Football Game Notes: Lake Erie (Oct. 2)
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* This Week: The Ferris State University football team
hits the road again to face the Lake Erie Storm in Great Lakes
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play this Saturday,
Oct. 2, at Jack Britt Memorial Stadium in Painesville, Ohio.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (EDT).
* Ticket Information: Tickets will be available at
the gate or for more information, please contact the Lake Erie
Athletics Department at (440) 375-7469.
* Media Coverage: Saturday's game will be carried
live locally by WYBR (102.3 FM) with Rob Bentley handling the
play-by-play duties for the game and Sandy Gholston offering color
commentary. It will also be streamed live online along with
live internet statistics. Links for all available media can be
found by clicking on the "upcoming events" scoreboard tab on FSU's
Athletics Website at
www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com.
* Follow On Twitter: In addition to radio and
internet coverage, Bulldog fans can also follow Saturday's
contest and all other FSU games this year with live Twitter scoring
updates. Visit www.twitter.com/ferrisathletics to follow the
tweet-by-tweet coverage with periodic scoring updates.
* Three In A Row: Ferris State scored seven
offensive touchdowns and rolled up 479 yards of total offense in
winning its third consecutive contest to remain unbeaten in
GLIAC football play with a 52-28 victory over the Tiffin
Dragons on Saturday (Sept. 25) night at FSU's Top Taggart Field.
The Bulldogs held a narrow 21-18 halftime lead before breaking the
contest open with 31 points in the final half, including 24 points
in the fourth quarter.
* Coming Up Next: Ferris returns home for
"Homecoming" as the Bulldogs host the Findlay
Oilers next Saturday (Oct. 9) at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids.
The league game is set for a 2 p.m. (ET) kickoff.
* First Meeting: Ferris and Lake Erie will meet
for the first-time ever on Saturday afternoon. The Storm
currently own an 0-4 overall record and are 0-3 to date in the
GLIAC after last Saturday's (Sept. 25) narrow 42-37 league
setback at nationally-ranked Hillsdale. Mark McNellie is in
his fourth season as the program's only head coach and
directed the Storm to a 7-4 record in only its second season of
varsity competition in 2009. The program its first season as a club
team in '08.
* Big Win Streak: Ferris' current three-game
winning streak is its longest since winning the opening three
contests of the 2008 campaign en route to a 6-5 overall record. FSU
presently remains tied with Grand Valley State, Northern Michigan
and Michigan Tech atop the GLIAC standings with all three teams
unbeaten (3-0) in league play.
* The Records: Ferris State is presently 3-1
overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC after posting a 1-10 overall mark in
2009, including an 0-10 league record. Ferris previously
registered a 6-5-0 overall record in 2008 and placed seventh in the
GLIAC with a 5-5 mark.
Lake Erie (0-4,
0-3 GLIAC) dropped a narrow 42-37 conference road setback at
nationally 12th-ranked Hillsdale last Saturday (Sept. 25).
The Storm posted a 7-4 overall record as a Division
II independent in 2009.
* The Coaches: Ferris State – Jeff
Pierce (Ferris State, 1979), 16th season, 94-75-0 (.556)
– (0-0-0 vs. LEC). Pierce is 46-41 (.529) overall in
road contests at FSU and he owns a 32-31-0
(.508) record in October contests to date. Pierce, who
played at Ferris (defensive back) from 1974-77, is the 12th head
coach in Ferris State's history.
Lake Erie – Mark
McNellie (Baldwin-Wallace, 1988), 5th season, 10-15-0 (.000)
- (0-0-0 vs. Ferris State). McNellie became the
program's first head coach prior to the 2007 season in which
LEC posted a 7-2 mark as a club team. They began varsity
action in '08. Previously, he spent 17 years as an
assistant at Mercyhurst along with two at Fairmont State (W.Va.).
He played collegiately at Baldwin-Wallace.
* The 102nd Season: The 2010 campaign represents
the Bulldogs' 102nd 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.
Additionally, no scores are available from either the 1912 or 1916
seasons. Ferris has posted an all-time record of 370-419-40
(.470) to date.
