BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University football team gave the No. 2 ranked team in NCAA DII all it could handle, pushing Ferris State University to overtime in the 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener Saturday night in Big Rapids, Mich.
The Cardinals scored on the final play of regulation to push the Bulldogs to overtime. After FSU scored and converted for two points, SVSU faced an eight-point deficit. Casey Williams caught a fourth-down touchdown pass, but the ensuing two-point conversion was unsuccessful, giving Ferris State the 47-45 win.
The loss drops SVSU to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the GLIAC.
The contest was chaotic all night. The first score of the game resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run for FSU, but the extra point was blocked and returned for two points in favor of the Cardinals. After Connor Luksic hit a pair of field goals to give SVSU an 8-6 lead early in the second quarter, Evan Cummins rushed the ball across the line for a score to put FSU up 13-8.
SVSU jumped right back in front with a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown from Noah Suber to give the Cardinals a 15-13 lead. Before the end of the first half, FSU march down the field and capped off a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the second quarter to take the 20-15 lead into the halftime break,
After Luksic made it 20-18 in favor of FSU with a 28-yard field goal early in the third, the Bulldogs scored two unanswered touchdowns, missing both extra points to build a 32-18 lead, with 9:45 to play in the third.
The Cardinals began to chip away, as Tommy Scott scored a pair of touchdowns, one in the third and another early in the fourth to tie the score at 32-32. The score remained tied until Cummins found the end zone for the third time with 45 seconds left in regulation for the Bulldogs.
With one last chance to tie the game, SVSU's quarterback Matt Considine found Isaiah Johnson-Mack as time expired for the tying touchdown from 10 yards out to send the contest to overtime.
The FSU rushing game secured a touchdown in overtime for the Bulldogs, and a two-point conversion put SVSU down 45-37. After the Cardinals drove the ball to the Bulldog 1-yard line, FSU pushed the Cardinals back, forcing a final play from the 10-yard line. SVSU converted a fourth-down completion, as Considine hooked up with Williams for a 10-yard touchdown.
The two-point conversion for the Cardinals failed, allowing FSU to escape with the win.
Inside the Box Score:
- Tommy Scott, the Meijer Player of the Game, 20 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs
- Isaiah Johnson-Mack four receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
- Matt Considine 15-of-41 passing, 270 yards, 2 TDs
- Casey Williams 8 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
- Connor Luksic 3-of-4 FGs
- Victor Abraham 11 Tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR
- Michael Woolridge 11 Tackles, 1.5 Sacks, 1 FR
- Trevor Nowaske 10 Tackles
From Head Coach Ryan Brady:
"Our Culture is to 'Earn It'. Plain and simple. Our core values have been on display each of the first three weeks of the season. We play with championship effort and championship attitude. We show respect and we never give up. We're intentional about how we care for each other and we always stay together. That's what 'Earning It' is all about. Obviously, I'm proud of the way we battled tonight. Our kids play extremely hard and they believe. Our kids know we can compete with anyone.
Up Next: The Cardinals continue their road tour with a trip to Wayne State University at 6 pm on Saturday, September 25 in Detroit.