BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Roosevelt received a rude welcome to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 55-13 setback against No. 5 Ferris State in the league opener for both squads Saturday in Big Rapids, Mich.

The Lakers' opening drive ended in Ferris State territory and the Roosevelt defense forced on a punt on its first series on the field. However, the Bulldogs struck with a chunk play late in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead then doubled the advantage early in the second quarter. Mauricio Escudero knocked home a 35-yard field goal to make it 14-3 and change the momentum for a brief moment.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ferris State dropped the kick and a pair of penalties against the Bulldogs – one accepted and one declined – set back Ferris State to its own 5-yard line. On the only play on the drive, Jourdan Powell forced a fumble into the end zone and Dale Dambek fell on top of it to make it 14-10 in the Bulldogs' favor.

That was as close as the Lakers would get to the No. 5 team in the country as the Bulldogs tacked on two more touchdowns before halftime. Ferris State would also add two touchdowns in the third and two more in the fourth while the Lakers managed only a 30-yard Escudero field goal.

Carson Budke was 21 of 35 for 154 yards and was kept clean by the Lakers offensive line, that did not allow a sack. Cyrus Zuell ran 22 times for 78 yards in the loss and Keonta Nixon led Roosevelt's receivers with five catches for 56 yards. Jaylen Olokun led the Lakers defense with six tackles, including two for a loss, and Powell added a pair of pass breakups to his forced fumble.

UP NEXT: The Lakers finally return home to Morris Field next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff against Saginaw Valley State.