Box Score
Box score

BIG RAPIDS, Mich.-  After a slow start offensively, the UIndy football team (7-2, 6-2 GLIAC) used a solid running game and stingy defense to earn a 24-17 win at Ferris State (5-4, 4-4) on a brisk Saturday afternoon at Top Taggart Field.  The victory kept the Greyhounds atop the GLIAC North Division standings while also earning them their first five-game winning streak in 13 years.

The Hounds didn't get on the board for the first 26 minutes of play, marking a season-high scoring drought to open a game.

Meanwhile, despite missing a 28-yard field goal on its first drive of the day, Ferris State struck first with a two-yard sneak from senior quarterback Tom Schneider.  The play was set up by a 59-yard interception return by linebacker Alex Brajak.

The Greyhounds remained scoreless through much of the second quarter until the team notched TDs on each of its final two possessions of the half to take a 14-10 advantage at the break.  A 17-yard scoring strike to junior receiver Mar'Quone Edmonds tied the game at the 4:04 mark, and later, a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior Ryan Forney with just 16 ticks on the clock capped the first-half scoring.

Out of the break, the UIndy defense forced a turnover and a three-and-out on the Bulldogs' first two second-half drives, with the latter stop leading to a Joe Leach touchdown and a 21-10 lead.  With the Greyhounds facing a difficult 3rd-and-goal situation at the 20-yard line, sophomore QB Chris Mills found Leach in the end zone for his second TD catch of the season.

Ferris State quickly got back in it when Schneider hit senior Mike Ryan with a 31-yard TD pass just 2:11 later to make it a four-point game.

With the game tightened up at 21-17, UIndy negated all the home team's momentum with a deflating 12-play, six-minute drive.  The series spanned the third and fourth quarters and ended with a 30-yard field goal from freshman Scott Miller, which gave UIndy a seven-point edge.

The Bulldogs would not score again, coming up empty on each of their final three possessions.

The balanced UIndy attack yielded 219 yards through the air and 187 on the ground.  Klay Fiechter and Matt Ripp combined for 145 rushing yards, with Ripp's 57 representing a personal best.  Mills finished with three TD passes to three different receivers.

Defensive backs John Strickland and Jerrett Ban set career highs in total tackles with 12 and 11, respectively.  Junior Max Davis added 12 tackles, while senior Mike Dum chipped in nine stops and a forced fumble.

The win sets up one of the Hounds' biggest games in recent memory, as UIndy will host a two-loss Wayne State team Saturday, Nov. 5.  Kickoff from Key Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

WSU, who lost 28-20 at home to Saginaw Valley today, entered the weekend ranked fourth in Super Region #3 and 15th in Division II.  Meanwhile, the Greyhounds are hoping to move up from the No. 7 spot in the region to earn one of six playoff spots.


Notes:  The “W” gave UIndy its first five-game winning streak since the 1998 season…The 17 points allowed represented a season low for the Hounds in GLIAC play…Mills' first-quarter pick marked just the second turnover by the Greyhounds all season…Forney needs 10 more receiving yards to became the fourth-ever Greyhound to amass 1,000 yards receiving in a season…Edmonds' second-quarter TD upped his own single-season school record for receiving touchdowns to 13.