* Offensive Output: FSU's 52-point scoring output
versus Tiffin was its highest production since a 62-42 home win
over Northern Michigan in 2005. It marked only the second time in
the last five years the Bulldogs have scored 45 points or more in a
game. Ferris scored seven offensive touchdowns and rolled up 479
yards of total offense.
* Three In A Row: Ferris' three consecutive
victories to date represent the Bulldogs' first three-game
win streak since winning their opening three games to start the
2008 season against three Ohio schools in Tiffin, Ashland and
Findlay. FSU is currently midst a stretch of four-straight
games versus schools from the Buckeye state.
* The Century Mark: Sophomore back Skyler Stoker (Jackson/Grass Lake) paced the Bulldogs' ground
game by running for 106 yards on 12 carries versus Tiffin. It
marked his first 100-plus yard performance of his young career
after garnering 2,255 yards and 42 touchdowns rushing as a prep
senior two years ago.
* Team Captains: FSU's team captains for the
2010 campaign are senior right guard Scott Shattuck (Lowell/Ionia) and junior quarterback Tom Schneider (Jerome/Addison) on the offensive side of
the ball along with senior safety Chad Wilson
(Howell), senior linebacker Matt Ryan (Howell) and
senior defensive tackle Jacob Moreno (Holt).
* Welcome Back: The Bulldogs return a total of 12
starters and more than 40 letterwinners from last season. Six
of the starters back are on the offensive side of the ball with
five on defense to go with junior kicker Shawn Snoor (Diamondale/Holt).
* Against Ohio Schools: Ferris holds a 31-43
(.419) all-time record against teams from the state of Ohio in
school history. The Bulldogs have played 11 schools from the
Buckeye state and have fared the best against those teams now
competing in the GLIAC. FSU holds a 10-10 mark versus Findlay
and is 9-13 overall against Ashland. The Bulldogs also own
four wins (4-6) over Ohio Northern, are unbeaten versus Cedarville
(2-0) and Tiffin (3-0) and have topped both Wilmington and Ohio
Dominican along with Defiance once each in the program's
history. Ferris' worst mark has come against Central State,
which owns a 7-0 record against the Bulldogs although the two teams
have not met since 1986.
* Run Ferris Run: Ferris State tallied a
season-high 337 rushing yards on 42 attempts (8.0 avg.) in the win
over Tiffin. The 337 yards mark FSU's highest rushing output
since posting 381 yards on 49 carries in a 48-41 overtime home win
over Northwood in 2007 (11/3/07).
* Leading The League: FSU senior defensive
tackle Jacob Moreno presently leads the GLIAC in
sacks with five to date (-26 yards) in four games (1.25 pg.) this
season. His efforts have helped the Bulldogs defense record a
league-best 15 sacks for -100 yards in four outings. Moreno
is also tied for second overall in tackles for loss among the
league leaders with seven for -33 yards (1.75 pg.).
* Another GLIAC Leader: Ferris sophomore
cornerback Antwian Windmon (Chicago, Ill./Morgan
Park) presently is atop the GLIAC leaders list in passes
defended this campaign. Windmon has a total of nine passes
defended with seven breakups and two interceptions in four games
(2.25 pg.).
* Here's The Offense: The Bulldogs'
seven touchdowns against Tiffin was nearly half of their TD total
from all of last season when FSU netted only 15 touchdowns in 11
outings. Additionally, in four games to date this season, the
Bulldogs have scored a total of 124 points and have already topped
their entire scoring total from a year ago when they finished with
122 points over the 11 games. Fifteen of FSU's 17
touchdowns this season have came on the offensive side of the ball
with one each from special teams and the Bulldog defensive
unit.
* Tiffin Game Notes: A crowd of 2,657 fans were on
hand for the "Kids Night" contest with a number of special
activites for youth ..... The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 all-time
versus Tiffin with the win in the first-ever conference clash
between the two schools ...... It marked the second year in a row
the Bulldogs have topped the Dragons in Big Rapids ....... Ferris
was a perfect six-of-six in the red zone ..... Junior quarterback
Tom Schneider was tabbed as the Bulldogs' Babb
Ford Player of the Game for his efforts. He completed 13-of-16
passes for 142 yards and four scores. He also added 76
rushing yards on seven carries ...... Senior Matt
Ryan led the FSU defense with a game-high 12 tackles,
including a tackle for loss .... Jacob Moreno
finished with three TFL and two quarterback sacks as the Bulldogs
sacked TU five times and totaled 10 TFL.
