The Ferris State University football team secured a conference championship and won the first-ever Calder City Classic rivalry game with a comeback victory against Davenport University on Saturday.
However, the 24-9 triumph held special significance for Ferris State head coach Tony Annese.
“It’s been a challenging fall,” Annese shared during an emotional post-game press conference. “I lost my mom on August 15. It’s been three months and one day since she passed. Everyone was there with her except me because, as a football coach, I had to return for practice. Many sacrifices have been made. That night, I promised to dedicate this season to my mom, and now that the regular season is over, I hope she’s proud. I know she is. She loved Ferris State football and every aspect of what we do here.”
The Bulldogs, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, have secured 10 consecutive wins after losing their season opener against Pittsburg State in Kansas. Davenport finishes the regular season with a record of 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Ferris State trailed 9-7 at halftime but shut out the visiting Panthers in the second half, earning both the Calder City Classic Trophy and the outright league championship—the Bulldogs’ first since 2021.
With this victory, Ferris State is likely to receive its 10th straight NCAA Division II Playoff berth and is expected to be the top seed in Super Region Three, granting them a first-round bye. The official NCAA D2 Selection Show will be held on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. at NCAA.com.
“Going into the game, we recognized that Davenport had a solid defense,” said quarterback Trinidad Chambliss from Grand Rapids. “In the second half, we managed to find our rhythm, which was great. This means a lot to me.”
Davenport opened the scoring with Brandon Gielow kicking a 40-yard field goal. The Bulldogs quickly responded, with Chambliss connecting with Brady Rose for a 20-yard touchdown pass.
Gielow added two more field goals, putting the Panthers ahead 9-7. However, the Ferris State defense held strong, preventing any further scoring and allowing the offense to add a touchdown and two additional field goals, sealing the 24-9 victory.
“We had far more three-and-outs in the second half, which kept us off the field and allowed our offense to take control,” said linebacker Konnor Near from St. Johns.
“I’ve never stepped onto the field as a Ferris State Bulldog thinking we were going to lose. It’s our grit and confidence. We’ve earned our place here, and we’re ready to move forward.”
Chambliss noted that the team bounced back after their 19-3 loss in the opening week, highlighting their victory over rival Grand Valley State University, which they beat 34-7 after losing to them twice in 2023.
“I’m proud of our guys,” he said. “Our goal was to defeat Grand Valley first and then secure the GLIAC championship. We have bigger goals of a national championship, and we need to take it one day and one game at a time.”
This game marked the first in a planned rivalry series with Davenport. The Calder City Classic, supported by the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame, will return to Davenport in 2025, with a neutral site matchup scheduled for 2026 in the Grand Rapids area.
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