FOOTBALL: Ferris State University At Northern Michigan University Preview

Ferris State University vs. Northern Michigan University
4 p.m., Superior Dome, Marquette

BIG RAPIDS - This weekend, Ferris State University is playing in a game that it can certainly win as it heads to the Superior Dome in Marquette to take on Northern Michigan University as part of NMU's homecoming weekend festivities.

Now, while the Bulldogs are capable of winning this game, one thing stands in their way: An NMU squad that is one of the hottest teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Wildcats have scored 110 points in their last two games thanks to a powerful running attack that is complemented by an ability to throw the football that keeps teams a little more honest. So, this is no easy task for the Bulldogs who have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride this season with a win over a struggling Tiffin team, followed by a decisive loss to nationally-ranked Ashland, followed by a blowout loss at Findlay and then a heartbreaking seven-point loss to top-ranked Grand Valley State.

Now, emotionally it has been a roller-coaster ride, but record-wise this ride has had a few more lows than it has experienced highs this fall.

This will be a major test for the Bulldogs and, ironically enough, the keys to victory really have not changed a whole lot from previous weeks:

1. Avoid falling behind in one of those mammoth holes early in the game (as was the case against Ashland and Findlay)
2. Do better stopping the run. Ferris has struggled to contain the running game in all of its losses this season and Northern can be dominant with its ground game
3. Get the passing game going. Ferris only threw it 10 times against Grand Valley last week at Top Taggart Field. The "Wildcat" was a nice wrinkle, but Ferris certainly wants to be able to throw the football effectively.
4. Bring good energy to this game and bring it right off the bat
5. Forget about the record and focus on football

Many fans will be interested to see how Ferris bounces back from a tough loss at home to its archrival. If the Bulldogs can bounce back with a level of energy similar to what it had against GVSU, then it has a chance to be successful in this game. But, if the Bulldogs duplicate what it did the last time it was on the road, at Findlay, it could be a tough afternoon in the Upper Peninsula for head coach Jeff Pierce and his Bulldogs.