NCAA DII power rolls past RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - When you're a first-year program, playing on the road for the first time and facing a defending national champion - on Homecoming weekend, no less - the odds are stacked against you to begin with.
     That's the situation that the University of Rio Grande found itself in on Saturday afternoon, with NCAA Division II No. 1 Ferris State University providing the opposition.
     The Bulldogs wasted little time in delighting a big home crowd by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown and things only got worse for the RedStorm in an eventual 76-0 loss at Top Taggart Field.
     Ferris State, which also scored touchdowns on each of the two turnovers it forced, improved to 4-0 with a 18th straight victory dating back to last season.
     Rio Grande slipped to 0-3 with the loss.
     The RedStorm, who had given up 48 points in each of their previous losses, trailed 42-0 at halftime and surrendered 34 second half points despite each of the final two quarters being shortened to 10 minutes.
     The Bulldogs outgained Rio, 239-8 on the ground and 404-106 overall.
     Taariik Brett took the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to give FSU a 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the contest.
     Brady Rose and Zak Ahern had touchdown runs and Justin Payoute returned a fumble for a score as the hosts jumped to a 28-0 lead after one quarter.
     Chase Carter added a touchdown run and a scoring toss to Tarick Bower in the second quarter as the advantage ballooned to 42-0 at the break.
     Ferris State tacked on 28 more points in third quarter, wrapping a pair of touchdown runs around two Rio Grande miscues.
     Kevin Simes had a 27-yard touchdown scamper and Leeshaun Mumpfield scored the first of his two TD runs from three yards out, while Maurice Adams, Jr. returned an interception 11 yards for a touchdown and Jeremiah Housey ran a blocked field goal attempt 75 yards for another score as the Bulldog lead reached 70-0.
     Mumpfield's 5-yard TD run with 2:47 left to play closed out the scoring.
     Four different players attempted a pass for FSU and 13 different players had at least one carry.
     Wyatt Bower finished 7-for-11 for 124 yards, while Key'Vell Cooper ran for 54 yards on six carries and Rose caught two passes for 44 yards.
     Three different quarterbacks saw action for Rio Grande, combining to go 9-for-22 for 98 yards.
     Freshman Simi Jaf-Ogunlayi (Pataskala, OH) led the RedStorm on the ground with 37 yards on six totes and freshman Mikelle Moore (Cincinnati, OH caught five passes for 54 yards.
     Defensively, sophomore Nathaniel Lopez (East Mims, FL) topped Rio with seven tackles.
     The RedStorm will enjoy another open date this weekend before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 4, against Kentucky Christian University at Alumni Stadium in Jackson, Ohio.