Tiffin University (1-0) travels to Big Rapids, Michigan to take on top-ranked Ferris State (2-0) in week two.

Tiffin has not defeated Ferris State in seven meetings and have been outscored 285-111 in those games. Tiffin has not played Ferris State since 2017 when TU put up a strong fight in a 13-3 defeat on the road. The only other close game with the Bulldogs came in 2008 when TU fell 14-12.

LAST TIME OUT

Tiffin University (1-0) handled Wayne State on both sides of the ball, opening the game with 20 unanswered points en route to a strong 34-7 win on the road. Overall Tiffin outgained the Warriors 385-135 including 253-53 through the air. They held a 21-9 edge in first downs The defense also excelled with 4 sacks and held Wayne State to just 2-for-11 on third downs.

FERRIS STATE NOTES

The Bulldogs won their third NCAA D2 Championship in the last four years a season ago and have made four national championship game appearances in the last six seasons. The Bulldogs have also made a nation-leading 10 consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, including back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 prior to the 2024 crown. 

The Bulldogs were picked to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in the Preseason Coaches Poll. FSU received six first-place votes and 47 points. 

Tony Annese, leading the Bulldogs for the 13th season in 2025, has turned FSU into a powerhouse at the Division II level. FSU has posted a 139-21 overall mark in his tenure and the Bulldogs have also posted the best winning percentage of all 21 collegiate programs in the state of Michigan along with the GLIAC since his arrival. Overall, Annese has won 86% of his games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep levels and owns 364 wins to date, which is the most of any current GLIAC member head coach at all levels. 

Two standouts garnered preseason All-America mention as D2Football.com unveiled its 2025 Elite 100 Watch List - senior center Jarvis Windom along with an honorable mention choice in senior defensive back Justin Payoute.  

A strong nucleus returns from last year's national championship team, including nearly 12 starters and more than 50 letterwinners. The Bulldogs opened the 2025 campaign as the defending NCAA Division II National Champions and the preseason #1 team in the country. Over the past four seasons of action, the Bulldogs now own a 52-5 overall record including last week's 63-6 win at Lake Erie. FSU is 79-7 over the last five seasons of on-field action, including back-to-back NCAA D2 National Championships in 2021 and 2022 and last fall. 

The Bulldogs closed the 2024 campaign on a 14-game winning streak and won their first two games of 2025 to make it 16 wins in a row. FSU is outscoring their opponents 97-24 through their first two games.  

Redshirt freshman quarterback Wyatt Bower serves as the signal caller and has thrown four touchdown passes in two games, completing 22 of 38 attempts for 322 yards with no interceptions. Bower is a dual threat QB who also leads the team in rushing yards (206) and rushing attempts (37). Junior Zak Ahem is second on the team in rushing attempts with 13 and has three touchdowns.  

Taariik Brett and Brady Rose lead the team in receptions with six each. Carson Gulker leads the team in receiving yards with 76.  

Senior defensive tackle Kailib Davis is the reigning GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week. In the win at Lake Erie, Davis had three tackles for loss and two sacks. Isaiah Byars leads the team in tackles with 10 while Davis has a team-leading two sacks.  

In the kicking game, Eddie Jewett has made 13 of 14 PATs while Mitchell Middleton is 0 for 1 in field goals. Middleton also serves as the main punter and averages 51.6 yards per kick in five tries with a long of 65. He's also pinned four inside the 20.  

TIFFIN NOTES

The Dragons are coming off a dominant 34-7 win at Wayne State in their season opener in which they held the Warriors to just 135 yards of total offense.  

The Dragons return a plethora of weapons including the 2024 G-MAC Player of the Year (Ronald Blackman), Offensive Player of the Year (Alex Johnson), and the Defensive Lineman of the Year (Khris Walton).  

Johnson threw for 2,954 yards last season and 27 touchdowns. Blackman rushed for 1,417 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 5 receiving touchdowns for 274 yards.  

Other all-conference returners include offensive linemen Gauge Samson and Mustafa Feika along with tight end Joey Zalewski and defensive back Jacob Tueimeh.  

Blackman and Walton, along with being named All-Americans in 2024, were both named D2Football.com Elite 100 preseason selections. Walton led the team and all of NCAA Division II in sacks with 13.5 last season while also leading the team in tackles for loss with 18.  

On the kicking side, punter Joseph Weiers and placekicker Ben Rudolph both are back. Rudolph was named a 2025 Fred Mitchell Award Preseason nominee. The Fred Mitchell Award recognizes 35 placekickers for their excellence on the football field throughout the 2024 season and for their off-field contributions throughout the year. Rudolph went 49 for 50 on PATs and 13 for 15 on field goals in 2024.  

Quarterback Alex Johnson was very efficient in the opener, going 22 for 28 with 253 passing yards and two touchdowns. He was joined in the backfield by running back Ronald Blackman who rushed 17 times for 82 yards and was also joined in the backfield by Nick Johnson (4 carries for 22 yards) and Tyrese Banks-Dorn (7 carries for 21 yards and one touchdown).  

Ethan Holbrook is the reigning G-MAC Special Teams Athlete of the Week following his big-time performance in week one. Holbrook returned 4 punts for 92 yards that included an 80-yard return for a touchdown. He also caught 8 passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns.  Other top receivers in the opener included Will Linkhart (5 for 57), Emari White (2 for 48), and Ronald Blackman (3 for 40).  

Defensively, Jacob Tueimeh led the team in tackles with 6 while Khris Walton, Kris Artis, Kevin Hornbeak, and Uzonna Nzekwe recorded one sack each and Nzekwe also forced a fumble. Other week one top tacklers include Walton (5), Jalen Coles (4), and Danny Mason (4).  

The kicking game is also off to a good start as Ben Rudolph converted all 4 PATs and both field goal attempts. Joseph Weiers punted 3 times for 127 yards and pinned two inside the 20 that including a 51-yard boot.