This story was written by Michigan Tech Athletics

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – No. 4 nationally-ranked and GLIAC preseason favorite Ferris State used a 20-point first quarter and a 21-point second half to overwhelm Michigan Tech 51-13 at Top Taggart Field on Saturday.
 

"Ferris State was very good everywhere. All week we talked about how we needed to get out to a fast start and be in the game—that team is too dynamic for us to get in a 20-0 hole," Tech head coach Dan Mettlach said. "I thought we did some good things in spurts but we just weren't consistent enough." 

Three-time GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week starting quarterback Trinidad Chambliss put together another stat line worthy of league recognition, with three of his six touchdown passes coming in the opening quarter of play to jump out to a 20-0 lead in front of a home crowd of over 4,700.

The Bulldog offense produced chunk-play after chunk-play with the opening drive taking just one play to find the endzone with Chambliss connecting to Emari O'Brien for a 68-yard touchdown in just over a minute played. Chambliss found O'Brien again at the 4:24 mark, taking one play to go 41-yards to make it 20-0, following a missed extra point by FSU.

Junior Patrick Kastner set up the first field goal for the Black & Gold, recovering a muffed punt following a three-and-out by the Huskies.

Michigan Tech got on the scoreboard in the second quarter, outscoring Ferris State 13-10 with two field goals by first-year kicker Avery Kucharski on back-to-back drives to start the quarter.

His first field goal was from 26 yards after the offense drove downfield, covering 50 yards in 11 plays taking 5:37 off the clock. The defense forced a three-and-out with a Bulldog penalty on the kick return, bringing the ball out to FSU's 28-yard line.

Quarterback Alex Fries hit Brandon Michalak for a 14-yard reception with another FSU personal foul advancing the ball to the eight-yard line although MTU had to settle for the 24-yard field goal to make it 20-6 with 9:27 to play in the second.

The two teams traded touchdowns with Chambliss posting his fourth touchdown pass of the day, a 23-yard touchdown toss to Cam Underwood, taking just three plays to reach the endzone.

Sophomore running back Jake Rueff chipped in an 18-yard run as Fries found wide receiver Brandon Michalak down the Huskies sideline for a 27-yard grab, ultimately seeing Darius Willis make a five-yard touchdown reception to make it 27-13 following the extra point by Kucharski. 

Ferris State had 4:50 left in the first half and had its slowest output of the day, as Chambliss threw five incomplete passes, one of which was to James Gilbert in the endzone called incomplete, forcing the Bulldogs to challenge the play. After an unsuccessful challenge, FSU settled for a 34-yard field goal following another incomplete pass to enter halftime with a 30-13 advantage.

The Bulldogs held the Huskies scoreless in the second half, accruing two touchdowns in the third quarter, with the first coming on the opening drive of the third quarter as Chambliss found Underwood for a 22-yard toss down the home sideline with his second touchdown pass of the quarter going to Housey from 12 yards out with four seconds to play in the period.

Michigan Tech held Ferris State to just a touchdown in the fourth quarter, with Kolby James carrying the ball three yards for a score in a drive that took 1:19 off the clock in three plays going 32 yards to conclude the scoring at 51-13 and see the Bulldogs win streak extend to six games. 

Quarterback Alex Fries threw for 158 yards on 20-for-46 with a touchdown, while Darius Willis led the wide receiver room with 10 catches for 68 yards. Michalak finished with 48 receiving yards on three catches and Ethan Champney had two grabs for 31 yards. Running back Jake Rueff controlled the ground with 42 yards on six carries. 

Willis also accounted for five kickoff returns for 74 yards.

Sophomore defensive back Junyoung Chung recorded a team-leading nine tackles, while senior defensive back Sam Ahern chipped in eight.

Punter Brenden Lach totaled nine punts and averaged 47.9 yards per punt, seeing a long of 56 and five total punts over 50 yards.

The Huskies return home next week, welcoming U.P. rivals Northern Michigan to Kearly Stadium for a noon kickoff as Michigan Tech will look to win its 14th-consecutive Miner's Cup.