Ferris dominates clock, scoreboard while blanking NC

It’s simple: If you keep the ball out of your opponent’s hands, your chances of winning are good.

The Ferris Saxons controlled possession Friday throughout their matchup with the North Central Indians, using their double-wing offense in the first half to wear down the NC defense. The Saxons cruised to a 24-0 win at Albi Stadium.

The Saxons’ possession prowess showed itself particularly in the second quarter, when the offense had an 18-play drive. The drive started on the Ferris 9-yard line, but penalties stalled the drive and the Saxons were forced to punt.

Despite the punt, the drive helped keep the NC offense off the field. NC had possession for 49 seconds of the second quarter, and just a little more than 6 minutes for the first half.

Things started poorly for NC right off the bat. The Indians fumbled on their first snap of the game and Ferris’ Desmond McKinnon recovered. Six plays later, Tyson Wynne ran in from 1 yard out to give Ferris an early 7-0 lead.

Wynne’s touchdown was set up after a crucial conversion on fourth-and-3.

The teams traded punts and turnovers on downs before Braden Brock hit a 34-yard field goal to give Ferris a 10-0 lead at halftime.

Ferris got away from the double-wing offense in the second half but was still able to control the game’s tempo.

The Saxons scored on their first drive of the second half. Eric Mast hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass to cap off a seven play, 66-yard drive.

After an NC punt, Ferris used just four plays to set up a 14-yard touchdown run by Jonny Via. A 30-yard completion from Ferris quarterback Logan Bunker to Brock Bozett put the Saxons in scoring position.

Via rushed the ball 18 times for 130 yards and one touchdown. Bunker was 13 for 30 for 170 yards and one touchdown.

It wasn’t just the Ferris offense that kept NC’s defense worn out. Maxwell Thompson picked off two passes for the Saxons.

The win is Ferris’ first of the year, as the Saxons improved to 1-3. The loss also left NC at 1-3.