PREVIEW: Ferris State Aims To Start New Streak This Week As 'Dawgs Venture To Findlay

This Week: The two-time defending Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Champion Ferris State University football squad hits the road again this week as the Bulldogs venture to Ohio to square off against the Findlay Oilers on Saturday (Oct. 1). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET) under the lights at Donnell Stadium in Findlay.

The Bulldogs capped off a second-straight unbeaten regular season along with winning a second consecutive GLIAC Championship a year ago. FSU is presently 3-1 overall this campaign while UF owns a 2-2 mark heading into Saturday's matchup.

Ferris State was a consensus top 20 team in the national rankings entering the 2016 campaign with more than 50 letterwinners returning.

Ticket Information: Adult general admission tickets for Saturday's matchup at Findlay are $8 and will be sold on gameday prior to the contest. Also, a student general admission ticket for ages 6-17 is available for $5 with children five and under along with senior citizens earning free admission. For additional ticket info, please call the UF Athletics Ticket Office at (419) 434-6684.

Media/TV Coverage: Saturday's game will be carried live 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. Coverage will begin shortly before kickoff following FSU Hockey on the Bulldog Sports Network. The contest will also be streamed with a free live audio feed online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. All links, including free live internet statistics, will be made available at FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

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.

Homecoming Setback: Ferris State jumped out to a 31-14 first-half lead over nationally fifth-ranked Ashland in a homecoming showdown last Saturday (Sept. 24) at FSU's Top Taggart Field, but the Eagles rallied to beat FSU 39-31 before a crowd of nearly 6,000 fans in Big Rapids. The loss snapped a 28-game regular-season win streak for the Bulldogs dating back to 2013. The contest was aired nationally as the Division II Game of the Week by the American Sports Network. Despite the loss, FSU had nearly 600 yards of total offense (581) last week.

Win On Final Play: Ferris State won a tight league road game for the second consecutive week two weeks ago (Sept. 17) as FSU scored on the game's final play for a 27-26 GLIAC victory at Northwood. The Bulldogs fought back from a 26-14 third-quarter deficit at NU's Hantz Stadium in Midland and drove 50-plus yards in the final 2:20 to score on a five-yard TD pass from junior QB Reggie Bell to junior slot Jajuan Pollock with no time remaining on the clock. The win was FSU's 15th-straight overall on the road dating back to October of 2013.

School Record Victory: With the victory two weeks ago at Northwood, Ferris State set a school record with its 28th-straight regular season win dating back to the 2013 season prior to last week's loss. FSU previously won 27 consecutive regular-season outings in a row from Oct. 23, 1993 to Sept. 14, 1996. FSU was a consensus top-five team in virtually every major NCAA Division II national poll last year and welcomed back more than 50 letterwinners from a historic second consecutive unbeaten regular-season. The Bulldogs' 28-game regular season win streak was the longest in the country.

Unbeaten Regular Season: Last year's 11-0 start for Ferris State matched the 2014 season for the program's best season-opening victory total in nearly 20 years since winning its first 12 games en route to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals in 1995, which is the highest finish in Bulldog history. Overall, the Bulldogs have compiled six undefeated regular-seasons in program history.

Not The Last Matchup: Saturday's matchup will be the final meeting between Ferris State and Findlay as GLIAC members before UF departs the league next summer. However, it won't be the last game as the two teams are slated to square off again each of the next two years in non-league action. Ferris State will visit Donnell Stadium for the third-straight season in 2017 with UF paying a return visit to Big Rapids the following year.

The Records: Ferris State (3-1, 3-1 GLIAC) posted an 11-1 overall mark in 2015 and won a second-straight GLIAC title with a perfect 10-0 league record. In 2014, Ferris State finished 11-1 overall and won the GLIAC with a perfect 10-0 conference mark, becoming the first team in the GLIAC North to finish league play unbeaten since 2008 before doing it again this year. In 2013, FSU posted an 8-3 overall record and placed second in the GLIAC North Division standings with a 8-2 conference mark. FSU, which won seven games in head coach Tony Annese's debut season in 2012, has presently won 29 of its last 32 contests overall.

