Big Second Half Lifts #1 Ferris State To 28th-Straight Road Victory

Postgame Highlights    
Postame Interview - Coach Annese 
Postgame Interview - Carson Gulker 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University Bulldogs, ranked #1 in the country, withstood a big road challenge on Saturday (Sept. 9) night as FSU rallied back in the second half for a 38-28 win at 16th-ranked Ashland.

The Bulldogs trailed 21-10 at halftime, but got a big performance in the second half from sophomore quarterback Carson Gulker to rally for the win, moving to 2-0 on the year.

Gulker ran for a game-high 138 yards rushing and two scores while throwing for 121 yards and three TD's in the victory. His 54-yard throw to junior receiver Tyrese Hunt-Thompson late in the third pulled FSU within 28-24 and his 50-yard strike to start the fourth to senior wideout Xavier Wade gave the Bulldogs a 31-28 lead they would not relinquish. He finished off the scoring with a four-yard run in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.

The victory was FSU's 28th consecutive road win dating back to its last road setback at Ashland in 2017.

Ashland jumped in front early as former Bulldog linebacker Chaise Ford recovered a FSU punt in the endzone that bounced off one of the Bulldogs' punt protectors, giving AU a 7-0 lead only six minutes into the game.

Ferris State pulled within 7-3 early in the second quarter when sophomore kicker Eddie Jewett converted a 29-yard field goal to finish off a 12-play FSU scoring drive covering 44 yards. The Bulldogs then took their first lead of the game at 10-7 when Gulker found paydirt from a yard away, capping a 48-yard jaunt in six plays.

However, AU closed the first half strong with another former Bulldog, receiver Dezmin Lyburtus, hauling in a pair of late second quarter scoring throws from Ashland quarterback Trevor Bycznski. The first came on a 16-yard toss to finish a five-play, 55-yard drive while the second from a yard away finished off an eight-play, 54-yard drive with only six seconds left in the half.

Ferris State started the second half strong as the offense moved 80 yards in seven palys before Gulker found Hunt-Thompson on a seven-yard scoring throw to the back corner of the endzone. That pulled FSU within 21-17 only 3:20 into the second half, but Ashland answered with a 99-yard drive of its own, pushing back in front 28-17 with 4:41 left in the third on Larry Martin's four-yard dash.

The Bulldogs did not go away, though, as Gulker answered with a 54-yard scoring strike down the sideline to Hunt-Thompson with only 2:48 left in the period, ending a 65-yard drive that needed only five plays. The Bulldogs pulled within 28-24 on the score.

Ferris State then started the final period in strong fashion as the defense forced a stop and the offense needed a single play, a 50-yard strike from Gulker to Wade, to take a 31-28 lead only 21 seconds into the final period. From there, the Bulldog defense stepped up to the challenge and the offense chewed up time on its final drive with Gulker scoring on a four-yard plunge with 28 seconds left in the contest.

In addition to Gulker's performance, senior quarterback Mylik Mitchell completed 10-of-13 passes for 106 yards for FSU. Wade caught six balls for 131 yards and Hunt-Thompson had four grabs for 91 yards.

For Ashland, Bycznski completed 15-of-29 passes for 251 yards and two TD's, but was sacked three times and intercepted once. Lyburtus had seven catches for 122 yards and two scores while Gei'vonni Washington paced AU on the ground with 12 carries for 58 net yards.

The Bulldogs were led defensively by senior end Olalere Oladipo with sxi stops, including two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Victor Nelson also had three tackles for loss and Eddrin Lollar added six tackles for FSU.

Overall, the Bulldogs finished with 399 yards of total offense compared to 304 for the Eagles. FSU also went six-of-16 on third down and four-of-five in the red zone.

Ferris State will square off against FCS member Montana next Saturday (Sept. 16) in Missoula with kickoff set for 8 p.m. (ET).