Sept. 3, 2024
Ferris State football falls to Pittsburgh State 19-3 in season opener
The third-ranked Ferris State University Bulldogs football team got off to a slow start and could not overcome several miscues in a 19-3 season-opening setback to sixth-ranked Pittsburg State University on Saturday before a large crowd at Carnie-Smith Stadium.
The Gorillas took advantage of four Bulldog turnovers and came away with the win in the second-ever matchup between the two programs.
The Bulldogs were held to 171 yards of total offense in the game while Pitt State managed 316 against a strong Ferris State defensive performance most of the night. Ferris State was also limited to only seven first downs.
Pittsburg State, located in Kansas south of Kansas City, struck first with 6:43 to go in the first period following a FSU turnover when Austin Schmitt kicked his first of four field goals in the game, notching his initial try from 33 yards away.
The Bulldogs managed to tie the game back up with 7:12 remaining in the first half as senior kicker Mitch Middleton netted Ferris State's lone points of the night with a 37-yard field goal, finishing a six-play, 42-yard drive.
However, the Gorillas found points late in the first half to take a 6-3 halftime advantage, moving 71 yards in 11 plays before Schmitt converted a 22-yard field goal.
Pitt State’s lead grew to 9-3 with 7:18 to play in the third as Schmitt nailed his third try from 36-yards out to finish a 10-play, 58-yard march. Soon after, Pittsburg State took advantage of a Bulldog turnover on the ensuing kickoff and pushed the lead to 16-3 with a short five-play, 37-yard drive. PSU reached the end zone for the only time in the game with a 13-yard scoring carry by Cleo Chandler Jr.
The final points came with 5:44 to play in the game when Schmitt connected on a 36-yard try to finish off a lengthy 15-play, 50-yard jaunt that lasted for more than nine minutes.
Overall, Pittsburg State ran for 110 yards on 36 tries with Chandler running for a game-high 49 yards. PSU senior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. completed 22-of-33 passes for 206 yards and was intercepted once late in the first half in the end zone by FSU defensive back Jalen Jones. Christian Carter led the Gorillas' wideouts with six catches for 28 yards.
For Ferris State, junior quarterback Carson Gulker led the Bulldogs on the ground with eight carries for 31 yards. Trinidad Chambliss threw for 133 yards on 13-of-20 passing but was intercepted twice. Senior wideout Tyrese Hunt-Thompson hauled in three catches for 68 yards.
Defensively, junior Justin Payoute led the Bulldogs with 13 total tackles and a tackle for loss. Gyasi Mattison finished with nine stops while senior linebacker Konnor Near had seven tackles.
The setback was FSU's first season-opening defeat since falling at FCS power North Dakota State in 2013.
Ferris State will host Lake Erie in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Top Taggart Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets.