December 21st, 2024 6:00pm
By Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press
Ferris State joined an elite group of NCAA Division II football dynasties on Saturday, blasting Valdosta State, 49-14, for its third national championship in four seasons.
Trinidad Chambliss signaled the rout early with a nimble 43-yard run on the Bulldogs’ first play from scrimmage, then finished with 153 yards and three touchdowns passing and 78 yards (on 13 carries) and two touchdowns rushing as Ferris State hoisted the NCAA trophy at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas, for the third time, following back-to-back titles in 2021-22.
Tony Annese’s group is just the fifth program (since Division II began in 1973) with at least three titles in four seasons, following Northwest Missouri State (2013, ’15, ’16), Grand Valley State (2002, ’03, ’05, ’06), North Alabama (1993, ’94, ’95) and North Dakota State (1983, ’85, ’86, ’88).
The 2024 title comes after Ferris State lost its season opener, 19-3, to Pittsburg (Kan.) State. Since then, the Bulldogs have won 14 straight games, knocking off Division II's only remaining unbeaten team to get there.
Following chants from his players of “All day!” Annese received the trophy amid a sea of red and yellow confetti.
“This team just keeps on working," Annese said during the trophy presentation ceremony shown online by ESPN. "They’re definitely a team that knows what it takes to be great and pursue greatness every day. We lost our first game, we just kept on pursuing greatness and, at the end, this is what happens.”
Full story from the Detroit Free Press