The Ferris State Bulldogs secured a spot in the NCAA Division II Championship with a 48-38 win over Slippery Rock. After trailing by eleven at halftime, they rallied from a 38-27 deficit to claim victory, according to WZZM13.
The Bulldogs' second-half offensive surge, gaining over 200 yards compared to just 59 in the first half, helped them complete the comeback. Trinidad Chambliss scored two touchdowns, and Kannon Katzer ran for a key 69-yard touchdown, giving Ferris State the lead in the fourth quarter, which they held until the end. The defense, after struggling with Slippery Rock's passing attack, tightened up, forcing four turnovers, including two crucial red zone interceptions. Chambliss finished with three touchdowns and 124 rushing yards, while Katzer gained 165 yards on 13 carries. Despite Brayden Long's 398 passing yards, he threw four interceptions, overshadowing his strong performance.
The Bulldogs are making their third appearance in six years in the NCAA Division II Championship. This year's matchup is a familiar one, as Ferris State will face top-seeded Valdosta State. The teams have a history, with Ferris State winning 58-17 in 2021, but Valdosta State handed them a tough 49-47 loss in 2018, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Coach Tony Annese played a key role in the Bulldogs' success, delivering a calming and motivating halftime speech that helped refocus his players, according to 9and10News. He said, "We’re just happy to be heading to Texas. We feel blessed to be able to do it, our guys know what it’s all about. At halftime, we were probably a little nervous and I just walked in at halftime, and I said, hey, a lot of times we’re up at halftime. We always say 0 to 0. I said, Let’s just think about it that way again, even though we’re down 11. Think about trying to get a grasp of what we need to do to perform at the level that we can perform at." The championship game against Valdosta State is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
