Ferris State Football Rolls Past Lake Erie To Improve To 2-0

Highlights   

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football team remained unbeaten under new head coach Tony Annese as the Bulldogs rolled to a 49-21 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) road win over the Lake Erie Storm on Saturday (Sept. 8) night in Painesville, Ohio.

FSU rolled up 665 yards of total offense en route to the convincing win, which came in the Bulldogs' first league contest of the year.  With the win, FSU improved to 2-0 overall this season while the Storm fell to 0-2 on the year.

Ferris State opened the scoring with 12:04 to play in the first quarter as FSU drove 73 yards in eight plays before Cody DeWitt caught a three-yard scoring pass from quarterback Jason Vander Laan.

FSU scored again with 4:55 remaining in the opening frame when Vander Laan marched in from three yards away.  The Bulldogs had drove to the Storm's one-yard line before a fumble.  However, the FSU defense intercepted a pass at the three-yard line on the ensuing play to give the ball back to the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs tacked on another score with 7:45 left in the second period as Jamaal Jackson scored from a yard-out to finish a 58-yard drive in nine plays.

Lake Erie scored for the first time in the contest with 4:31 left in the half as Anthony Kukwa caught a 19-yard TD pass from Patrick Nicely after the Storm drove 81 yards in eight plays.

However, Ferris State answered to finish the half and take a 28-7 edge at the break when Torico Searcy hauled in a 35-yard scoring toss from quarterback Taylor Masiewicz.

FSU's lead grew to 35-7 at 5:45 of the third period on a 36-yard scoring play from Masiewicz to senior back Skyler Stoker.  Soon after, FSU senior receiver Kevin Guirand caught a 10-yard scoring pass to push the lead to 42-7 at the end of three quarters.

Lake Erie cut the margin to 42-14 early in the fourt quarter on Brandon Phenix's four-yard scoring run, but the Bulldogs answered with a 63-yard drive in seven plays capped by Ryan Taylor's one-yard run.

The final score came for Lake Erie on Kukwa's 29-yard pass from Nicely with only 3:57 remaining.

FSU had 33 first downs and ran for 364 yards in the game while also throwing for 301 yards in the air.  The defense limited Lake Erie to 293 total yards, including 134 on the ground.

Masiewicz threw for 145 yards and three scores on nine-of-12 passing while Vander Laan completed 16-of-21 passes for 135 yards and a score.  Taylor led the Bulldogs in rushing with five carries for 73 yards while Jake Lampman caught six passes for 81 yards.

The Bulldogs will host unbeaten Ashland next Saturday, Sept. 15, in their home opener at Top Taggart Field.  Kickoff for the Agriculture Day contest is set for 7 p.m. (ET) with a variety of activities taking place in conjunction with the game presented by Farm Bureau.

Tickets for next Saturday's game are on sale and fans can save $2 by purchasing in advance prior to gameday.  Please call (231) 591-2888 for more information.  The FSU Athletics Ticket Office is open Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET).