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North Central & Ferris State Football Drop Wild Stat Lines In Week 16

North Central & Ferris State Football Drop Wild Stat Lines In Week 16

Welcome to another playoff edition of Video Game Numbers, FloCollege’s way of highlighting the best and brightest of the week that was across NCAA Divisions

Dec 19, 2024 by Briar Napier
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There may not be a lot of games left to play across the college football landscape over the next couple of weeks, but that does not mean that there aren't some big-time statistical showcases to talk about.

Welcome to another playoff edition of Video Game Numbers, FloCollege’s way of highlighting the best and brightest of the week that was across NCAA Divisions I FCS, II, and III. The postseason is in full swing in each of those playoff brackets, and with more on the line, the cream of the crop of talent in each division is rising to the occasion, as well.

Record-setting days and plays to seal historic moments in program history all happened this past weekend, and if recent history is any indication, we should expect more outstanding outings to come out of this weekend’s crop of college football postseason games, too.

Here’s a look back at some of college football’s craziest stats of Week 16 from all across the sport:

Adam Jones, RB, Montana State (23 carries, 95 yards, four touchdowns vs. Idaho)

Jones’ yardage total in Montana State’s blowout FCS quarterfinal win over Idaho last Friday night wasn’t the eye-popping part of his night, but rather the fact that the freshman and Jerry Rice Award finalist seemed to be magnetically pulled to the endzone.

In front of a raucous environment in Bozeman, the top-seeded and unbeaten Bobcats rolled to a 52-19 victory over the Vandals (their second over Idaho this season) with Jones scoring all of his touchdowns from under 10 yards out. His first two scores came in a 67-second stretch late in the first half, when he first scored off of the back of an Idaho turnover then punched it in from short range following a quick three-and-out forced by the MSU defense and a sizzling 63-yard run from Walter Payton Award finalist Tommy Mellott to set it up.

The electric Bobcat offense turned a 10-10 tie with under four minutes left in the first half into a 31-10 advantage at the intermission, but Jones wasn’t done there. He finished off MSU’s first drive of the second half with a 9-yard score, then completed his foursome with a final short-yardage score less than a minute into the fourth quarter.

With potentially its best chance yet to finally upend the Dakota schools and capture its first national championship since 1984, Montana State has guys that know how to get in the endzone — and, in Jones’ case as a first-year player, they have room to grow even more, too.


Gary Bryant III, LB, South Dakota (15 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery vs. UC Davis)

Creating havoc was the name of the game for the Coyotes in their 35-21, FCS quarterfinal victory Saturday in facing a visiting UC Davis in The DakotaDome, and Bryant III was South Dakota’s best at creating chaos against the Aggies.

Into the FCS semifinals for the first time in program history, South Dakota forced six turnovers — including five interceptions of UC Davis quarterback Miles Hastings — and capitalized on its opportunities to put itself just one win away from a shot at playing for a national championship. Without Bryant III, who was just about everywhere on the defensive end for the Coyotes, they might not have had that chance to make it to Frisco in the first place. 

The redshirt sophomore from Maryland, who earned second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors for his play this season, set a season high in tackles with 15 and had his fumble recovery in the third quarter with USD up a score when he scooped up a fumble from the Aggies’ C.J. Hutton. He saved his best play for last in the fourth quarter when he was responsible for the Coyotes’ fifth and final pick of the day, nabbing a Hastings pass in the endzone with the Aggies’ down two scores and trying to make some magic happen with under two minutes left.

It was a legendary performance by the South Dakota defense for a legendary moment in team history, and Bryant III played a major part in making that happen.

Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ferris State (19-for-26 passing, 221 yards, one touchdown, 16 carries, 124 yards, three touchdowns vs. Slippery Rock)

Chambliss is the first ever three-time nominee to Video Game Numbers — having also been selected for recognition in Weeks 8 and 14 — and is putting up performances in the Bulldogs’ run to the D-II national championship game that cannot be ignored.