Findlay is off to a 2-2 start overall and in league action to date this year. The Oilers are coming off a 58-13 triumph at Lake Erie last Saturday (Sept. 24) and also own a victory over Saginaw Valley State in their season opener at home by a 37-19 score (Sept. 3). Their two losses are setbacks against Ohio Dominican at home and Ashland on the road. UF went 6-5 overall and 5-5 in the GLIAC a year ago.

The Coaches: Ferris State – Tony Annese (Alma, 1983), 5th season, 40-10-0 (.800) – (2-0 vs. UF).  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 265-55 (.828) to date and includes three prep state championships and two national JUCO crowns. He coached his 300th career game at all levels in 2014 and notched his 260th victory late last campaign. Last Saturday's game versus Ashland was his 50th contest at the FSU helm.

Findlay - Rob Keys (West Virginia, 1996), 6th season - (1-2-0 vs. Ferris State). Keys is in his sixth season at Findlay, but was also an Oiler assistant from 2000-04. He's spent time in various roles coaching at New Hampshire, Slippery Rock (Pa.), Indiana State and West Virginia, where he played collegiately.

Against The Oilers: Heading into Saturday's tilt at Findlay, the Bulldogs lead the all-time series by a 13-11 count. In the 24 previous meetings between the two teams, the Oilers have totaled 530 points with FSU scoring 531 points as only a single point has seperated the two squads in the history of the close series. Findlay has captured three of the previous five meetings against the Bulldogs at Donnell Stadium and had scored exactly 43 points offensively versus FSU in back-to-back games at the stadium prior to putting up 39 on FSU a year ago.

Close Contest Last Year: Last year, Ferris State needed a valiant second-half comeback to avoid a potential upset at Findlay as the Oilers built a 28-14 halftime lead against the Bulldogs. FSU sealed the win by running out the clock with a final time-consuming drive in the closing minutes to keep its perfect season intact. The Bulldogs ran out the final 6:21 of the fourth quarter to secure the triumph. Overall, FSU has now claimed seven of the last nine matchups along with 10 of the last 13 games in the series to date.

The National Rankings: Ferris State is now #13 in the country in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II National Poll along with 17th by D2Football.com. In addition, FSU is now #18 nationally in the Massey Online Computer Rankings along with 21st according to the CompughterRatings.com Division II poll.

Last-Second Wins: The Bulldogs have had pulled out several victories in the closing seconds during the Tony Annese era. Besides wins this season on the road at Michigan Tech and Northwood, FSU also pulled out a thrilling 46-42 road win in 2014 to wrap up the GLIAC Championship on the road at Walsh and pulled out a close 32-31 road victory at Northern Michigan in the 2012 regular-season finale by going for two with only nine seconds left to play in the contest.

Second Year For ASN: This year represented the second consecutive year in which Ferris State osted a Division II National Game of the Week on the American Sports Network. Last season (10/24/15), ASN televised FSU's 24-14 victory over Michigan Tech at Top Taggart Field prior to last week's matchup with Ashland. That game also was a matchup of nationally-ranked squads as then fourth-ranked Ferris State topped the 17th-ranked Huskies in Big Rapids.

Leading The Way: FSU junior QB Reggie Bell leads the GLIAC in total offense (321.3 ypg.) .... The Bulldogs had two 100-yard rushers in the week two win over Michigan Tech alogn with last week's loss to Ashland as quarterback Reggie Bell and tailback Jahaan Brown both topped the 100-yard rushing mark in the same contest .... Wide receiver Malik Taylor had a personal career-high nine catches for 91 yards in the victory at Michigan Tech ..... Defensive end Zach Sieler is ied for the conference lead in tackles for loss (1.4 pg.) .... The FSU defense leads the GLIAC and is 17th nationally in turnovers forced this year with 11 to date .... The Bulldog defense is second in the league and 17th in the country in rushing defense (86.3 ypg.) .... FSU ranks 13th nationally in rushing (246.3 ypg.) ... Safety Willie Smith is second in the country and first in the league in interceptions (1.0 pg.).

