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Ferris State's coach on loss in D-II title game: 'It was my fault'

The game was not without controversy in the closing minutes.
Credit: Rose Baca, AP
Ferris State quarterback Jayru Campbell runs the ball against Valdosta State linebacker David Brown during the first half of Ferris State's 49-47 loss in the Division II championship in McKinney, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018.

McKINNEY, Texas – Ferris State's hopes for taking the Division II national championship game into overtime came down to a dramatic two-point conversion attempt Saturday night.

The Blazers had just scored to pull to 49-47 with 40 seconds left and seemed to have seized momentum over high-scoring Valdosta (Ga.) State.

Ferris State called a garden-variety double-reverse pass. Quarterback Jayru Campbell took the snap, pitched to Sy Barnett, who lobbed to Jevon Shaw sweeping right.

Campbell, who moved to the right flat, was covered, so Shaw followed through with a throw to Keyondre Craig in the back of the end zone. Craig stretched past Valdosta State defensive backs Stephen Denmark and Ravarius Rivers, but the pass was just out of his reach.

Valdosta State (14-0) recovered the onside kick and went into the victory formation to preserve its fourth national championship.

But Valdosta got a fight from scrappy Ferris State, making its first appearance in the title game. Ferris State had hopes of being the first Division II school to win basketball and football titles in the same calendar year.

Shaw, who earlier had set a title-game record with an 80-yard touchdown pass to Craig, said Ferris State had run the conversion play many times in practice and felt that it fit the occasion.

"It was intended for Keyondre all the way, but we just couldn't make it work," Shaw said.

Ferris State coach Tony Annese said the play was one of eight two-point conversion plays that his defense practices against.

"This was the first one we pulled out (this season) — 0-for-1," he said. "In the end, I told them it was my fault we lost because we probably should have had a better two-point conversion play."

Valdosta coach Kerwin Bell said his defense had practiced against that particular play — a lot.

"That was a great, great play by our defense because we stopped their first option, which was in the flat. We covered that," Bell said. "Then they had a guy running along the back of the end zone. And he had a chance, but it was a little bit high and wide. When that happened, I was ready to celebrate."

Ferris State receiver Davontae Harrington runs the ball against Valdosta State's Raymond Palmer during the first half of Ferris State's 49-47 loss in the Division II championship in McKinney, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. (Photo: Rose Baca, AP)

The game was not without controversy in the closing minutes.

Valdosta sophomore quarterback Rogan Wells' pass to Joe Fortson with 2:28 left looked like interference and a flag was thrown. But the officials conferred and picked up the flag.

That brought up fourth down, and Rogan's slant pass to Fortson was broken up and nearly intercepted by Ferris State's John Higgins.

Ferris State drove 66 yards in five plays and scored on Barnett's run to set up the closing drama.

Valdosta and Ferris State marched up and down the McKinney ISD Stadium turf. There were seven lead changes in the first three quarters. The two teams combined for 945 yards and 53 first downs.

But Valdosta did break serve, getting a game-turning interception by Alex Brown to help the Blazers open the game's first two-score edge.

Wells finished runner-up to Campbell for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the best player in Division II, but he got the last laugh.

Before a crowd of 4,306 in a high-end high school stadium at this Dallas suburb and ESPNU audience, Wells found enough space in Ferris State's secondary to pass for five touchdowns and catch one himself. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 349 yards and five touchdowns. He tied the NCAA Division II Championship Game record with five touchdown passes.

Campbell was no slouch. He rushed for 122 yards, but was only 10-for-18 passing for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Campbell's touchdown pass came on a wacky deflection, off of a Valdosta State defender who was falling out of bounds, and to Craig for 13 yards.

Campbell, of Detroit Cass Tech, was not made available for interviews after the game.

Ferris State's Jackson Dieterle kicked two goals with his first being a 52-yarder, the longest in title-game history.

Bell was just glad to get out of Texas with a championship.

"They really stretched our defense in a lot of areas," he said. "But we made that one play we needed to make to win the championship."

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