MCKINNEY, Texas — In a commanding performance, Trinidad Chambliss excelled by throwing three touchdown passes and adding two more on the ground, leading the second-seeded Ferris State to a decisive 49-14 victory over top-seeded Valdosta State for its third NCAA Division II championship on Saturday.
The Bulldogs, concluding their season with a record of 14-1 after losing their opening game, showed dominance in all aspects of play. They effectively restricted the Blazers, who held a record of 13-1, to 23 points and 182 yards less than their typical season averages. Ferris State amassed 465 total offensive yards, surpassing the highest yardage any team had previously recorded against Valdosta.
From the get-go, Ferris State showcased its offensive prowess by leading 21-0 following their initial three drives. The Bulldogs scored with a combination of a passing touchdown from Chambliss, a rushing touchdown from Chambliss himself, and a clever trick play that saw wide receiver Brady Rose throw a touchdown pass to Cam Underwood.
While the five-time champions Valdosta managed to score before halftime—partly due to two defensive penalties that granted them additional first downs—Ferris State responded emphatically. They marched 72 yards downfield in just 90 seconds, culminating in Chambliss’s second touchdown pass, which extended their lead to 28-7 just before the halftime whistle.
The Bulldogs continued their onslaught in the second half as Chambliss scored right away. This was promptly followed by a touchdown pass by Chambliss after Valdosta’s Tyrone Fowler had made a defensive scoop-and-score.
Chambliss finished the game with 11 completions out of 20 attempts for 153 yards, while Underwood was a standout receiver with three catches for 86 yards. Kannon Katzer contributed significantly with 97 rushing yards and a touchdown reception, and Chambliss further added to his tally with 78 rushing yards.
Despite leading the nation with 23 forced turnovers, the Bulldogs maintained possession throughout the contest and managed to recover a fumble from the Blazers, who experienced only four turnovers in the entire season.
On the other side, Valdosta’s quarterback, Sammy Edwards, completed 25 of 42 passes for 190 yards and secured touchdown passes to both Tyler Ajiero and Blake Hester.
Historically, the matchup held significance as well; Valdosta had triumphed over Ferris in the 2018 championship with a narrow victory of 49-47, while Ferris exacted its revenge with a striking 58-17 win in the 2021 championship, culminating their season with a perfect 14-0 record.
