was chosen to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List First Team with Sieler also an honorable mention choice.
Preseason Watch Lists
Bulldog junior defensive end Caleb Murphy was named to several preseason watch lists. Murphy was tabbed to the College Gridiron Showcase watch list for the 2023 NFL Draft along with the Small College Showcase Watch List. In addition, he was tabbed to the 2023 Senior Bowl Watch List. Murphy led the Bulldogs a year ago with a nation-leading 14.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss.
AFCA First Team All-American
Ferris State offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali, who concluded his collegiate career last fall, was named to the 2021 AFCA All-America First Team. It marked the seventh consecutive year the Bulldogs have had at least one AFCA All-America selection, which is the longest active streak in the country. A total of 20 Ferris State players have now been named to the AFCA All-America team a combined 24 times, which is tied for the third-most all-time in NCAA D2.
GLIAC Preseason Favorite
The Bulldogs were picked again to finish at the top of the league as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) unveiled its 2022 GLIAC Football Preseason Poll with the Bulldogs first overall. Ferris State picked up 35 total points and five of a possible seven first-place votes. Behind FSU was Grand Valley State in second place with 32 points and the other two first-place mentions.
Beating Returning Playoff Foes
Ferris State opened the 2022 season with back-to-back matchups against NCAA Division II Playoff teams from a year ago in Central Washington and Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) before beating another returning playoff team in Findlay. A total of four FSU opponents this fall reached the D2 Playoffs last year, including Grand Valley State.
GLIAC Players Of The Week
The Bulldogs have had five different student-athletes claim GLIAC Player of the Week honors a combined eight times to date this year. FSU junior quarterback Mylik Mitchell was tabbed as the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honor after FSU's week one win over Central Washington and freshman kicker Eddie Jewett claimed the special teams award after a homecoming win over Waldorf. Junior defensive end Caleb Murphy has received the defensive honor three times to date this year with redshirt freshman QB Carson Gulker won the offensive award twice. Finally, Justin Payoute was recognized as the defensive recipient after the regular-season win over Davenport.
Fifth National Semifinal
Last year represented the Bulldogs' fifth all-time NCAA Division II National Semifinal appearance, including the program's third-straight and fourth in five seasons on the field (not counting the 2020 COVID cancelled season). FSU fell at North Alabama in the semis in 1995 and at Northwest Missouri State in 2016. The Bulldogs won their national semi on the road at Minnesota State in 2018 before falling to eventual national champion West Florida in the school's first home semifinal in '19. Last year marked the second-ever home semifinal played in Big Rapids.
Sixth Consecutive Quarterfinal
The Bulldogs have now made the national quarterfinals six consecutive years, which is the longest such streak in Division II football, and the Bulldogs have now also won 11 games or more eight-straight years. FSU was one of only four teams in all of college football to accomplish the feat over the six-year stretch prior to the 2020 COVID season along with Ohio State, North Dakota State and Alabama.
Ferris State By The Numbers
19 - School Record Win Streak (prior to Oct. 15)
43 - Consecutive Regular-Season Wins (prior to Oct. 15)
32 - Consecutive GLIAC Wins (prior to Oct. 15)
26 - Consecutive Road Wins & Counting
52-3 - Record in last 55 games
45-4 - Last 49 games away from Top Taggart Field
85-4 - Last 89 regular-season games
97-10 - Last eight seasons (counting this year)
103-12 - Last nine seasons overall
112-17 - Under Coach Annese since 2012
8 - Straight trips to the NCAA D2 Playoffs
8 - Straight seasons with 11 or more wins
6 - Consecutive NCAA Quarterfinal appearances
4 - NCAA Semifinal berths in last 5 seasons
1 - National Championship in 2021
NCAA Super Region Three Champions
Ferris State claimed a third-straight NCAA Super Region Three Championship with last year's win over Northwest Missouri State (12/4). It was also FSU's fourth in the past five seasons of on the field action.
All-GLIAC Honorees
The Bulldogs claimed two of the league's seven major awards and had a total of 16 student-athletes earn all-conference recognition in voting by the league's member head coaches this year, including nine first-team honorees on the All-GLIAC squad announced recently. FSU defensive end Caleb Murphy was tabbed as the GLIAC's Player of the Year while quarterback Carson Gulker earned the GLIAC Freshman of the Year Award.
