Ferris State football is marching on in its quest to repeat as Division II national champs.
The Bulldogs overcame an early 14-0 deficit and used a dominant third quarter to topple Ashland, 56-24, in a second-round playoff game on Saturday at Big Rapids.
Quarterback Chase Carter threw three touchdowns and ran for one of Ferris State’s five rushing scores to lead the way for the Bulldogs (13-0), which racked up 483 yards of total offense.
Carter’s 50-yard rushing touchdown tied it at 14 in the first quarter and his 30-yard touchdown pass to Cam Underwood put Ferris State ahead, 21-17, with 8:26 left in the second half. The Bulldogs never trailed again.
Carter also threw touchdown passes of 34 yards to Brady Rose and 27 yards to Tae Boyd during a 21-point third quarter that gave Ferris State a commanding 49-17 lead.
Carson Gulker (2 yards), Taariik Brett (13 yards), Jake Price (4 yards) and Rose (6 yards) added rushing scores for Ferris State.
Cameron Blair threw for 122 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and Chris Maloney ran for 198 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries for Ashland (10-3), which was held to seven points in the second half.
Ferris State, which is seeking its fourth national title in five seasons, will face Minnesota State in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 6. Kickoff time is TBA.
More state results
Toledo 21, (at) Central Michigan 3: Kalieb Osborne threw a late third-quarter touchdown and Chip Trayanum scored twice in the second half as Toledo pulled away. Western Michigan will play in the MAC championship game on Dec. 6 against the winner of a tiebreaker scenario between Toledo, Miami (Ohio) or Ohio.
Toledo (8-4, 6-2 MAC) trailed 3-0 at halftime after Cade Graham hit a 28-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Rockets finally broke through with 10 seconds left in the third when Osborne hit Trayanum on a 57-yard strike to cap a five-play, 69-yard drive. Kenji Christian pushed the lead to 14-3 on a 9-yard run with 8:41 left and, after a defensive stop, Trayanum sealed it with a 42-yard burst with 1:49 remaining.
Trayanum ran for 94 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 65 yards. Osborne and Tucker Gleason combined to throw for 206 yards with no turnovers. Toledo’s defense held CMU to 81 yards rushing and picked off Joe Labas once while recording four sacks.
Dakota Cochran blocked his third career kick for Central Michigan (7-5, 5-3).
