Ferris State football's pursuit of NCAA Division II history will face an unbeaten challenger when No. 9 Davenport comes to town at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich.
The top-ranked Bulldogs and ninth-ranked Panthers are both 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the GLIAC entering the a West Michigan matchup. Ferris State also carries a 38-game winning streak into the Calder City Classic after surviving No. 12 Michigan Tech 27-20 last week.
Ferris State's streak is tied for the second-longest in Division II history and sits two victories short of the record of 40 consecutive wins set by its rival, Grand Valley State, in the early 2000s.
How No. 1 Ferris State survived vs. Michigan Tech
The Bulldogs reached 38 despite being pushed by Michigan Tech. After falling behind 7-0, Ferris State scored 24 consecutive points before the Huskies closed within seven late in the game.
"I give our guys credit because I said this to them after the game that we're everybody's Super Bowl. It's a tough spot to be in, but obviously, when you get all the accolades we've gotten and win at the level we've won at, we just have to realize that," coach Tony Annese said Saturday. "Our guys do, but it was just a remarkable, remarkable effort by them. They played so hard on all sides of the ball."
Quarterback Wyatt Bower had been Ferris State's top offensive player through the Bulldogs' first seven games, leading the team in passing (1,243 yards, 8 touchdowns) and rushing (537 yards, 11 touchdowns). However, he left last week's game with an ankle injury and returned to the sideline in a walking boot, according to Devin Waldrop of the Ferris State Register.
Backup quarterback Chase Carter helped Ferris State control the Michigan Tech game with his legs, rushing 25 times for 141 yards. He also completed 11-of-23 passes for 122 yards with two touchdowns. Carter has plenty of experience, playing all 14 games in Ferris's national title run and leading the team in rushing yards (1,181).
The victory extended Ferris State's home winning streak to 33 games, dating to 2022.
More on a Division II top-10 matchup
Meanwhile, Davenport arrives with the same overall and conference records as Ferris State, putting first place in the GLIAC at the center of the matchup between the nation's No. 1 and No. 9 teams.
The game also includes several connections between the programs.
Davenport coach Sparky McEwen is a former Ferris State player and coach, while Davenport offensive coordinator Sam Parker also has ties to Ferris State. Three Davenport players with prominent roles transferred from Ferris State: cornerback Vincent Cooley, tight end Kaleb Parrish and linebacker Christian Cramer.
The matchup is called the Calder City Classic, now in its third year with a traveling trophy going to the winner.
For Ferris State, another victory would extend its winning streak to 39 games while moving it within one victory of Grand Valley State's Division II record.
For Davenport, the matchup offers an opportunity to end that streak while breaking the tie between the two 4-0 teams in the GLIAC.
This story was produced by reporter Dylan Jespersen, djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: No. 1 Ferris State, No. 9 Davenport meet with GLIAC lead at stake