All-Region Picks Last Year
Four Ferris State standouts were chosen to the 2021 Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Super Region Three squad. The Bulldogs had three first-team All-Super Region Three honorees along with a second-team selection in voting by the region's sports information directors. Ferris State's first-team choices included offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali along with defensive end Caleb Murphy (Dowagiac) and safety Jamil Thomas (Tampa, Fla.). Additionally, FSU also had a second-team honoree in linebacker John Higgins. Both Murphy and Thomas return for the Bulldogs this fall.
Number One AFCA Ranking
Ferris State was #1 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II final poll a year ago after climbing to the top for the first time in program history following a regular-season win over Grand Valley State. Previously, FSU was ranked as high as 1st nationally in 2015 by D2Football.com along with the Division II Power Rankings, but had never been #1 in the current coaches poll until the recent stretch. Ferris State was ranked #1 for two weeks back in 1996 when the NCAA Football Committee produced the weekly rankings prior to the creation of the head coaches' poll thru the AFCA. The Bulldogs' previous best in the AFCA poll was #2 at various stages with the first coming late in the 2015 regular season. FSU was also second early in the 2017 campaign along with different points in both 2018 and 2019.
School Record Streak
FSU had won 43 consecutive regular-season games, which is a school record, prior to Oct. 15. The Bulldogs had won 28-straight from 2013-16. Ferris State has also presently won 26 consecutive games played on the road and not at a neutral site. FSU's last true "road" & regular-season loss was a 20-3 setback at Ashland back in 2017 (9/23). The road stretch includes three road wins in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
School Record Performance
Ferris State quarterback Mylik Mitchell earned the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honor last year after he threw for a school-record 508 passing yards and six touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 67-25 road win at Northwood (Oct. 2). He topped both FSU's all-time single game passing and total offense marks, completing 29-of-39 (74.4%) throws and added three yards on the ground. The FSU signal caller helped the Bulldogs generate 693 total yards in the game and became the eighth different starting QB under head coach Tony Annese to register five or more touchdowns in a single game. Both his passing yardage and total offense totals rank fourth all-time in GLIAC single game history.
Five Touchdowns Plus
Every starting quarterback under FSU head coach Tony Annese has accounted for five touchdowns or more in a single game after Carson Gulker did so recently versus Northern Michigan, becoming the ninth QB to accomplish the feat. Current FSU QB Mylik Mitchell did so last year at Northwood while current QB Evan Cummins earned the start against Saginaw Valley State a year ago in place of the injured Jared Bernhardt and accounted for six TD's in the win over SVSU. The now departed Bernhardt, who is with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, totaled seven TD's in last year's season-opening win over Findlay. Gulker ran for three scores and threw for two more while playing only the first half this year at NMU.
Road Win Streak
Ferris State is currently riding a school all-time best 26-game winning streak on the road dating back to its last true road loss at Ashland in September of 2017. FSU closed its 2017 campaign by winning its last four road tilts, including a playoff win at Fort Hays State, and won seven games on the road in 2018 along with five in 2019 and five last year. In 2018, FSU also posted a decisive neutral site win over Michigan Tech in the "Battle At The Ballpark" played at the home field of Minor League Baseball's West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park. FSU's only setback away from home since 2017 came in the 2018 D2 National Championship game when the Bulldogs fell to Valdosta State in a neutral site tilt in McKinney, Texas.
Nation's Top Coach
Bulldog head coach Tony Annese is currently the winningest (.868) active coach among all FBS, FCS & D2 schools in the country, according to the NCAA based on a minimum of six years as a coach, topping names such as Dabo Swinney, Nick Saban & Jimbo Fisher. Overall, among all levels including NCAA Division III, he's listed fourth among active coaches at all NCAA levels in winning percentage (.868) for more than five years and second among those who have been a head coach for more than seven years. Those listed ahead of him are all D3 coaches.
The 100th Game Under Annese
FSU's Nov. 9, 2019, win over Grand Valley State represented the Bulldogs' 100th game under head coach Tony Annese dating back to his initial season in 2012. Prior to Annese's tenure, the Bulldogs had went 35-45 (.438 ) in their previous 80 contests, but they have now registered a 112-17 (.868) mark since his arrival. The Bulldogs had won 32-straight conference games and 43 consecutive regular-season games overall dating back to the 2017 campaign before Oct. 15. Overall, FSU is 61-4 (.938) in its last 65 outings to date counting playoff action.
