Standing in the afterglow of Ferris State's fourth NCAA Division II National Championship in five seasons, senior defensive tackle Sio Saipaia smiled, soaking it in on a confetti-covered field, when asked about his family.

"This is a blessing from the Lord to have my family here for this moment," Sio said, turning his attention to his younger brother, Sefa, who traveled to McKinney ISD Stadium for the top-ranked Bulldogs' 42-21 win over second-ranked Harding in the title game on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Ferris State concluded its 2025 season at 16-0, becoming the first NCAA Division I or II team in the modern era of college football to achieve that feat.

Success ran in the family during the week.

A day earlier, on Dec. 19, Sefa and his Western Michigan teammates claimed a 41-6 win in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Sefa had 10 total tackles, including three solos, as the Broncos ended the season 10-4, including a Mid-American Conference Championship Game victory.

Sefa traveled with his and Sio's family, including parents Blaine and Ruby, from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Dallas, Texas – more than 1,000 miles.

"Sefa's game was so far away, and we weren't sure how it was going to happen, but I'm so blessed that everyone was able to make it," Sio said. "God is so good to take care of my family and allow them to be here. It's amazing, a beautiful moment."

Witnessing Sefa's gridiron success at Western Michigan this season, after wrapping up an accomplished Ferris State football career, has meant the world to big brother Sio.

"I'm just a proud older brother. I'm cheering him on and so happy to see him doing his thing," Sio said. "Words can't describe how proud I am of him."

Sefa, who has 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks for the Broncos, has continued the success that started at Ferris State, where he won multiple NCAA Division II National Championships, taking it to Western Michigan.

Sio has been watching Sefa, a key member of Ferris State's 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship.

"To have my brother do what he's doing, and then for me to be doing what I'm doing is special for our family," said Sio, a 6-foot, 315-pound defensive tackle. "Everything you see is made by the Lord."

For Sefa, there's no place he'd rather have been than cheering on his brother and his former Bulldog teammates.

"This being his last game in college football, I knew this was really important for him, and not just for him. It was important for our family," said Sefa, who got a lot of love on the field after the game from his former Ferris State teammates. "I wouldn't have missed this for anything. After my game on Friday, we got in the car, gassed up, and hit the road for Texas. So, we drove about 16-17 hours straight. We got to Dallas with about an hour to spare, showered up, and got to the stadium."

Football runs in the Saipaia family's blood.

Sio and Sefa's dad, Blaine, played eight seasons in the National Football League with the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions.

The Saipaia family, who sat and stood among more than 10,000 fans in McKinney ISD Stadium on Saturday, knows football and has been locked in supporting their boys.

Sio, who finished his senior season with 24 tackles across 12 games, is grateful and understands the sacrifices his family has made.

"I'm so thankful that my parents can afford to do that to support us," he said. "Family is a blessing. God is good."

Sio added, "I'm blessed. Family means everything."

_{Story and image courtesy of Sandy Gholston and Ferris State Athletics.}