BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University football team rallied from a 14-0 deficit to tie things up late in the second quarter, but a late touchdown before the half and 17 points in the second half proved to be the difference in a 38-17 defeat at Ferris State on Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs (4-1, 2-0 GLIAC) used two chunk plays in the first quarter to build a 14-0 lead in the opening five minutes of play. The first was a 41-yard touchdown pass, and the second came from 58 yards out. Both passes were to Xavier Wade.
Meijer Player of the game, Terrance Brown responded in the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit in half with just under 13:30 left in the first half. Brown struck again in the final two minutes of the quarter with a six-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 14 with 90 seconds left before the break. Ferris State used another long pass, this one for 40 yards, to score in the final seconds to take a 21-14 lead into the break.
The Bulldogs' opening drive of the second half stalled at the SVSU four-yard line and was forced to attempt a 21-yard field goal that they completed to extend the lead to 10 points with 10:51 left in the third frame.
The Cardinals (2-4, 0-2 GLIAC) tallied a 30-yard field goal that completed a 10-play, 59-yard drive and brought the margin back to one score. Wade pushed the gap to 31-17 with a third touchdown reception in the final 1:24 of the third to put FSU up 31-17. The final score came in the final three minutes of the game on a six-yard pass.
Mike O'Horo finished the game 12-of-17 for 107 yards and a touchdown pass. He also led the team in rushing with 64 yards. Brown had 5.2 yards per carry and scored twice to lead the Cardinals in scoring. Arron Foulkes caught three passes for a team-high 40 yards. Ryan Heicher finished a perfect 1/1 in field goals and 2/2 in extra points. Micah Cretsinger led the defensive effort with 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup. Brandon Rawls had 13 stops and 3.5 TFLs.
SVSU will remain on the road next week for a non-conference game at St. Xavier (Ill.). The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m., EST kick-off.