Keeping The Streaks Alive
The Bulldogs' win over Saginaw Valley State on Oct. 8 was the 43rd-straight regular season victory. FSU had also won 32 consecutive GLIAC games. The Bulldogs were the nation's lone unbeaten team a year ago in NCAA football. The Bulldogs finished unbeaten in conference action for the fifth time in the last seven seasons last year.
Gene Upshaw Award Winner
The Bulldogs have had each of the past two winners of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. Last year, offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali was named the recipient of the 2021 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year honor presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club. The Upshaw Award is presented annually to the top NCAA D2 senior offensive or defensive lineman in the nation. Pasquali became the second consecutive winner of the award from Ferris State following Austin Edwards in 2019. FSU has also had three winners of the Harlon Hill Trophy as the nation's top performer since 2014 with QB Jason Vander Laan winning back-to-back years in 2014 and 2015 followed by QB Jayru Campbell in 2018.
Extended Pregame Coverage
The Bulldog Sports Network and local flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM have extended Bulldog Football pregame coverage this fall. This season, the network will offer two hours of pregame coverage for all regular-season home matchups along with an hour pregame show for all road games. The "Bulldog Tailgate Show" airs from the Top Taggart Field parking lots two hours prior to each home game with the "Johnson Auto Pregame Show" an hour from kickoff inside the broadcast booth for both home and away games. All are carried live both on Sunny 97.3 FM and online across the Bulldog Sports Network at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. All home games this fall along with conference matchups will also be televised on a pay-per-view basis on FloSports.
National Player Of Week
All-America defensive end Caleb Murphy was honored as The College Football Network D2 National Defensive Player of the Week following FSU's week two victory. Murphy had a memorable day as the Bulldogs dominated 14th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bulldogs held the Bears to 94 yards of total offense and 16 rushing yards while forcing two third-quarter turnovers. Murphy paced the Bulldogs with a team-high 12 tackles and added six tackles for loss (-38 yards) and five quarterback sacks (-37 yards) in addition to forcing a fumble. His five sacks set a school single-game record and his play helped the FSU defense hold the Bears to a 1-16 showing on third down.
300 Plus Career Victories
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese notched his 300th career victory at all levels with FSU's 2018 NCAA Semifinal win over Minnesota State. Annese took over the Bulldog program following three impressive years as the head coach at Grand Rapids Community College, which came on the heels of a highly successful 25-season stint at the prep level. Annese has won championships at every level, including three high school state championships and two national titles on the junior college level. He is 337-62 (.845) at all levels in his head coaching career.
Great Road Record
In 10 seasons under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have been a dominant road team. Presently, the Bulldogs are 54-7 (.885) under his direction in games played away from Top Taggart Field over the course of his nine seasons at the helm. Ferris State's mark is even better outside of his first two seasons as the Bulldogs own a 45-4 mark since the start of the 2014 season away from Big Rapids.
Latest Home Game Ever
FSU's home game against West Florida in the 2019 NCAA Division II National Semifinals (12/14/19) represented the latest home game ever for the Bulldogs. FSU closed the 2017 season at home against Harding (Ark.) in the NCAA National Quarterfinals at Top Taggart Field, falling 16-14 on a game-ending field goal by the Bisons on Dec. 2, 2017. The game represented the first-ever home football playoff game in the month of December and the latest home game ever for FSU at the time. The Bulldogs also hosted quarterfinal-round playoff action in 1994, 1995 and 1996, but those games were played in late November. In 2018, the Bulldogs won their first two playoff games at home in November before winning two-straight on the road en route to the title game. FSU hosted a pair of December playoff games at home during the 2021 national championship season.
The Anchor-Bone Rivalry
The Anchor Bone Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of the Ferris State-GVSU football game. The trophy debuted in 2002 and GVSU won the first nine matchups before FSU maintained possession of the trophy four consecutive years from 2012-15. The Lakers reclaimed the trophy in the regular-season in 2016, but the Bulldogs had won the last four regular-season matchups prior to this year's game. Head Coach Tony Annese is now 10-3 versus GVSU, including a pair of playoff wins, and is also 5-1 against the Lakers on the road at Lubbers Stadium.
