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Printer-Friendly ModeCardinals enter playoffs on a roll
Since losing to Northern Michigan, SVSU has reeled off five straight wins
November 9, 2009 —
For the first time since 2005, the end of the regular season doesn’t also mean an end for football season at SVSU.
Ferris State came to town hoping to knock the Cardinals out of the playoff picture. SVSU had different plans. The Cards’ took control of the game early, never leaving any doubt as they came out on top 41-7.
With the win, the Cardinals advanced to the Division II Playoffs and will travel to Nebraska on Saturday to take on the 10-1 University of Nebraska at Kearney.
After losing to Northern Michigan on homecoming, the Cardinals finished the regular season with five consecutive victories, four of them by double-digit margins, to finish the regular season 9-2 overall, 8-2 in the GLIAC. They finish tied for second place with Hillsdale, one game behind champion Grand Valley.
Behind junior quarterback Charles Dowdell, SVSU got off to a quick start. Dowdell hit sophomore receiver Nick Gallina for a 45-yard touchdown pass, and from there, the rout was on.
Junior running back Xavier Walker scored his team high 12th rushing touchdown of the season from four yards out, giving the Cardinals a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.
After showing his arm strength on the Cards’ first score, Dowdell decided to show off his running skills on a 59-yard touchdown run with 4:14 remaining in the second quarter.
A solid rushing attack has been the core of the Cardinals offense this season. Against Ferris it was on full display as sophomore running back Brandon Hayes also got in on the scoring, with a four yard touchdown run with 46 seconds left in the second quarter that gave the Cardinals a commanding 28-0 lead heading into halftime.
After the Bulldogs opened the third quarter with a 59-yard receiving touchdown, the Cardinals answered when Dowdell drove SVSU 80 yards in eight plays and capped it off with a seven yard touchdown run, giving him eight rushing touchdowns on the season.
Dowdell added a final exclamation point on the win when he hit sophomore wide receiver Justin Groeneveld for a 44-yard touchdown reception. Sophomore kicker Austin Borchard’s extra point was no good, although that was about the only mistake made all day by the Cardinals.
SVSU dominated Ferris State in nearly every major statistical category, including limiting the Bulldogs to -42 yards rushing, while the Cardinals managed to rush for 321 yards. For the game, the Cardinals finished with 523 total offensive yards, while holding Ferris State to 130, their best defensive effort of the season. The Cardinal defense also picked off three Bulldog passes.
Dowdell finished the game as the Cardinals leading rusher, with nine attempts for 111 yards. Through the air, he completed 10-19 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive side, senior linebacker John Jacobs had 11 tackles, including 2.5 sacks. Jacobs finished the regular season as the leading tackler in the GLIAC with 124.
The Cardinals head into their first playoff game since 2005 behind head coach Jim Collins, who is in his second season at SVSU. Collins was brought in to turn the program around, although whether anyone thought he could do it this quickly is questionable.
After guiding Capital University in Ohio to three consecutive playoff appearances in his final three seasons, Collins guided the Cardinals to a 7-3 record in his first season as head coach.