A Harlon Hill Trophy finalist who could very well be the first Ferris State player to win D-II’s top individual honor since Jayru Campbell in 2018, Chambliss was sensational once again for FSU as he led it to its fourth national title game in program history with a 48-38 win in this past weekend’s semifinal round over Slippery Rock.

Chambliss started his scoring early in the second quarter when he threw his only touchdown pass of the day, a 13-yard completion for six to Emari O’Brien, but more was demanded out of the Bulldogs’ star signal-caller as The Rock found themselves up by 14 points late in the first half, threatening to pull away in a shootout and deny Ferris a third trip to McKinney in four seasons.

Leading his team to a comeback win in the national semifinals was no problem for Chambliss, however, who merely stepped his game up even more from then on.

Needing a spark down 35-21, the Bulldogs got some life through a 10-yard Chambliss touchdown run with a minute left in the second quarter, though Slippery Rock extended the lead back to double-digits with a field goal before the half. But a scoreless second half by Slippery Rock plus three rushing touchdowns from Ferris — two of which came from Chambliss, with a 69-yard Kannon Katzer house call sandwiched in between them — finally got the Bulldogs over the hump and back to playing for a national title.

And, once again, it gets Chambliss back onto another edition of Video Game Numbers.

Micah Niewald, WR, Bethel (16 catches, 154 yards, one touchdown at Susquehanna)

Though Bethel’s season didn’t end the way that it wanted to, losing 24-21 and under controversial circumstances to Susquehanna in this past weekend’s D-III quarterfinals, Niewald can hold his head up high for a mammoth campaign as the Royals’ top wideout, finishing the 2024 campaign with one of the most spectacular individual seasons ever seen in D-III football.

The nation’s receptions leader, Niewald’s awesome day, which was also the eighth time this season that he’s caught at least 10 passes in a single game, put him just five catches short of tying the all-time D-III record for receptions in a season as his year ends at 135 catches. His 16 receptions also set a new all-time single-game record at Bethel, and he additionally finished one yard short of his teammate, Joey Kidder, for the single-season program record for receiving yards at the game’s end.

He did all he could against the River Hawks, catching a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cooper Drews just seconds into the fourth quarter that put the Royals up 21-14. Niewald also had the 15-yard reception that set Bethel up at the SU 30-yard-line with six seconds left, but what would’ve been a game-winning touchdown shortly after from Drews to Kidder was called back due to a holding penalty, crushingly ending Bethel’s semifinal dreams then and there.

The Royals weren’t able to keep their season going this past Saturday, but performances like Niewald’s with their backs on the line are examples that the program will look back on as ones to follow going forward.

Matt Janiak, LB, North Central (17 tackles, three tackles for loss vs. Springfield)

The challenge was simple for North Central’s defense in its D-III quarterfinal clash against Springfield — don’t let the Pride’s patented, record-setting option offense beat you.

Janiak accepted the challenge and passed a tricky assignment with flying colors.

Just a freshman, Janiak’s previous career high in tackles in a single game was five, but he absolutely demolished that previous mark in the Cardinals’ 27-3 win over Springfield to put them one step closer to a fifth straight Stagg Bowl appearance. 

The Pride, who set the record this year for the most rushing yards in a season in D-III history and came into the quarterfinals averaged 444.2 yards on the ground per game, were limited to just over half that total (227 yards) and out of the endzone entirely against unbeaten North Central, with Janiak swinging the hammer as he nearly doubled his season tackles total in a single game.

Drives stalled constantly for Springfield as despite winning the possession battle with 34:41 of game time with the ball, it went just 2 for 16 on third down as playmakers on the Cardinals like Janiak were always there to stuff out what the Pride had planned. North Central’s weapons on the offensive end, meanwhile, did their work as well to get the Cardinals back to the national semifinals this weekend.

Susquehanna separates North Central from the old familiar Stagg Bowl, and playmakers like Janiak are ready to try and get the Cardinals over the line and one step closer to a third national championship in five seasons.