Fred Mitchell Award Watch List: Bulldog junior kicker Wyatt Ford has been named to the Fred Mitchell Award List of Excellence for his performance during the month of September. Ford is one of only 16 kickers across the country named to the list for excellence on and off the field. He was perfect in PAT tries during the opening month of the campaign and missed only a single field goal attempt. The monthly honorees are considered as potential nominees for the annual Fred Mitchell Award given to the nation's top collegiate placekicker.

The 108th Season: The 2016 campaign represents the Bulldogs' 108th 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 418-439-40 to date.

One Of Best In The Country: Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bulldogs rank only behind defending national champion Northwest Missouri State for the fewest losses of any NCAA Division II team in the country. The Bearcats have only a pair of losses in the past three seasons. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have recorded back-to-back 11-1 seasons along with a 3-1 mark this year. Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all 21 collegiate programs in Michigan at 40-10 overall since the arrival of head coach Tony Annese in 2012.

Week One Shutout: Ferris State opened the 2016 campaign in impressive fashion on Sept. 1 as FSU shutout Ohio Dominican 41-0 before a crowd of more than 5,000 fans at FSU's Top Taggart Field. The Bulldogs' shutout win was its first since 2008 and it was the first opening day blanking of an opponent since 1996. Junior transfer QB Reggie Bell ran for 102 yards and a score, including a 73-yard TD run, while completing 17-of-27 passes for 154 yards and two scores in his FSU debut. Senior receiver Jamel Lockett tallied nine catches for 91 yards and two TD's.

Last Second Victory: The Bulldogs went on the road in week two (Sept. 10) and fought back from a 21-10 halftime deficit to beat Michigan Tech 30-28 at MTU's Sherman Field in Houghton. FSU pulled out the victory on junior kicker Wyatt Ford's 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining. The Bulldog defense forced four third-quarter turnovers and the offense compiled 516 total yards in the victory.

NFL Trio: The Bulldogs had three former players from last season in National Football League (NFL) Training Camps this summer. Former two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winning quarterback Jason Vander Laan was with the New York Jets as a tight end while defensive tackle Justin Zimmer played for the Buffalo Bills. Wideout Jake Lampman is still with the New Orleans Saints on the club's practice squad. All three signed as undrafted free agents shortly after the 2016 NFL Draft.

Second In GLIAC Poll: The two-time defending GLIAC Champion Ferris State University football team was projected to finish second in the conference standings as the 2016 GLIAC Football North Division Preseason Poll was announced. Ferris State picked up 45 total points and three first-place votes to rank second in the division just behind archrival Grand Valley State. The Lakers were first with 47 points and five top votes. The two squads were followed by Michigan Tech in third place (35 points) and Wayne State in fourth (30).

Against Ohio: This week's matchup at Findlay will represent the Bulldogs' third of four matchups against teams from the state of Ohio this season. Last year, the Bulldogs posted a 5-0 mark against the Buckeye State. Ferris State also wrapped up its GLIAC South Division stretch in 2014 with a perfect 5-0 regular season mark after going 3-0 versus the Ohio schools the previous campaign in 2013.  FSU previously swept four Ohio teams in 2010 and beat three of four in the 2011 campaign before topping two of three in 2012.  Since 2010, the Bulldogs are now 23-3 versus teams from the Buckeye state in regular season action.

Beating The Buckeye State: Saturday's game will be FSU's 100th all-time matchup versus an Ohio school. Ferris holds a 52-47 (.525) all-time record against teams from the state of Ohio in school history. The Bulldogs have played 13 schools from the Buckeye state and have fared the best against those teams now competing in the GLIAC.  FSU holds a 13-11 mark versus Findlay and is 10-15 overall against Ashland.  The Bulldogs also own six wins over Tiffin (6-0) and Lake Erie (6-0) along with five against Ohio Dominican (5-1), four versus against Ohio Northern (4-6) and Walsh (4-0) and two versus Cedarville (2-0). FSU has topped Wilmington and Defiance once each in the program's history.  Ferris' worst mark is against Central State, which owns a 7-0 record against the Bulldogs although the two teams have not met '86.

Preseason Top 20: Ferris State was a consensus top 20 team in the preseason and was tabbed as the nation's #12 team entering the season, according to the American Football Coaches Association Rankings. FSU was also ranked eighth in the Massey Ratings, ninth by D2Football.com, 14th by CompughterRatings.com, 17th by The Sporting News and 20th by Lindy's Division II Magazine.

Breaking The Mark: The Bulldogs broke the school-record for most consecutive wins overall in 2014. FSU had won 15 games in a row overall dating back to the 2013 season before falling to Ohio Dominican in the 2014 NCAA Division II Playoffs. Previously, FSU won its opening 12 games in 1995 before falling in the Division II National Semifinals, which was the Bulldogs' best finish in school history. FSU has presently won 28 of its last 29 regular-season games overall.

Year Five Under Annese: A proven winner at all of his previous coaching stops and highly-regarded across the country, Tony Annese is directing the Bulldogs for the fifth time this fall. He came to FSU 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.  He has an overall career head coaching record of 265-55 (.828) and was 30-4 (.882) as a JUCO coach at GRCC.

Preseason All-American: Ferris State junior center Jake Daugherty was a consensus Preseason All-American for the Bulldogs heading into the 2016 campaign. The local Big Rapids product received acclaim from virtually every source in the presason, including Sporting News, Lindy's, Football Gameplan and more. Daughterty started every game for the Bulldogs at center in 2015 as FSU ranked among the national leaders in rushing and total offense.

Returning All-American: Junior center Jake Daugherty returns as an All-American for the Bulldogs after garnering Football Gazette Division II First Team laurels a year ago. In addition, sophomore offensive lineman Devon Johnson was a Freshman All-American last season as one of the country's top rookies, according to USA College Football. Additionally, current senior linebacker Anthony Darkangelo garnered first-team all-region accolades last campaign from Football Gazette.

Last Season: Last fall, the Bulldog football squad finished 2015 with an 11-1 overall record for the second-straight year. Under Head Coach Tony Annese's direction, the Bulldogs also led the country with four Academic All-Americans and senior quarterback Jason Vander Laan claimed his second consecutive Harlon Hill Trophy as the nation's top NCAA Division II player. FSU was ranked among the nation's top 10 teams all season, including the school's highest ever national rankings at #1 in the D2Football.com poll along with #2 in the American Football Coaches Association rankings. Annese garnered Football Gazette Regional Coach of the Year accolades for FSU.

Strong Debut: A total of 18 newcomers saw their first action for the Bulldogs in FSU's week one win over Ohio Dominican, including eight freshmen. The only true freshman to see action to date this year has been kicker Jackson Dieterle (Jenison), who has kicked off for the Bulldogs. Seven redshirt freshmen also played in the opener along with a group of 10 transfers.

Big Change: Since his arrival at Ferris State, FSU head coach Tony Annese has turned the Bulldogs into a national power on the Division II level. The veteran coach has posted a 40-10 overall mark in four plus seasons at the FSU helm and has been the mastermind behind a Bulldog turnaround leading to 25 wins in the program's past 28 games overall. FSU has posted the GLIAC's best league record over the past four-plus seasons (37-7) and the squad owns the top overall four-year record of all 21 collegiate programs in Michigan (40-10). Overall, Annese has won 83% of his games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep levels and owns 265 wins to date, which is the most of any current GLIAC member head coach at all levels.

Coming Up Next: FSU hits the road again next week as the Bulldogs visit archrival Grand Valley State for the Anchor-Bone Classic on Oct. 8 in Allendale before coming back home for three-straight GLIAC home tilts against Northern Michigan (Oct. 15), Lake Erie (Oct. 22) and Wayne State (Oct. 29).

Sixth Unbeaten Regular Season: Last year marked the sixth time in school history in which the Bulldogs went undefeated in the regular season. Prior to the last two years, no Bulldog team had went undefeated in the regular season since the 1995 team won its first 12 games en route to the NCAA Division II Semifinals, which is the highest finish in school history. FSU's 11-0 mark in 2014 prior to the NCAA Playoffs represented the first time in 100-plus years of football in which a Bulldog team won 11 contests in the regular season.

