UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University football team led nearly the entire second half against the nation's top team, but No. 1 Ferris State University scored with just over a minute to go and held on for a 33-28 win over the No. 25 Cardinals on Saturday at Wickes Stadium.

The loss is the second straight for SVSU, dropping the Cardinals to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• The Bulldogs took the opening drive of the game 75 yards, capping off the drive with a 25-yard touchdown run by Zamir Knighten. The extra point was no good and FSU held a quick 6-0 lead.
• SVSU answered right back, going 85 yards on nine plays and taking the lead on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Brito to Nick Johnson.
• The lead for SVSU was short-lived as Evan Cummins passed to Marcus Taylor for a 79-yard touchdown on the first play of the next drive to put FSU back in front 13-7.
• After a botched punt, the Bulldogs took advantage of a short field with a six-yard touchdown pass from Cummins to CJ Jefferson, putting FSU up 20-7.

Second Quarter:

• Ferris State looked to be on the verge of pulling away in the second with the ball on the SVSU 1-yard, but a fumble recovered by SVSU linebacker Josh Fusco was returned to the Cardinal 20-yard line.
• The Cardinals marched down the field on a 12-play drive but faced a fourth-and-24 to go from the FSU 29-yard line. Brito rolled out and found Earnest Sanders IV in the endzone for a touchdown to pull the Cardinals within six points.
• The next FSU drive was cut short on a Trevor Nowaske interception for SVSU, putting the Cardinals in Bulldog territory with just over two minutes to play in the half.
• SVSU took advantage of four FSU penalties on the next drive with Brito rushing it in from a yard out to put SVSU up 21-20 at the break.

Third Quarter:

• On the opening drive of the third, SVSU went 62 yards on eight plays. Brito scored his second rushing touchdown of the game, punching it in from a yard out to extend the Cardinal lead to 28-20.
• With FSU driving, Cameron Mitchell picked off a pass from Cummins to give the ball right back to SVSU, but the Cardinals were unable to turn the takeaway into points.
• Ferris State took over at their own 10-yard line and held the ball well into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter:

• The Bulldog drive went 15 plays and 82 yards, ending in a 25-yard field goal to cut the SVSU lead to 28-23.
• After SVSU went three-and-out, the Bulldogs took over at their own 35 and hit a 46-yard run from Cummins to set up deep in SVSU territory.
• FSU needed nine consecutive rushing plays to punch it in from inside the 1-yard line, and with a two-point conversion, the Bulldogs moved back in front with just over a minute remaining.
• Two straight sacks for the Bulldogs forced a safety and Ferris State held on for the 33-28 win.

Inside the Box Score:

• The two teams combined for 313 total penalty yards (FSU 16-203, SVSU 10-110).
• Ferris State outgained SVSU 449 to 247, holding the Cardinal ground game to 52 yards.
• Andrew Brito was named the Meijer Player of the Game. He finished 11-of-21 through the air for 168 yards and two scores, while adding two rushing touchdowns.
• Earnest Sanders led the receivers with four catches for 62 yards and a score.
• Cummins was 8-of-15 for 199 passing with two scores for FSU and added 14 carries for 79 yards.
• Trevor Nowaske led the SVSU defense with 15 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and an interception.

Up Next:

SVSU will host its third straight top-10 opponent with No. 8 Indianapolis traveling to Wickes Stadium for Homecoming starting at 2 pm next Saturday.

Postgame Interview with Head Coach Ryan Brady: