After historic season, Bulldog football falls in championship game
By Rob Bentley
Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
The Ferris State football team’s quest for perfection came up just short on Saturday, Dec. 15, as the Bulldogs wrapped up the longest season in school history with a thrilling 49-47 setback to Valdosta State (Georgia) in the NCAA Division II National Championship game in McKinney, Texas.
The Bulldogs, who were seeking the first 16-0 season in NCAA history, scored twice in a late five-minute span of the fourth quarter to pull within two against the top-seeded Blazers, but a potential game-tying two-point conversion failed as VSU held on for the win.
Valdosta State tallied nearly 500 yards of total offense and won a high-scoring championship game tilt over Ferris, which finished its most historic season in school history with a 15-1 overall record while reaching the national title game for the first time in school history. The 15 wins represent a nation-best total and surpassed the previous school record for total victories.
After holding VSU to a missed field goal on the first drive, the Bulldogs started fast with an 80-yard TD pass from slot receiver Jevon Shaw to wideout Keyondre Craig for a score on their first offensive play.
However, Valdosta State answered with a 75-yard drive to knot the game up with 5:23 left in the first on a 21-yard TD toss from Rogan Wells.
Ferris regained the lead and led 10-7 going into the second when junior kicker Jackson Dieterle converted a NCAA Championship game record 52-yard field goal.
Again, though, VSU responded and took a 14-10 margin on Wells’ nine-yard scoring throw to Kenny Benjamin. Soon after, a three-yard TD run from quarterback Jayru Campbell gave the Bulldogs a 17-14 edge early in the second frame.
Valdosta State added a pair of second-quarter scores to grab a 28-24 lead at the break. Ferris split the two scores with an eight-yard TD run from junior slot Davontae Harrington,
The Bulldogs took the second half kick and moved 85 yards in 12 plays before Marvin Campbell gave Ferris a 31-28 margin with 9:49 remaining in the third. But, Valdosta State cut the margin down on Joe Fortson’s 16-yard scoring connection from Wells with 6:28 left in the third.
Later, VSU took a two-score lead on Wells’ one-yard scoring throw to Travis Taylor with less than five minutes to play in the third, but Ferris raced 92 yards in nine plays to cut the lead down to 42-38 on Craig’s 13-yard diving grab in the endzone after a deflected ball.
Valdosta State gain increased its lead to 49-38 with 11:36 left on Wells’ 25-yard scoring throw to Ivory Durham, but the Bulldogs converted a 31-yard field goal from Dieterle to pull within 49-41 with 5:31 left.
After getting the ball back on a defensive stop on downs, Ferris drove 66 yards in five plays and reached an opportunity to reach the endzone. The Bulldogs finally did with 40 seconds left on Sy Barnett’s five-yard scoring run, but a potential game-tying halfback throw from Shaw to Craig came up incomplete as time expired.
“It’s our first loss of the year,” Bulldog head coach Tony Annese said at the postgame press conference. “Fifteen and one is pretty incredible, but [Valdosta State head] coach [Kerwin] Bell and his staff did a great job, and all credit goes to them. They were the better team today.”
Overall, Valdosta State had 496 yards of total offense to 449 for Ferris, and Wells threw for 349 yards on 19-of-31 passing and five scores. Campbell led Ferris with 122 yards rushing while completing 10-of-18 passes for 99 yards. Both Austin Edwards and DeShaun Thrower led the defense with eight stops each.
“Our football team has had an extraordinary season in which they captured the conference championship, were undefeated in the regular season and won four post-season games in the NCAA tournament, where every team has great talent and is playing at its best,” said Ferris President David Eisler. “We are so very proud of our team, athletes and coaches. We are all Bulldog Proud.”
“As a coach, you sit and analyze the losses more than you do the wins. I could tell you every detail of every one of my 60 losses. I can’t tell you every detail of the 300 wins, but the 60 losses I can give you in detail,” said Annese. “That’s how, as a coach, you reflect on things. But, for the program, I saw tears in grown men’s eyes coming off that—there’s just so many people that love their association with our program, and that makes me proud.”
Along with setting a school record for wins and reaching the national title game for the first time, the Bulldogs capped off a historic and stellar 2018 season. The Bulldogs won the GLIAC Championship and captured the Super Region Three title after a memorable three-point run.
“It was a great season,” said junior slot receiver Dion Earls. “All I would say is, now we know what it takes to get there. Now we’ve got to finish.”
Ferris quarterback Jayru Campbell honored with Harlon Hill Trophy. Read more at https://ferrismagazine.com/campbell-honored-with-harlon-hill/
Ferris State football team lead by example in McKinney, Texas before the National Championship game. Read more at https://ferrismagazine.com/leading-by-example/
Ferris State athletic teams extend their 2018 seasons. Read more at https://ferrismagazine.com/bulldog-athletic-extend-seasons/