BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Seventh-ranked Ferris State roared out of the gate and never looked back in dumping Ashland University 43-3 on Saturday night in a non-conference Division II football clash.
It took Ferris State receiver Taariik Brett just 13 seconds to cover 90 yards while returning the opening kickoff for an immediate 7-0 lead.
AU (0-2) never really recovered.
Six minutes later, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss sprinted around right end to score from a yard away and stretch the margin to 14-0.
AU responded when junior kicker A.J. Rhodes connected on a 30-yard field goal with 4:29 showing in the first period, but wouldn’t score again.
The Eagles are 0-2 to start the season.
The Bulldogs (2-1) opened a 20-3 bulge when Kannon Katzer scored on a 2-yard run, and expanded the spread to 27-3 on a 12-yard TD pass from Chambliss to Jeremiah Lee.
Ferris State’s defense tacked on a safety to make it 29-3 with 5:30 remaining in the half. Chambliss chipped in a 7-yard TD run to make it 36-3 at the intermission.
Chambliss fired an 11-yard touchdown pass scoring pass to Tyreese Hunt-Thompson early in the third quarter for the final score.
Ashland returns to action at Hillsdale (0-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference opener.