Top-Ranked Ferris State Holds On To Beat Tiffin For 17th-Straight Victory

Postgame Highights 
Postgame Press Conference 
Postgame Review 

Big Rapids, Mich. — Freshman quarterback Wyatt Bower accounted for five touchdowns, including a 75-yard burst just before halftime, as nationally top-ranked Ferris State held off Tiffin 41-34 on Saturday night at Top Taggart Field.

Bower piled up 146 rushing yards with three scores and threw for 232 yards and two more touchdowns, helping the Bulldogs (3-0) build a 35-14 halftime lead. His long touchdown run in the final two minutes of the second quarter came just 12 seconds after Tiffin had pulled within 14 points, giving FSU a big halftime lead.

Ferris State totaled 534 yards of offense — 273 on the ground and 261 through the air — and converted nine-of-15 third downs.

However, Tiffin (1-1) didn't go quietly. Quarterback Alex Johnson threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, including a 65-yard strike to Jaedyn McKinstry with 1:46 remaining that cut the margin to one score. Ronald Blackman added 60 rushing yards and a short touchdown for the Dragons while also hauling in five passes for 80 yards. Overall, TU had 405 yards of total offense.

"A huge credit to Tiffin for the way they played here tonight," said FSU head coach Tony Annese. "I'm proud of the way our guys played to come thru with a win. It's hard to go out each week and find ways to win. They played well and it was a challenge to get a victory tonight."

The Dragons struck first with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by Johnson's two-yard pass to Joey Truesdale at the 10:38 mark of the first quarter. Ferris State answered quickly as Bower scored on a three-yard keeper, then took the lead for good when receiver Taariik Brett hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Brady Rose late in the quarter.

Bower extended the margin in the second period with touchdown throws to Cam Underwood and his brother Tarick Bower, who scored his first career touchdown, before his long sprint just before halftime from 75-yards out put the Bulldogs in control.

The Dragons clawed back in the second half, scoring 20 points after the break, highlighted by Malik Baker's 77-yard return of a blocked field goal in the third quarter that trimmed the margin to 35-27 when FSU had an opportunity to go up by 18 points. But Ferris State's defense came up with just enough stops to preserve the win.

Along with Bower, tailback Zak Ahern ran for 89 yards on 10 carries for FSU and Brett caught five balls for 76 yards. Tae Boyd had three grabs for 57 yards.

Defensively, the Bulldogs came up with three sacks, including two from Tyrone Fowler. Ahlston Ware led the Bulldog defense with 12 tackles, including eight solo stops, while Fowler had nine stops and two tackles for loss. FSU's defensive limited TU to six-of-13 on third down and one-of-three on fourth downs in the game. The Dragons also were held to 65 rushing yards on 32 carries.

The victory was FSU's 17th-straight dating back to last season and Ferris State also improved to 8-0 all-time versus Tiffin by beating the Dragons in the first series' matchup since 2017.

Ferris State will host the University of Rio Grande for homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Top Taggart Field. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (ET) and tickets are on sale now at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets.