Huskies fall to #1 Ferris State 38-10
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#1 Ferris State (7-0) | 14 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 38 |
|
Michigan Tech (4-3) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – No. 1 Ferris State pounced on the Huskies on the first play from scrimmage and carried momentum to a 38-10 win over Michigan Tech in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football Saturday afternoon at Kearly Stadium. The Bulldogs stayed undefeated at 7-0 (4-0 GLIAC) while the Huskies fell to 4-3 (3-1 GLIAC).
Austin Schlicht provided hope to the Huskies with a third down sack on the one yard line in the second quarter and quarterback Will Ark tossed a 31 yard strike to Darius Willis for a touchdown, but 471 yards of total offense by the Bulldogs proved far too much to overcome. Senior quarterback Jared Bernhardt completed 17 of 21 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns for Ferris State, including a 49-yard connection to wide receiver Tyrese Hunt-Thompson to start the game.
After a three and out for the Huskies, Bernhardt executed a two yard rush to make it 14-0 after a 10 play, 43 yard drive. Bernhardt found Xavier Wade open for 36 yards just under three minutes later to make it a three score game before Ark and Willis hooked up in the endzone to get the Huskies on the scoreboard 21-7. The Bulldogs used up another 2:23 to go 73 yards at the end of the half, capped by a Tyler Minor five yard rush and score.
Wade nabbed a five yard pass from Bernhardt in the third quarter to effectively put the game out of reach in the third quarter for Michigan Tech.
"I felt like early in the game, we just didn't tackle well," commented head coach Steve Olson. "It's hard to simulate in practice some of the speed they (Ferris State) have and that effected our leverage at times. On offense we just have to find more ways to move the ball and be a little bit better. I felt our effort was good but we got behind right away in the game which made it a challenge. We just have to try to keep working hard in practice to solve it and come out faster next week."
The Huskies benefitted from 138 lost Bulldog yards due to penalties but struggled to slow down Ferris State's high-powered offense. Minor led Ferris State on the ground with 81 rushing yards (7.4 avg.). Bernhardt also escaped the pocket for 45 rushing yards and one touchdown. Jared Smith was Tech's leading tailback with 26 yards on nine attempts. Will Marano mustered 25 yards on 13 rushes.
Ark finished 15-32 for 145 passing yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. The Huskies did not allow a sack but picked up just 5 of 13 (38-percent) of third downs, forcing Drew Wyble to punt seven times. Braxton Blackwell posted an interception at the Huskies 19-yard line midway through the second quarter but Tech failed to turn it into points on the ensuing possession. Wyble helped the Huskies make it to double-figures with a 21 yard field goal at the 13:32 mark of the fourth quarter.
Bernhardt completed 17 of 21 passes for 289 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
Michigan Tech (4-3, 3-1) faces top-10 ranked Grand Valley State for the second time this fall on Saturday, October 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST at Lubbers Stadium. Ferris State (7-0, 4-0) hosts Northern Michigan next weekend.
