# 2024 Ferris State Bulldogs football team

The 2024 Ferris State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Ferris State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division II football season. In their 13th season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a 14–1 record and were ranked No. 1 in the D2Football.com poll at the end of the regular season. After losing the season opener on the road against Pittsburg State, the Bulldogs finished the season with 14 consecutive victories and won the GLIAC championship and the NCAA Division II national championship. Ferris State participated in the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, beating Central Oklahoma in the second round, defending national champion Harding in the quarterfinals, Slippery Rock in the semifinals, and Valdosta State in the NCAA Division II national championship game.
The Bulldogs set a new program single-game scoring record with 84 points against American International. They also scored 78 points (the most ever by Ferris State in a playoff game) and tallied 688 yards of total offense against Central Oklahoma in a second-round playoff game.
Key players include junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, junior running back Kannon Katzer, senior slot receiver Emari O'Brien, and junior linebacker Iosefa Saipaia.

## GLIAC preseason poll

In the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason media poll released on August 1, 2024, Ferris State was projeced to finish first in the conference.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Pittsburg State* | No. 3 | Carnie Smith StadiumPittsburg, KS | L 3–19 | 10,189 |
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | Lake Erie* | No. 3 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI | W 56–3 | 6,317 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | Ashland* | No. 5 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI | W 43–3 | 5,406 |
| September 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at American International* | No. 5 | Ronald J. Abdow FieldSpringfield, MA | W 84–7 | 1,468 |
| October 5 | 2:00 p.m. | Roosevelt | No. 5 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI | W 55–13 | 5,712 |
| October 12 | 6:00 p.m. | at Wayne State (MI) | No. 4 | Adams FieldDetroit, MI | W 27–14 | 2,121 |
| October 19 | 1:00 p.m. | Michigan Tech | No. 4 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI | W 51–13 | 4,720 |
| October 26 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 1 Grand Valley State | No. 3 | Lubbers StadiumAllendale, MI (Anchor–Bone Classic) | W 34–7 | 16,332 |
| November 2 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northern Michigan | No. 2 | Superior DomeMarquette, MI | W 55–9 | 1,873 |
| November 9 | 1:00 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State | No. 2 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI | W 27–24 | 2,856 |
| November 16 | 1:00 p.m. | Davenport | No. 2 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI (Calder City Classic) | W 24–9 | 2,149 |
| November 30 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 8 Central Oklahoma* | No. 2 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI (NCAA Division II Second Round) | W 78–17 | 1,245 |
| December 7 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 4 Harding* | No. 2 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal) | W 41–7 | 4,120 |
| December 14 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 11 Slippery Rock* | No. 2 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI (NCAA Division II Semifinal) | W 48–38 | 2,521 |
| December 21 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1 Valdosta State* | No. 2 | McKinney ISD StadiumMcKinney, TX (NCAA Division II National Championship Game) | W 49–14 | 3,228 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| AFCA | 3 (1) | 3 (1)* | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 (27) |
| D2 Football | 3 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

## Game summaries
### At No. 6 Pittsburg State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 6 Gorillas | 3 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 19 |
| Statistics | FSU | PSU |
| First downs | 7 | 19 |
| Total yards | 171 | 316 |
| Rushing yards | 38 | 110 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 206 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 21:07 | 38:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 13/20, 133 yards, 2 INT |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Carson Gulker | 8 rushes, 31 yards |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Tyrese Hunt-Thompson | 3 receptions, 68 yards |
| Pittsburg State | Passing | Chad Dodson Jr. | 22/33, 206 yards, INT |
| Pittsburg State | Rushing | Cleo Chandler Jr. | 11 rushes, 49 yards, TD |
| Pittsburg State | Receiving | Jack Roberts | 4 receptions, 41 yards |

### Lake Erie

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Storm | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 3 Bulldogs | 35 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 56 |
| Statistics | LEC | FSU |
| First downs | 10 | 27 |
| Total yards | 144 | 654 |
| Rushing yards | 67 | 283 |
| Passing yards | 77 | 371 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:46 | 31:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lake Erie | Passing | Alec Lewis | 5/9, 50 yards |
| Lake Erie | Rushing | Nick Mosley | 17 rushes, 55 yards |
| Lake Erie | Receiving | Tyrone Lindsey | 2 receptions, 34 yards |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 16/22, 246 yards, 3 TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Carson Gulker | 2 rushes, 67 yards |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Kannon Katzer | 3 receptions, 61 yards, TD |