Best In The Country
Since the start of the 2014 season, the Bulldogs have the most wins of any NCAA Division II team in the country. The Bulldogs recorded back-to-back 11-1 seasons in 2014 and 2015 before a 12-3 mark in 2016 followed by an 11-2 showing in 2017 and a 15-1 mark in 2018 along with a 12-1 record in 2019 and a 14-0 mark in 2021 for a cumulative 97-10 record counting this year. Under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have lost only four regular-season games over the past eight plus years dating back to mid-October of 2013. The Bulldogs now own a 85-4 (.955) regular-season mark since closing the 2013 season by winning their final four games.
Only Team In The Nation
The Bulldogs are the nation's only team to reach the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals each of the past six seasons. Ferris State claimed the Super Region Championship in 2016 with a decisive road win at rival Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals to reach the national semifinals for the second time in school history. In 2017, the Bulldogs also made it back to the national quarterfinals, but fell to Harding on a game-ending field goal at home in Big Rapids. FSU reached the national title game in 2018 and the national semifinals in 2019 before falling at home to eventual national champion West Florida.
Big Win Seasons
This year marks the 10th time in school history in which the Bulldogs have won at least 11 games in a campaign, but also the eighth year in a row. In 2016, FSU matched the school-record of 12 wins set in 1995 (12-1) and the Bulldogs topped the feat in 2018 (15-1). The last eight years on the field marks the first time FSU has won 11 games in a row for eight-straight years.
Michigan's Best Team
Ferris State was chosen by SB Nation as the state of Michigan's best college football team each of the past three seasons, regardless of division. It came on the heels of a similar recognition in 2017 by Hero Sports as the state of Michigan's best college football team, regardless of division. Hero Sports unveiled its top team from every state, regardless of division, and the Bulldogs were chosen tops among the 21 collegiate programs in Michigan. The award is the result of an equation created to level the playing field across all divisions of college football using specialized criteria.
Big Home Stretch
The Bulldogs have won 56 of their last 63 home games overall at Top Taggart Field dating back to the 2013 season. In 2018, the Bulldogs went a perfect 7-0 at home in Big Rapids. In each of the previous five years, the Bulldogs lost a single game on their home field, posting records of 4-1 (2013), 5-1 (2014), 6-1 (2015), 7-1 (2016) and 6-1 (2017) including regular-season and playoff action. FSU finished 7-1 at home in 2019 and 8-0 in 2021.
Did You Know?
This year marks the sixth time in the past seven years (not counting 2020) the Bulldogs were tabbed as one of the country's top three teams in at least one preseason national ranking.
Did You Know?
Ferris State has been the last GLIAC school standing in the NCAA Division II Playoffs each of the past five seasons. The Bulldogs reached the national semifinals in 2016 and the quarterfinals in 2017. In 2018, FSU avenged a setback to Harding in the 2017 Super Region Three Championship Game by beating the Bisons 21-19 at home in round one of the postseason on Nov. 17. FSU eventually went on to reach the national championship game for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs were the lone GLIAC school to make the field in 2019 and beat rival GVSU in the 2021 playoffs in the second round.
Memorable FSU Run In '18
With a national semifinal win at Minnesota State in 2018, FSU tied the school-record of 15 consecutive victories, which was also recorded in 2013 and 2014. The Bulldogs won their final four games in 2013 under head coach Tony Annese before reeling off a perfect 11-0 regular-season in 2014 prior to a playoff setback. FSU's 15-game streak in 2018 represented the longest streak inside of a single-season in school history. The Bulldogs had a 28-game regular-season winning streak from 2013-16 and owned a 42-game regular-season unbeaten (40-0-2) streak from 1992-96 prior to the recent regular-season unbeaten stretch.