* Good Numbers In Game Five: Saturday's
visit to Lake Erie will mark FSU's fifth game of the 2010
season. The Bulldogs have posted a 15-3-1 overall record in
game five of a campaign dating back to 1990. One of the
setbacks came last year when the Bulldogs suffered a 34-0 setback
at Northern Michigan (Sept. 26) in Marquette's
Superior Dome. Ferris State has had more success in game five
than any other week going back to 1990.
* Big Offensive Numbers: The Bulldogs have rolled
up more than 400 yards of total offense in each of the last two
games with 412 yards at Ohio Dominican (Sept. 18) and 479 yards
versus Tiffin (Sept. 25). It represents the first time the
Bulldogs have totaled 400 or more yards in back-to-back games since
posting 412 yards and 420 yards at home in 2007 versus Hillsdale
(9/22) and Northern Michigan (9/29), respectively.
* No Running: The Bulldogs have allowed only 284
total rushing yards in four contests or an average of 71 yards per
game after holding Tiffin to 74 yards on 29 attempts.
Last season, the Bulldogs allowed 253.5 yards per game on average
rushing. FSU ranks first in the league to date this season
in rushing defense after four games.
* Sack Opposites: Ferris' defense leads the
GLIAC with 15 sacks this season in four games. Conversely,
the Bulldogs are also tied for second overall in the league as
they've allowed only three sacks to date this season.
* National Rankings: Ferris State presently ranks
10th nationally in sacks (3.75 pg.), among the NCAA Division
II leaders (as of Sept. 28). FSU is also tied for 10th
in sacks allowed (.75 pg.) and 11th in rushing defense (71.0
ypg.). Senior DT Jacob Moreno is tied for
seventh nationally in total sacks (1.25 pg.).
* Piling Up The Yardage: Ferris' 449 yards
of total offense in last Saturday's win over Tiffin was its
most since registering 550 yards in a 31-24 victory at Indianapolis
in 2008 (10/11). It also marked the second consecutive week
the Bulldogs have tallied 400 or more yards of total offense as FSU
managed 412 yards in its road win at Ohio Dominican two weeks ago
(Sept. 18).
* First Of Two: Ferris' trip to Ohio
Dominican (Sept. 18) two weeks ago was the first of two long trips
the Bulldogs make to the state of Ohio to face new GLIAC schools as
FSU also ventures to Painesville this week to meet Lake Erie (Oct.
2). The game began a stretch of four consecutive contests overall
versus GLIAC schools from the state of Ohio - ODU, Tiffin,
Lake Erie and Findlay, which is FSU's homecoming opponent
next week (Oct. 9).
* Good Streak: Following FSU's recent win
over Ohio Dominican (Sept. 18), the Bulldogs have now presently
emerged victorious in 10 of their last 12 games determined by a
touchdown or less dating back to a thrilling 44-41 league home win
(9/22/07) over Hillsdale. FSU had won seven-straight such contests
prior to its home loss last year to nationally top-ranked Grand
Valley State (9/19/09). Two of the victories have came in the
last three weeks versus Saginaw Valley State and Ohio
Dominican.
* Good At Close Calls: Two of FSU's
victories this season have been decided by seven points or
less. In 2008, five of Ferris' six wins were also decided by
seven points or less. The Bulldogs scored the go-ahead TD in the
final 37 seconds of four of those contests - at Ashland (Sept. 6),
vs. Northern Michigan (Sept. 27), at Indianapolis (Oct. 11) and vs.
Northwood (Oct. 25). Seven of FSU's 10 outings in '08 were
determined by 14 points or less and the Bulldogs finished 6-1 in
those contests. Ferris was 5-0 in games decided by seven points or
less two years ago.
* Two Touchdowns: FSU senior receiver
Chris Wilson (Hingsville, Ga./Long
County) hauled in four catches for 64 yards against Tiffin
this past week with half going for touchdowns as he caught pass
scoring receptions covering 27 and 25 yards.