### Ashland

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 5 Bulldogs | 14 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 43 |
| Statistics | ASH | FSU |
| First downs | 13 | 30 |
| Total yards | 145 | 530 |
| Rushing yards | 36 | 197 |
| Passing yards | 109 | 333 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:09 | 35:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ashland | Passing | Trevor Bycznski | 9/23, 109 yards, INT |
| Ashland | Rushing | Ty'aris Stevenson | 11 rushes, 27 yards |
| Ashland | Receiving | Tony Pannunzio | 4 receptions, 40 yards |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 23/30, 286 yards, 2 TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Markel King | 9 rushes, 63 yards |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Emari O'Brien | 4 receptions, 85 yards |

### At American International

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Bulldogs | 35 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 84 |
| Yellow Jackets | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Statistics | FSU | AIC |
| First downs | 33 | 10 |
| Total yards | 744 | 110 |
| Rushing yards | 486 | -18 |
| Passing yards | 258 | 128 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 31:09 | 28:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 14/24, 166 yards, 2 TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | James Coby | 12 rushes, 110 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Emari O'Brien | 2 receptions, 93 yards, TD |
| American International | Passing | Lukas Kasko | 15/29, 128 yards, TD, INT |
| American International | Rushing | Jadye Foxworth | 5 rushes, 12 yards |
| American International | Receiving | Amiyn Hanks | 4 receptions, 35 yards |

### Roosevelt

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lakers | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| No. 5 Bulldogs | 7 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 55 |
| Statistics | RUL | FSU |
| First downs | 18 | 25 |
| Total yards | 270 | 448 |
| Rushing yards | 90 | 212 |
| Passing yards | 180 | 236 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:34 | 24:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Roosevelt | Passing | Carson Budke | 21/35, 180 yards, 3 INT |
| Roosevelt | Rushing | Cyrus Zuell | 22 rushes, 78 yards |
| Roosevelt | Receiving | Keonta Nixon | 5 receptions, 82 yards |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 18/30, 224 yards, 3 TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Kannon Katzer | 8 rushes, 69 yards |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Kannon Katzer | 4 receptions, 83 yards, TD |

### At Wayne State (MI)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Bulldogs | 3 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Warriors | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | FSU | WSU |
| First downs | 24 | 18 |
| Total yards | 505 | 234 |
| Rushing yards | 275 | 103 |
| Passing yards | 230 | 131 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 31:37 | 28:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 21/37, 211 yards, TD, INT |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Trinidad Chambliss | 16 rushes, 148 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Cam Underwood | 2 receptions, 58 yards |
| Wayne State | Passing | Champion Edwards | 15/27, 131 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Wayne State | Rushing | D'Marco Singleton | 15 rushes, 46 yards, TD |
| Wayne State | Receiving | Myles McKatherine | 6 receptions, 70 yards, TD |

### Michigan Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| No. 4 Bulldogs | 20 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 51 |
| Statistics | MTU | FSU |
| First downs | 18 | 23 |
| Total yards | 269 | 577 |
| Rushing yards | 91 | 178 |
| Passing yards | 178 | 399 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:37 | 26:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Michigan Tech | Passing | Alex Fries | 20/46, 158 yards, TD |
| Michigan Tech | Rushing | Jake Rueff | 6 rushes, 42 yards |
| Michigan Tech | Receiving | Darius Willis | 10 receptions, 68 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 18/30, 383 yards, 6 TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Trinidad Chambliss | 10 rushes, 90 yards |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Emari O'Brien | 5 receptions, 144 yards, 2 TD |

### At No. 1 Grand Valley State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Bulldogs | 3 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 34 |
| No. 1 Lakers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Statistics | FSU | GVSU |
| First downs | 18 | 14 |
| Total yards | 363 | 229 |
| Rushing yards | 249 | 155 |
| Passing yards | 114 | 74 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 34:33 | 25:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 11/19, 114 yards |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Trinidad Chambliss | 22 rushes, 122 yards, 3 TD |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Emari O'Brien | 3 receptions, 42 yards |
| Grand Valley State | Passing | Avery Moore | 2/6, 49 yards, INT |
| Grand Valley State | Rushing | Cody Tierney | 2 rushes, 52 yards, TD |
| Grand Valley State | Receiving | Darrell Johnson | 3 receptions, 37 yards |

### At Northern Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Bulldogs | 7 | 20 | 21 | 7 | 55 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
| Statistics | FSU | NMU |
| First downs | 20 | 10 |
| Total yards | 507 | 246 |
| Rushing yards | 325 | 122 |
| Passing yards | 182 | 124 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:20 | 30:40 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 7/15, 141 yards |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Kannon Katzer | 5 rushes, 126 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Taariik Brett | 1 reception, 53 yards |
| Northern Michigan | Passing | Jake Bilitz | 2/8, 105 yards, TD |
| Northern Michigan | Rushing | Jahi Wood | 15 rushes, 48 yards |
| Northern Michigan | Receiving | Michael Love | 2 receptions, 92 yards, TD |