Seventh NCAA Playoff Berth: Last year marked Ferris State's seventh all-time NCAA Division II Playoff appearance and the school's second in a row after previously not making the field since 1996 prior to the 2014 season. Overall, FSU has now compiled a 6-7 all-time playoff record and posted the school's best finish ever by reaching the semifinals in 1995. Last year's GLIAC Championship was also Ferris State's second in a row. Before the last two years, FSU had not won a league title since 1999. The 2014 outright title was the school's first since 1996. Overall, last year represented the ninth conference title in Bulldog football history.

Bulldog Senior Class: The Bulldogs entered 2016 having to replace a total of 17 Ferris State seniors lost to graduation last year. The large group combined for a 37-9 overall record along with two GLIAC Championships and NCAA Playoff appearances.  The group of 17 included Antonio Agurs, Adam Bennett, Kahlil Bolling, Mitch Bredberg, Paeton Caldwell, Frank Colletti, Cody Dingeldey,  Ben Hinamanu, Nate Iveson, Jake Lampman, Damonta Madden, Sean O'Brien, Jordan Roxas, Troy Smith, Jason Vander Laan, Garrett Woods and Justin Zimmer.

Highest National Rankings: Ferris State climbed as high as second in the country late last year in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Rankings, which represented the Bulldogs' highest ranking ever in the history of the coaches' poll that dates back to 2000. In addition, FSU was also ranked 1st nationally at one point a year ago by D2Football.com along with the Division II Power Rankings.

First In NCAA History: Departed two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winning quarterback Jason Vander Laan become the first player in NCAA football history at any level to both run and pass for 1,000 yards for four-straight seasons. Prior to Vander Laan accomplishing the feat, no other player in the history of college football had ever totaled more than 1,000 passing and rushing yards for each season of their collegiate career.

Unbeaten Regular Season: Last year, the Bulldogs posted only their sixth unbeaten regular-season in the 108-year history of Bulldog Football.  The 2014 season marked the Bulldogs' first-ever 11-0 regular season and first unbeaten mark since 1995. The 2015 campaign was only the seventh time in the 100 plus year history of Ferris State football in which the Bulldogs had won at least nine games.

Over 1,000 Yards: Former Bulldog QB Jason Vander Laan topped the 1,000 yard rushing mark last season at Lake Erie while posting his fourth consecutive 1,000 yard campaign. In the history of NCAA Division II football, a player has both ran and passed for 1,000 yards or more in a season only 25 times and Vander Laan owns four of those marks. He also notched his fourth-straight campaign topping the 1,000 yard mark in both rushing and passing last year.

Among Nation's Best: Ferris State ranked third nationally in total offense (522.2 ypg.) along with second in scoring (45.5 ppg.) and ninth in rushing (279.2 ypg.) a year ago. The Bulldogs also led the GLIAC in all three categories. FSU was also tops in the GLIAC and 12th nationally in total defense (288.2 ypg.) while ranking fifth in the country in rushing defense (76.9 ypg.). Individually, Jason Vander Laan was seventh nationally in total offense (341.8 ypg.), second in scoring (13.1 ppg.) and ninth in rushing yards a game (128.7 ypg.). He was also first in points responsible for (276) and second in rushing touchdowns (24). DT Justin Zimmer was fifth in the country in tackles for loss (2.1 pg.).

GLIAC's Top Offense & Defense: The Bulldogs owned the GLIAC's top offensive and defensive units overall last campaign. The Bulldogs led the GLIAC in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense and also were on top of the defensive charts in total defense, rushing defense along with scoring defense during the regular season last year.

Special Dedication Ceremony: Ferris State University Athletics paid tribute to a former head coach and longtime Bulldog supporter with a special ceremony honoring the late Nick Coso as part of homecoming activities last Saturday at Top Taggart Field. Coso, who served as the Bulldogs' head football coach from 1972-83, impacted countless numbers of former student-athletes during his coaching career. He passed away last fall at the age of 87 after a short illness. As part of the homecoming game, Ferris State unveiled a special plaque recognizing the late head coach and his contributions to Ferris State Football in the breezeway of the Wheeler Pavilion. His family members were also honored on the field during the game against the Ashland Eagles. Former players from the Coso era were on hand for the special day along with family representatives and friends as the Bulldogs honored "Big Nick". Many of his former collegiate players played an integral role in the special plaque that was dedicated and put on display in his name.

