Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss accounted for five touchdowns Saturday, leading Ferris State’s football team to a 49-14 victory over Valdosta State at McKinney (Texas) ISD Stadium.
In a rematch of the 2018 and ‘21 title games, the Bulldogs, based in Big Rapids, Michigan, claimed dynasty status, winning three titles over the past four seasons. In ‘18, the Blazers captured the program’s fifth national title, 49-47, after denying a 2-point lead conversion attempt, In ‘21, the Bulldogs earned their first title, finishing 14-0.
A 2024 Harlon Hill Award finalist, Chambliss threw three touchdown passes and ran for two others Saturday as the Bulldogs won their 14th straight after a season-opening loss. Chambliss finished 11 of 20 for 153 yards and running back Kannon Katzer registered 97 yards and caught a TD pass.
After not scoring fewer than 27 points all season, the Blazers (13-1), who hail from Valdosta, Georgia, fell behind 21-0 after surrendering touchdowns on the Bulldogs’ opening three possessions.
X (Twitter) users reacted to Ferris State’s creative and explosive offense and unique 6-1, stifling defense …
Congrats to @FerrisFootball for winning their 3rd national title in 4 years. What a program Corunna alum @CoachAnnese is running over there in Big Rapids, juggernaut! #D2FB #D2Championship #FerrisState pic.twitter.com/EuF6P5nZqc
— 3 Point Podcast (@3pointpod) December 21, 2024
The Div. II marquee matchup …
Are 🫵 ready for the #D2FB National Championship ⁉️
📅 Dec. 21
1️⃣ @ValdostaStateFB vs 2️⃣@FerrisFootball
⏰ 2 PM ET
📺 ESPN2 & ESPN+ / https://t.co/zoThltUe3C📍 McKinney, TX
🔗 https://t.co/jyK4x45HCF pic.twitter.com/4a7fhtivyq— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) December 20, 2024
A calm scene before Ferris State started imposing its will …
Two hours until kickoff. Follow @d2kferg for on-site updates throughout the day. https://t.co/uLoV2zvcKR
— D2Football (@D2Football) December 21, 2024
Things started poorly for the Blazers, who were forced to punt on their opening possession. The Bulldogs, behind 51 rushing yards by Chambliss, scored on a nine-play, 80-yard drive. It was Chambliss’ 24th rushing TD …
Trinidad Chambliss puts @FerrisFootball on the board at the #D2FB National Championship! #D2FB x 📽️ ESPN2/ @ferrisathletics pic.twitter.com/M0PfBbtiIF
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) December 21, 2024
A former high school quarterback, Ferris State’s Brady Rose hit Cam Underwood in stride on a trick play as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-0, first-quarter lead …
Fun Fact: Brady Rose was a high school quarterback 😲
Rose to Cam Underwood for another @FerrisFootball touchdown!#D2FB x 📽️ ESPN2/ @ferrisathletics pic.twitter.com/v0Er2uywij
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) December 21, 2024
Katzer nearly dropped a dink pass, but recovered and scored, keeping the Bulldogs rolling …
ANOTHER ONE 😤 It's Kannon Katzer this time for 6️⃣.@FerrisFootball leads 21-0.#D2FB x 📽️ ESPN2/ @ferrisathletics pic.twitter.com/6qNBbvfT9z
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) December 21, 2024
Ferris State produced on special teams, too, highlighted by a precise punt by Noah Botsford …
GORGEOUS 62-yard punt by Noah Botsford 🤌#D2FB x 📽️ ESPN2/ @ValdostaStateFB pic.twitter.com/Bjt7ylp2Ny
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) December 21, 2024
Valdosta State scored late in the first half to make it 21-7, but that was as close as the Blazers would come …
Touchdown Tyler Ajiero! @ValdostaStateFB is on the board 💪#D2FB x 📽️ ESPN2/ @BlazerAthletics pic.twitter.com/ndIEhujcit
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) December 21, 2024
Taking advantage of an undisciplined punt-return penalty, the Bulldogs retained possession with under two minutes left in the half and converted with 10 seconds before halftime. They continued to cruise in the second half …
An absolute dagger from Ferris State right before halftime. Catch Valdosta State in a coverage bust and the lead is back to 21. pic.twitter.com/46Boj4aT9U
— Dan Why-Ner (@ReallyDanWeiner) December 21, 2024
Central Missouri quarterback Zach Zebrowski on Friday earned the 2024 Harlon Hill Award. He passed for 4,724 yards with 40 touchdowns. He led all NCAA players in total passing yards and passing yards per game (443.6) …
CENTRAL MISSOURI’S ZACH ZEBROWSKI REPEATS AS HARLON HILL WINNER AS 2024 DIVISION II FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR – https://t.co/85eRGEkYVY pic.twitter.com/EavkhPXMwH
— Harlon Hill Award (@HarlonHillAward) December 20, 2024
Is Chambliss the front-runner for next season’s top Div. II player of the year? …
2024 Ferris State
-3×1 Wing (Unb.)
-Orbit QB G/H Super Counter w/ Swing RPO pic.twitter.com/dp76txSzQW
— Pace N Space (@PaceNSpace2) December 22, 2024
Are the Bulldogs a Division II dynasty in the making? Here’s a look back at the Bulldogs’ first title …
Congrats to Ferris State on winning their first D2 National Championship last night 👏
pic.twitter.com/fJtYEMgdUK— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) December 19, 2021
Here’s a second national championship headline from Ferris State’s student newspaper. (What happened to The Torch, where a certain life-long struggling scribe earned his first byline, winning a $5 bet?) …
HOT OFF THE PRESSES, THE FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS ARE BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/wBNG87IPba
— Ferris St. Football (@FerrisFootball) December 17, 2022
Final score: Ferris State 49, Valdosta State 14 (With a dynasty on tap, will the Dawg House bring back dime drafts and party like it’s 1987?)…
Dynasty in Big Rapids … pic.twitter.com/W4daeYOR88
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) December 21, 2024