### Saginaw Valley State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| No. 2 Bulldogs | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| Statistics | SVSU | FSU |
| First downs | 13 | 21 |
| Total yards | 292 | 388 |
| Rushing yards | 105 | 171 |
| Passing yards | 187 | 217 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:42 | 30:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Saginaw Valley State | Passing | Mason McKenzie | 11/24, 187 yards, TD |
| Saginaw Valley State | Rushing | Mason McKenzie | 18 rushes, 90 yards, TD |
| Saginaw Valley State | Receiving | Joseph Walker | 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 14/28, 159 yards, TD, INT |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Trinidad Chambliss | 15 rushes, 87 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Receiving | James Gilbert | 3 receptions, 60 yards, TD |

### Davenport

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| No. 2 Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Statistics | DAV | FSU |
| First downs | 24 | 20 |
| Total yards | 307 | 362 |
| Rushing yards | 137 | 228 |
| Passing yards | 170 | 134 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:06 | 27:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Davenport | Passing | Mac VandenHout | 19/33, 170 yards, INT |
| Davenport | Rushing | Kendall Williams | 9 rushes, 56 yards |
| Davenport | Receiving | Hakeem Harris | 5 receptions, 56 yards |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 13/20, 116 yards, TD, INT |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Kannon Katzer | 10 rushes, 88 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Brady Rose | 4 receptions, 56 yards, TD |

### No. 8 Central Oklahoma (NCAA Division II Second Round)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 8 Bronchos | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 2 Bulldogs | 7 | 34 | 28 | 9 | 78 |
| Statistics | UCO | FSU |
| First downs | 19 | 26 |
| Total yards | 442 | 688 |
| Rushing yards | 207 | 485 |
| Passing yards | 234 | 203 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:15 | 28:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Oklahoma | Passing | Jett Huff | 9/14, 146 yards, TD, INT |
| Central Oklahoma | Rushing | William Mason | 14 rushes, 86 yards |
| Central Oklahoma | Receiving | Jacob Delso | 3 receptions, 66 yards |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 9/18, 203 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Kannon Katzer | 12 rushes, 200 yards, 3 TD |
| Ferris State | Receiving | James Gilbert | 3 receptions, 105 yards |

### No. 4 Harding (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Bisons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| No. 2 Bulldogs | 13 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 41 |
| Statistics | HAR | FSU |
| First downs | 11 | 24 |
| Total yards | 193 | 452 |
| Rushing yards | 130 | 287 |
| Passing yards | 63 | 165 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:13 | 31:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Harding | Passing | Cole Keylon | 5/7, 63 yards, INT |
| Harding | Rushing | Blake Delacruz | 10 rushes, 43 yards |
| Harding | Receiving | Dane Romberger | 2 receptions, 36 yards |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 18/27, 145 yards, 2 TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Taariik Brett | 3 rushes, 89 yards |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Brady Rose | 7 receptions, 45 yards |

### No. 11 Slippery Rock (NCAA Division II Semifinal)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 11 Slippery Rock | 21 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
| No. 2 Bulldogs | 7 | 20 | 7 | 14 | 48 |
| Statistics | SR | FSU |
| First downs | 23 | 20 |
| Total yards | 453 | 513 |
| Rushing yards | 55 | 292 |
| Passing yards | 398 | 221 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 41:29 | 19:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Slippery Rock | Passing | Brayden Long | 27/48, 398 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT |
| Slippery Rock | Rushing | Idris Lawrence | 19 rushes, 71 yards, TD |
| Slippery Rock | Receiving | Logan Ramper | 8 receptions, 171 yards, 3 TD |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 19/26, 221 yards, TD, INT |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Kannon Katzer | 13 rushes, 165 yards, TD |
| Ferris State | Receiving | James Gilbert | 6 receptions, 95 yards |

### Vs. No. 1 Valdosta State (NCAA Division II National Championship Game)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Bulldogs | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
| No. 1 Blazers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | FSU | VSU |
| First downs | 21 | 19 |
| Total yards | 465 | 311 |
| Rushing yards | 251 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 214 | 190 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:15 | 30:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 11/20, 153 yards, 3 TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Kannon Katzer | 14 rushes, 97 yards |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Cam Underwood | 3 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 25/42, 190 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Alfonso Franklin | 14 rushes, 102 yards |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Tyler Ajiero | 5 receptions, 57 yards, TD |