GLIAC Player of Week: FSU junior placekicker Wyatt Ford (Montague) earned the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week honor following the 'Dawgs win over Michigan Tech. Ford proved to be the hero as his 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining lifted FSU to a victory at MTU. The junior placekicker converted three field goals on the day, including a 32-yarder in the first quarter for the game's first score. He then pulled FSU within a single point with 7:52 remaining in the game by converting from 24 yards away before his 36-yarder in the closing seconds to win the contest. The game was played under windy conditions and Ford's final make came only a series after a potential go-ahead field goal was thwarted due to a bad snap. Ford finished with 12 points in the game as he also converted all three of his PAT tries.

Game-Winning Note: This year's Michigan Tech game represented the first time in which the Bulldogs pulled out a victory with a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds since former kicker Jim Yates connected on a 41-yarder with three seconds remaining in a thrilling 44-41 win over Hillsdale in 2007 (9/22) at FSU's Top Taggart Field.

Defensive Honor: Bulldog sophomore defensive end Zach Sieler (Pinckney) was tabbed as the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week after FSU's week one 41-0 shutout over Ohio Dominican. It marked the first time in his collegiate career in which Sieler had claimed the league's weekly award distinction. Sieler headlined an outstanding defensive performance by the Bulldogs in the win. He made a career-best and team-high 10 tackles, including eight assisted efforts and also tallied three tackles for loss (-12 yards), 1.5 sacks (-8 yards) and a forced fumble in the victory.  His effort before a crowd of more than 5,000 fans on an electric night helped FSU shutout the Panthers' potent offense and limit ODU to only 198 yards of total offense along with only 53 yards rushing on 30 attempts. The defensive unit also forced four turnovers in the game.

A New Streak: Ferris State's win over Michigan Tech this year was its fifth-straight versus MTU. The Huskies owned a nine-game series' winning streak prior to FSU's current five-game win streak during the Tony Annese era.  Prior to the last five years, Ferris State had not beat Michigan Tech since a 21-14 overtime home win in 2002 (10/12) at Top Taggart Field. Ferris State had not beat Michigan Tech in Houghton in 15 years prior to pulling out wins in 2013, 2014 and 2016 in the Upper Peninsula.

Big Playoff Victory: A huge second half lifted Ferris State to its first NCAA Playoff victory in 19 years as the Bulldogs beat Texas A&M Commerce 48-30 in the opening round of the postseason last year (Nov. 21) at FSU's Top Taggart Field. After a quick start, the Bulldogs fell behind 16-13 at halftime before tallying 35 second-half points to pull out the win and improve to 11-0 on the year. Senior quarterback Jason Vander Laan ran for five TD's on the ground in the victory while tailback Jahaan Brown tallied a season-high 192 yards rushing for the Bulldogs against the seventh-seeded Lions. Defensively, the Bulldogs gave up 354 yards to the Lions' high-potent offense, but they also forced four turnovers in the victory, including a pick six from linebacker Brady Sheldon. The playoff win was FSU's first since 1996.

Big-Time Success: The Ferris State University football and volleyball teams posted the best combined mark of any school in the country last year in the two major fall sports. Both were among the country's top 15 teams in their respective preseason coaches' polls and both won their second-straight GLIAC Championships last fall. The volleyball team posted a nation-best 33-3 overall mark last year and hosted the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament at FSU's Jim Wink Arena. Together, the two squads finished 44-4 last year!

Greatest Rushing Quarterback: Ferris State's Jason Vander Laan became college football's "greatest rushing quarterback" of all-time on a historic day at Top Taggart Field against Ohio Dominican last year (Oct. 17) in Big Rapids. He finished with 5,953 career rushing yards and surpassed the all-time record for most rushing yards by any QB at any level on a 53-yard TD run down the home sideline in the second quarter versus ODU. He topped the previous career record of 5,128 yards held by Wofford's Shawn Graves from 1989-92.  Vander Laan eventually finished as a two-time recipient of the Harlon Hill Trophy presented to Division II's top player, becoming the first GLIAC player to ever win the award twice.