ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – No. 2 seed Ferris State out-rushed No. 1 seed Ouachta Baptist 359-86 and ran for four touchdowns to dominate Saturday's NCAA Division II Super Region Three football championship game at Cliff Harris Stadium and win, 37-14.
The Bulldogs (14-0) led 27-0 at halftime following touchdown runs of 14 yards by Derrick Portis, 6 yards by Robert Thomas and 2 yards by Marvin Campbell, plus a 2-yard TD pass from Jayru Campbell to Sy Barnett.
FSU kicker Jackson Dieterle opened second-half scoring with a 26-yard field goal. Ouachita Baptist (12-1) got on the board at 5:51 of the third quarter on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Brazeal to Allie Freeman. The Bulldogs answered at 6:49 of the fourth quarter with a 75-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard TD run by Cummins.
Ouachita Baptist added a 4-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining in the game.
Ferris State finished with 509 total yards to the Tigers' 281. FSU quarterback Jayru Campbell was 10-of-16 passing for 128 yards. Marvin Campbell led Bulldog rushers with 75 yards on 18 carries. Travis Russell didn't score a touchdown, but averaged 8.5 yards per carry and totaled 68 yards. Thomas finished with 61 yards on 11 carries. Barnett totaled four receptions for 51 yards, and Dion Earls added three catches for 28 yards.
Defensively, FSU's Sam Heyboer had an interception and led in tackles with seven.
Brazeal was 18-of-32 passing for 195 yards.
Ferris State advances to the DII NCAA Semifinals on Dec. 8. FSU is the No. 3 seed and will travel to No. 2 seed Minnesota State-Mankato and play at 3 p.m. ET. In the other bracket, No. 4 Notre Dame (Ohio) heads to No. 1 Valdosta State.
Kevin McDermott photo