Red Team Edges White Squad In Tightly-Contested Ferris State Football Spring Game
Postgame Press Conference 
Postgame Highlights
Game Photos
Big Rapids, Mich. - A tightly-contested Ferris State University Football Crimson & Gold Spring Game went to the wire on Saturday (April 22) as the Red squad came up with a key turnover at the goal line to score a 14-12 victory over the White Team at FSU's Top Taggart Field.
The defending Super Region Champions officially wrapped up spring practice drills on a beautiful afternoon in front of a large crowd in Big Rapids. The contest featured a modified scoring system and a running clock was utilized at the discretion of FSU head coach Tony Annese.
While many of the Bulldogs' top returning players were limited or held out of the contest, the spring game provided an opportunity for many of FSU's younger squad members to receive significant playing experience in a game-like situation. The contest wrapped up spring drills that began on March 21 for the Bulldogs.
"For us, the spring game isn't so much about the compeititon, but an opportunity for some of our younger guys to perform and show what they can do," said Annese. "We've had a tremendous spring and this contest was a great way in which to close it out."
A total of four different quarterbacks saw action in the spring game and split time running the two respective offenses. Returning signal caller Travis Russell led the winning Red Team with Jalen Brooks seeing action for the victorious squad. Meanwhile, Brett Mooney got his opportunity to run the White Team's offensive controls with Jevon Shaw also earning snaps at the position. Returning FSU starting quarterback Reggie Bell did not play, but was a vocal on-field leader during the event.
Russell led the Red Team on its opening drive as they picked up five consecutive first downs and marched nearly the entire length of the field before Wyatt Ford connected on a 22-yard field goal to give them an 8-0 advantage in the modified system, which saw the offensive unit generate a point for each first down in addition to traditional scoring methods. The first offensive series saw Russell hook up twice apiece for first downs with redshirt freshmen Nate Boleware and Lazon Hicks along with one to slot David Drummond.
However, the White Team battled back and cut the lead to a single point at halftime as they earned a first down by penalty before Shaw found Dion Earls for a first-down pickup. Soon after, Shaw had a pair of first down runs and Ford hit his second field goal of the day from 32-yards away after it bounced in off the upright to cut the margin to 8-7 at the break.
In the second half, the White Team took its first lead of the day in the third quarter. After the Red Team earned a point on a penalty, the White Team took over on downs and Shaw rambled for a first down before hitting wideout Darius Jackson for another. His 18-yard scamper gave the White a 10-9 edge. Mooney then came on and hit Jackson twice on first-down throws to push the margin to 12-9.
The turning point came with four minutes to play with the White Team knocking on the door and trying to put the game away. But, a carry up the middle by Shaw was stripped loose near the goal line and the turnover resulted in three points for the Red. It also gave them possession and Brooks found Hicks on a 28-yard throw from the endzone to give the Red Team the lead again. Boleware capped the scoring with a 28-yard run for a first down to account for the final margin.
Saturday's game coincided with the "Big Event", an annual community-wide cleanup and service effort in Big Rapids on Saturday morning, which ranks as the state's largest student-led community service event. Honorary captains came from the GLIAC Championship Ferris State men's basketball and volleyball programs along with the women's basketball squad. In addition, FSU recognized longtime staff members Jack Schugars and Pastor Mike Wissink at halftime as "Bulldogs For Life" Award recipients.
The spring game featured a modified scoring format with turnovers counting as three points and a first down garnering one point in addition to traditional scoring by touchdown (six points), field goal (three points), two-point conversion (two points) and extra point (one point). Special teams action was not live and the contest featured four running clock quarters along with an extended halftime.
The Bulldogs will begin their 109th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on making a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Ferris State is coming off another historic campaign as the Bulldogs posted a 12-3 overall record in 2016 while advancing to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals for only the second time in school history. In 2016, the Bulldogs also posted a school-record tying 12 victories. Ferris State received the program's third-straight NCAA Football Playoff berth and captured the Super Region Four Championship by beating archrival Grand Valley State during a memorable postseason run. The 15-week campaign, which included three postseason playoff wins, was the school's longest in 108 years of Bulldog Football.
Over the last three seasons at Ferris State, the Bulldogs have compiled a 34-5 overall record and claimed two conference championships, posted two unbeaten regular-seasons, captured a regional title and reached the national semifinals. Ferris State has also accumulated two Harlon Hill National Player of the Year trophies, twice had a student-athlete tabbed as the nation's National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and won four postseason games.
In the five seasons under Annese, the Bulldogs have become a national power on the Division II level. FSU has posted a 49-12 overall mark in the last five years and the Bulldogs have also posted the best winning percentage of all 21 collegiate programs in the state of Michigan along with the GLIAC since his arrival.
Overall, Annese has won 83% of his games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep levels and owns 274 wins to date, which is the most of any current GLIAC member head coach at all levels.
Ferris State will return nearly 60 letterwinners for the 2017 campaign, including nearly 18 starters.
SCORING SUMMARY:
1st Quarter -
RED - First Down (Travis Russell to Nate Boleware)
RED - First Down (Russell to Boleware)
RED - First Down (Russell to David Drummond)
RED - First Down (Russell to Lazon Hicks)
RED - First Down (Russell to Hicks)
RED - Wyatt Ford 22-yard Field Goal
2nd Quarter -
WHITE - First Down (Penalty)
WHITE - First Down (Jevon Shaw to Dion Earls)
WHITE - First Down (Shaw Run)
WHITE - First Down (Shaw Run)
WHITE - Wyatt Ford 32-yard Field Goal
3rd Quarter -
RED - First Down (Penalty)
WHITE - First Down (Shaw Run)
WHITE - First Down (Shaw to Darius Jackson)
WHITE - First Down (Shaw Run)
4th Quarter -
WHITE - First Down (Brett Mooney To Jackson)
WHITE - First Down (Mooney To Jackson)
RED - Turnover (Fumble)
RED - First Down (Jalen Brooks to Hicks)
RED - First Down (Boleware Run)