Former Bulldogs In The NFL
The Bulldogs had six former student-athletes taking part in NFL training camps this summer, including defensive back Tavierre Thomas (Houston), defensive lineman Zach Sieler (Miami), wide receiver Malik Taylor (Green Bay), defensive lineman Austin Edwards (Kansas City), offensive lineman Zein Obeid (Detroit) and slot receiver Jared Bernhardt (Atlanta). The Bulldogs have had a total of 14 different alumni earn rookie camp or training camp invites over the past five years, which is the most of any D2 school in the country. Four Bulldog alums made NFL 53-man opening day rosters a year ago, tops among D2 schools. Eight of the alums have played in at least one NFL regular-season game since 2016 and three former Bulldogs were part of team's that made the NFL Conference Championship Games in 2020. This year, three former Bulldogs were chosen to NFL opening day rosters, including Bernhardt, Sieler and Thomas heading into the season openers. Zimmer was resigned by the Buffalo Bills following an injury to the practice squad this year, but signed to the Miami Dolphins' 53-man roster last week.
Nation's Winningest Active Coach
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese currently ranks as NCAA Division II's winningest active head coach, based on a minimum of four seasons, with a 112-17 (.868) overall record in eight plus years. His current mark tops Lenoir-Rhyne's Mike Jacobs, who is in second according to the NCAA.
Consensus Preseason Top Team In the Country
Ferris State was a consensus number one team in the country in every Division II preseason poll, including being picked first by College Football America, Lindy's Sports, D2football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) among others.
Awesome Run
Under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have lost only three regular-season games over the past eight years on the field dating back to mid-October of 2013. Two of the setbacks came in 2016 when the Bulldogs eventually made their deepest postseason run at the time with a trip to the NCAA-II National Semifinals. Since the middle part of the 2013 season, FSU has only lost twice to Grand Valley State and twice to Ashland in regular-season action. The Bulldogs own a 85-4 (.955) regular-season mark since closing the 2013 season by winning their final four games.
Best Stretch In School History
Ferris State's 96 wins in the last eight plus years (2014-22) marks the Bulldogs' best stretch in school history. In addition, the 102 wins in the past nine plus seasons (102-11) from 2013-22 tops the 1991-97 era for the most wins over the span in program history. FSU went 52-8-2 while capturing five-straight Michigan Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC) crowns from '92-96.
The 113th Season
The 2022 campaign represents the Bulldogs' 113th season of varsity competition. The program actually began in 1900, but no football was played in 1908-09, 1917-18, 1932 and from 1942-45 for various reasons in addition to 2020. Additionally, no scores are available from either the 1912 or 1916 seasons. Ferris has an all-time mark of 490-446-40.
GLIAC Players Of The Week
The Bulldogs had nine players combine to win a GLIAC Player of the Week Award a total of 13 times in the 2021 campaign. FSU's list of honorees included a five-time winner in quarterback Jared Bernhardt in addition to cornerback Sidney McCloud, nickel back Cyntell Williams, QB Mylik Mitchell, cornerback Alex Thomas, wide receiver/specialist Sy Barnett, slot receiver Marcus Taylor, and linebacker Liam Daly. Bernhardt, who sparkled in his collegiate football debut in week one, was the NCAA Division I National Lacrosse Player of the Year at Maryland in the spring of 2021 before joining the program. He accounted for seven touchdowns in his first college football game and also won the D2Football National Offensive Player of the Week honor.
NCAA Playoff Berth
This year marks Ferris State's 13th all-time NCAA Division II Playoff appearance and the school's eighth in a row after previously not making the field since 1996 prior to the 2014 season. Overall, FSU has compiled a 23-11 all-time playoff record with six consecutive national quarterfinal or better finishes. In 2016, the Bulldogs made their second-ever trip to the national semifinals and matched the 1995 squad, which fell on the road at North Alabama, for the highest finish in school history before reaching the national title game for the first time in 2018. Along with making the playoffs in both 2014 and 2015, the Bulldogs also captured back-to-back GLIAC Championships and completed the feat again in 2018 and 2019. Before the recent stretch, FSU had not won a league title since 1999. The 2014 outright title was the school's first since 1996. Overall, the 2021 season represented the 12th conference title in Bulldog football history and fifth in seven years.
Follow On Twitter
In addition to radio and internet coverage, Bulldog fans can also follow Saturday's contest with live scoring updates on several official social media platforms. Visit www.twitter.com/FerrisFootball to follow the tweet-by-tweet coverage with periodic scoring updates or visit www.facebook.com/FerrisFootball.