Ferris State Football Beats Defending GLIAC Champs To Remain Unbeaten In League Play

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football team went on the road and pulled out a resounding 34-7 win over defending Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Champion Ashland on Saturday (Sept. 21) night at Jack Miller Stadium in Ashland, Ohio.

The Bulldogs pulled out a win in their first-ever contest in the facility as they improved to 2-1 overall and remained unbeaten in the GLIAC with a 2-0 mark.

Ferris State started the scoring on the game's first possession as the Bulldogs drove 71 yards in eight plays before sophomore quarterback Jason Vander Laan capped the drive with a 12-yard scoring run at 10:39 of the first quarter.

After the Bulldog defense came up with a couple stops, FSU added a second touchdown at 12:28 of the second frame when junior wideout Jake Lampman scored from eight-yards out to finish a 68-yard march in eight plays, giving FSU a 14-0 lead.

The Bulldogs struck again with 6:40 to go in the first period as they moved 60 yards in nine plays before Korey Ringer scooted in from 15 yards out to give the Bulldogs a three-touchdown advantage.

FSU tacked on another score on the ensuing possesion as defensive end Justin Zimmer picked off a Eagle pass and rambled 20 yards into the endzone to push the lead to 27-0 at the break with his first collegiate score.

Following a scoreless third period, the Eagles finally scored for the first time early in the fourth quarter when Tra'Von Champman found paydirt from 15 yards away to cut the margin to 27-7.  His run capped a 12-play, 74-yard march for the Eagles.

However, the Bulldogs answered with a 70-yard drive of their own that took eight plays before Vander Laan finished it off with a two-yard plunge to account for the final margin.

The Bulldog defense forced three turnovers in the contest and limited AU to a five-of-16 showing on third down.  FSU also sacked Champman twice and starting quarterback Austin Bruns three times in earning the triumph.

Ferris State was led on the ground by freshman back Kitwana Clark, who had 66 yards on 10 carries as FSU rolled up 300 total rushing yards as part of its 500 yards of total offense.  Vander Laan added 53 yards on 15 carries with two scores while Torico Searcy totaled 45 yards on four runs.

Vander Laan completed 13-of-18 passes for 174 yards, but was intercepted twice and sacked twice.  Dontae Ingraham hauled in six catches for 51 yards with Antonio Agurs totaling three catches for 59 yards and Lampman grabbing three passes for 53 yards.

Defensively, the Bulldogs were paced by Zimmer, who had 10 tackles and finished with 4.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble along with a pass breakup.  FSU's Marvin Robinson had nine tackles, Terrell Porter added eight stops while James Stewart chipped in with seven stops.

Ashland was paced by Anthony Taylor's 91 yards rushing.  Chapman was six-of-15 in the air for 52 yards while Bruns completed seven-of-13 throws for 43 yards.

Chris Harvey led the Eagle defense with a game-high 18 total tackles.

Ferris State will be back in action next Saturday (Sept. 28) as FSU visits Walsh for a 6 p.m. (ET) league tilt at the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio.  

Following next week's contest at Walsh, the Bulldogs return home for back-to-back contests to start GLIAC North Division play against Saginaw Valley State (Oct. 5) and Grand Valley State (Oct. 12).