How To Watch Susquehanna Football Vs. North Central 

Susquehanna football vs North Central will broadcast on ESPN+.

FloFootball and FloCollege will be providing live coverage and analysis of the game.

When Are The NCAA Division III Football Playoffs?

  • First round: Saturday, Nov. 23
  • Second round: Saturday, Nov. 30 
  • Third Round: Saturday, Dec. 7 
  • Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 14
  • Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 21
  • National championship: Sunday, Jan. 5

When Is The NCAA Division III Championship Game?

The NCAA Division III championship game is set for Sunday, Jan. 5 in Houston, Texas.

How To Watch The Division II National Championship Game

The title game of the 2024 NCAA Division II Football Championship between Ferris State and Valdosta State will air on ESPN2 on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. Eastern. 

The game will be played at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas. 

When Are The NCAA Division II Football Playoffs?

  • First round: Saturday, Nov. 23
  • Second round: Saturday, Nov. 30 
  • Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 7 
  • Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14
  • National championship: Saturday, Dec. 21

When Is The NCAA Division II Championship Game?

The NCAA Division II championship game is set for Saturday, Dec. 21 in McKinney, Texas.

NCAA Division II Football Playoff Schedule

First Round: Saturday, Nov. 23

  • Slippery Rock def. New Haven, 14-7
  • Ashland def. Charleston (W.Va.), 40-38
  • California (Pa.) def. East Stroudsburg, 30-27
  • Miles def. Carson-Newman, 14-13
  • Virginia Union def. Wingate, 34-31
  • Lenoir-Rhyne def. West Alabama, 37-34
  • Central Oklahoma def. Ouachita Baptist, 38-31
  • Grand Valley State def. UIndy, 24-7
  • Harding def. Pittsburg State, 48-3
  • Minnesota State def. Augustana (S.D.), 20-19
  • Western Colorado def. Central Washington, 28-21
  • Bemidji State def. Angelo State, 24-14

Second Round: Saturday, Nov. 30

  • Slippery Rock def. Kutztown, 25-24
  • Valdosta State def. Miles, 33-17
  • Ferris State def. Central Oklahoma, 78-17
  • Minnesota State def. CSU Pueblo, 26-23

Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 7

  • Slippery Rock def. California (Pa.), 31-13
  • Ferris State def. Harding, 41-7
  • Valdosta State def. Virginia Union, 49-14
  • Minnesota State def. Bemidji State, 20-19

Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14

  • Ferris State def. Slippery Rock, 48-38
  • Valdosta State def. Minnesota State, 35-21

Final: Saturday, Dec. 21

  • Ferris State vs. Valdosta State, 2 p.m. Eastern (ESPN2)

AFCA Division II Football Rankings

As of Nov. 18, 2024

  1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (27) 10-0
  2. Ferris St. (Mich.) (3) 10-1
  3. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-0
  4. Harding (Ark.) 10-1
  5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 10-1
  6. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-0
  7. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-1
  8. Central Oklahoma 10-1
  9. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-1
  10. Western Colorado 10-1
  11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 9-1
  12. West Alabama 9-1
  13. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-2
  14. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-1
  15. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 9-2
  16. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-2
  17. Wingate (N.C.) 9-1
  18. Colorado School of Mines 8-3
  19. Central Washington 8-3
  20. California (Pa.) 8-2
  21. West Florida 7-3
  22. Augustana (S.D.) 8-3
  23. Southern Arkansas 9-2
  24. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9-2
  25. Central Missouri 8-3

Dropped Out: Minnesota St. (18), Findlay (Ohio) (22).

Others Receiving Votes: Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 65; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 45; Virginia Union, 38; Miles (Ala.), 36; Minnesota St., 34; New Haven (Conn.), 21; Findlay (Ohio), 18; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 9; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 4; Davenport (Mich.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Glenville St. (W.Va.), 1.

To see the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, click here.

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