* First TD's For Two: Two Bulldogs scored
their first career touchdowns in the fourth quarter of
Saturday's win over Tiffin, including senior fullback
Leon Curry (Detroit/Warren Fitzgerald) and senior
tailback Elijah Johnson (Miami, Fla./Booker
T. Washington). Curry scored from seven yards out with
Johnson finding paydirt from two yards away.
* Home Sweet Home: Sophomore running back
Tyler Thomas (Jackson) scored his fifth career
touchdown in Saturday's win over Tiffin and all five have
come at Top Taggart Field. Last year, Thomas scored four
TD's in five home games on FSU's Mondo Ecofill
artificial-playing surface.
* GLIAC Stats Notes: The Bulldogs are ranked
first overall in the GLIAC in total sacks after four games (15)
this season ...... Ferris also ranks first in rushing defense (71.0
ypg.) and first in red zone offense (13-15) .........
FSU cornerback Antwian Windmon ranks first
in passes defended (2.25 pg.) after four games ....... Senior
DT Jacob Moreno leads the GLIAC in sacks (5)
and is tied for second in tackles for loss (7) ....... Senior
Matt Ryan is tied for third in total tackles (10.0
pg.) ......... Sophomore defensive end Jordan Morgan (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel) is third in sacks
(4) and tied for 14th in tackles for loss (5) ....... Junior
defensive back William Miles (Stockton,
Calif./Tokay) is fourth in passes defended (1.50 pg.)
........ Sophomore defensive end Brad Iskow (Bad
Axe) is 10th in sacks (2.5) and 12th in tackles for loss (1.25 pg.)
........ QB Tom Schneider is listed fourth
in passing efficiency (146.9), eighth in total offense (204.8 ypg.)
and 10th in passing (159.2 ypg.). He also ranks tied for
second with nine touchdown passes this year ........ Shawn
Snoor is 10th in punting (36.5 avg.).
* More Stats Notes: Ferris senior fullback
Leon Curry leads the GLIAC in average yards per
rush (9.7 avg.) ...... Junior receiver Damien Miller (Elsie/Ovid-Elsie) is first with 84 total punt
return yards this season among the GLIAC leaders ...... As a team,
Ferris ranks fourth in the GLIAC in rushing offense (193.5 ypg.)
and is second in average yards per rush (5.1) ......... The
Bulldogs are also first in the GLIAC with only one pass
interception thrown all season ....... FSU is fourth in the
league in scoring offense (41.0 avg.) and fifth in total defense
(331.8 ypg.) this campaign.
* Still Perfect: Sophomore kicker Catlin Porter (Midland) is perfect on the year as he's made
10-of-10 PAT kicks and his lone field goal of 35 yards versus
Tiffin. He saw his first-ever action two weeks ago against
Ohio Dominican (Sept. 18). Porter converted seven-of-seven
PAT attempts against Tiffin in addition to his first career
field goal.
* The "Bulldog
Beat" Football Show: A special internet
talk show on FSU football will air each week this fall as the
"Bulldog Beat" Football Show hits the web airwaves on Thursday
nights throughout the season. The talk show, which will be powered
by a service called Blog Talk Radio, will be co-hosted by FSU
Associate Athletics Communications Director/Football SID Rob
Bentley and local journalist Sandy Gholston. The approximate 60 to
90-minute show will take place Thursday evenings starting at 9 p.m.
(ET) and can be heard live by visiting: www.blogtalkradio.com/ferrisathletics.
* Bulldog Gameday: Complete information on every
Bulldog home and road contest this year can be found by visiting
the Bulldog Gameday page on the FSU Athletics Website at
www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com (click on football and
then Bulldog Gameday). The Gameday information, which will be
updated several days prior to each game, includes links to all
pertinent notes and statistics for both teams as well as links for
the respective broadcast and internet media coverage available for
the contest.
* Follow The Bulldogs: A live video and audio
webcast is slated to be offered for all 2010 Bulldog home football
games and selected road games via an agreement with America One
(formerly B2). Visit the FSU Athletics Website
(www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com) and click on the B2
icon.
* Yearbook Available Online: The 2010 Ferris State
University Football Yearbook is available to view as an online
publication. It features 2010 player rosters, season outlook,
player biographies, coaching staff information, 2009 season
statistics, career and season statistical records, series records,
game records, etc. Visit
www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com to find it online.