ARKADELPHIA -- It was snowing outside the office of Ferris State football Coach Tony Annese earlier in the week in Big Rapids, Mich.
"You should see it," Annese said, describing the scene outside his office window before hitting the practice field. "We've had enough of it."
Annese said he and his Bulldogs (13-0) were ready for climate change, even if it meant hitting the road, more than 900 miles south to Cliff Harris Stadium, to play Ouachita Baptist (12-0) today.
Kickoff for the NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinal is 1 p.m. with clear skies and mid-60s temperatures in the forecast.
At stake is a spot in the national semifinals, but the winner won't know its next opponent until the final four are reseeded after today's games.
"I think we're looking forward to playing on the road," said Annese, whose Bulldogs utilized their home-field advantage in the first two rounds. "Sometimes, it's just good to play on the road."
Ouachita head coach Todd Knight said he understood where Annese was coming from, even if he didn't really believe it.
"I think every coach going is to spin it whatever way he needs to," said Knight, whose Tigers beat Indianapolis, 35-7, in Arkadelphia a week ago for the program's first Division II playoff victory. "I'm thrilled we're playing at home."
Ouachita is the No. 1 seed in Super Region 3 and gained the top seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage when Ferris State, as expected, was docked for playing an ineligible player early in the season.
Ferris State was No. 2 and Ouachita was No. 4 in the final American Football Coaches Association's Top 25 poll of the regular season. Annese said there was no dismay when Ouachita and Ferris State swapped spots in Super Region 3 when the final rankings came out on Nov. 11.
"We knew that was going to happen back on Sept. 28," Annese said, when word broke of the ineligible player. "We didn't know we were going to go undefeated. ... I was just happy to get the No. 2 seed."
Knight said playing at home after a week off was the best path for the Tigers' to make a run in the playoffs, something they have not done. It was Ouachita that traveled to Big Rapids in the first round last season, and the Bulldogs prevailed, 24-19.
Today's matchup marks the fourth time Ferris State has played an Arkansas opponent from the Great American Conference in 12 months, and the Bulldogs are 2-1.
They lost to Harding, 20-17, in last season's quarterfinals, then held off the Bisons (9-3), 21-19, two weeks ago and defeated Northwest Missouri State (10-3), 27-21, a week ago.
That victory produced an unusual story line.
Ferris State won without star quarterback Jayru Campbell, one of nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Award, and catalyst of an offense that averages more points, 38.7, than Ouachita, 34.8 and more yards in total offense, 496.0-392.2.
Campbell injured his non-throwing shoulder when scoring a second-quarter touchdown two weeks ago against Harding. He remained in the game, but Annese said Campblell was not at full strength and was unable to practice in the days leading up to last week's game.
Annese, of course, was coy about Campbell's availability for today's game.
"There's a chance," Annese said.
If not, Ouachita might have to deal with a three-man rotation used by the Bulldogs last week.
Junior Travis Russell (6-11 passing, 147; 15-80 rushing, TD), took most of the snaps, but he was supplemented by Evan Cummins (7-34 rushing, TD), Bret Mooney (3-8 passing, 69) and even slot receiver Jevan Shaw, who threw a 71-yard pass on the game's first play to stun Northwest Missouri.
Ouachita is preparing for Campbell, a long-striding quarterback with accounted for 43 touchdowns during the Bulldogs' first 12 games.
"He can take it to the house on any play," said Ouachita defensive coordinator Roy Thompson.
Tiger defenders Jon Johnson, Dameyun McDonald and Keandre Evans said earlier this week they are ready for Campbell or whatever the Bulldogs throw at them.
"We know what's he's capable of," Evans said. "But we know what we're capable of."
Ouachita's defensive resume includes being ranked No. 1 in points allowed at 9.4 per game, No. 1 in net punting at 39.9 yards per kick, No. 4 in interceptions with 19, No. 5 in red-zone scoring percentage at .592, No. 16 in turnovers created with 25 and No. 16 in total defense 292.9 yards.
Annese said he is aware of Ouachita's defensive excellence, but it's not the reason the Bulldogs arrived in Little Rock on Thursday and practiced twice at Little Rock Catholic High School.
Annese said he wanted to make sure his team had a chance to acclimate to the 70-degree temperatures and matching humidity that greeted his team.
"Our guys were really energetic," Annese said of Thursday's practice. "Then, they found out they weren't used to it."
Sports on 12/01/2018