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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Dominican squares off against its third ranked opponent of the season as the Panthers travel north to take on Ferris State in a rematch of two NCAA playoff teams from 2014.
The Panthers (4-2, 4-2 GLIAC) enter Saturday's contest having won each of their last three games, while the Bulldogs are one of three unbeatens left in the GLIAC with a 5-0 record and are ranked No. 4 in the AFCA poll and No. 3 in the D2Football.com rankings. ODU is 3-5 all-time against teams ranked in the top-five.
The last time these two teams met, the Panthers went on the road to take a 46-33 win over the fourth-ranked Bulldogs in Big Rapids in the second round of the playoffs last November.
ODU rallied from a 20-7 halftime deficit to defeat Hillsdale 34-29 last Saturday. The last time ODU rallied from a double digit halftime deficit to record a win also came at Hillsdale on Oct. 8, 2011, as the Panthers fought back from a 21-7 hole at intermission to record a 43-42 victory.
The Panthers scored three touchdowns in a 5:08 flurry at the start of the fourth quarter to erase a 23-14 deficit and grab a 34-23 advantage. Hillsdale scored a touchdown with 4:19 left to make it a one possession game at 34-29, but failed to convert on a two-point try.
ODU ran off three minutes but gave the ball back to Hillsdale on downs, but the defense came up with a fourth down stop of its own near midfield to seal the win.
Darryl Johnson eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time in his career, totaling 133 on a personal best 23 carries, and also scored two touchdowns. Cory Contini, who had just two catches for seven yards coming into the game, set a career high with 112 yards on four catches, including a touchdown and a long grab of 55 yards.
Brad McCurdy made 10 tackles with a career high 2.0 tackles for loss while also breaking up two passes and intercepting a pass. The interception was the 10th of his career, one shy of the ODU record that Billy Eakins holds.
Cameron Kohl also made 10 tackles with a sack, and Austin Osborne and Marquise Tyus each tallied eight tackles.
Michael Snyder averaged 44.2 yards per punt, with a 41.2 yard net. He's averaging 42.8 yards per punt over the last two games.
Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu
