Jared Bernhardt, the 2021 Tewaaraton Award winner and one of Maryland’s all-time great lacrosse players, took to the gridiron for the first time as an NCAA athlete Thursday night.

To say he fit right in would be an understatement.

Bernhardt, a former high school quarterback at Lake Brantley (Fla.) High School before spending his undergraduate years at College Park, suited up for Division II powerhouse Ferris State and dominated — not unlike how he’d cook defenders on the lacrosse field.

Bernhardt completed 12 of 14 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 120 yards and four touchdowns, leading Ferris State to a 54-14 win over Findlay. All four of his rushing touchdowns came in the first half. All of Ferris’ scoring happened in the first three quarters.

“I give credit to the line, all those other guys,” Bernhardt said in a postgame press conference. “I’m new, so those guys are helping me see the reads. Obviously, the offensive line did a great job.”

Getting the start at quarterback (even though all three QBs played Thursday), Bernhardt scored his first NCAA touchdown on a run-pass option that he chose to keep. He cut through the middle of the defense for a short TD run in the first quarter.

Jared Bernhardt doing Jared Bernhardt things. If you know @Jared_bernhardt this doesn’t surprise you. He’s always been a winner. #bethebest #1 pic.twitter.com/E6Mn74m1VB

— John Tillman (@CoachTillman1) September 3, 2021