Sept. 13, 2009

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Allendale, Mich. - It was a record setting night at Lubbers Stadium and the top-ranked Grand Valley State football team did not disappoint with a convincing 38-7 victory over No. 13 Saginaw Valley State. The Lakers' claimed their 45th straight regular season win and 42nd consecutive GLIAC win before the largest crowd to ever witness a West Michigan outdoor event, a GLIAC record and a Lubbers Stadium record crowd of 16,467. The Lakers will now square off versus Ferris State next Saturday (Sept. 19) in Big Rapids. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Grand Valley State scored on its opening drive for the third straight week, driving 53 yards in nine plays as senior PK Justin Trumble converted a 21-yard field goal. The Laker defense forced a Cardinal punt on its first drive and the GVSU offense went back into action. Senior QB Brad Iciek found junior WR Mike Koster alone in the endzone for 16-yard scoring pass to up the Laker lead to 10-0. The drive was 77 yards in eight plays and consumed 4:01. Following another three-and-out by the Laker defense Iciek hit senior WR Blake Smolen in stride for a 64-yard TD pass and catch that lifted the Laker lead to 17-0 with 4:44 left in the opening quarter.

"We started fast offensively and the defense did a great job of getting the ball back to us," said 6th-year head Chuck Martin who improved to 64-5 as head coach. "Brad did a great job of directing the offense and the offensive line did a great job of protecting him in the pocket."

The Laker defense provided the games first turnover as senior CB Rob Carlisle picked off the first of his two interceptions on the night and gave the Lakers prime field position in SVSU territory. The offense continued to keep the pressure on the reeling Saginaw Valley State defense and it took just three plays to score. Iciek hit senior RB P.T. Gates over the middle with a 29-yard scoring pass and a 24-0 Laker advantage.

Saginaw Valley State scored its only points on the game with a 9-play, 66-yard drive that culminated with a 12-yard scoring pass from Charles Dowdell to Galen Stone. The Lakers answered again, this time with an 11-play, 60-yard scoring drive. Iciek hit Smolen in stride over the middle with a 15-yard scoring pass and GVSU went into the lockerroom with a 31-7 lead.

"I thought we came out ready to play and it showed on both sides of the ball," added Martin.

The only points of the second half came on a 52-yard TD reception by junior WR Ryan Bass from Iciek. Carlisle picked off his second pass of the night and helped the defense hold the Cardinals to just seven points. The Cardinal offense converted just 1-of-4 first downs and 5-of-16 third downs.

Iciek completed 18-of-27 passes for 336 yards and five TDs. His five TDs tied a career-high and gave him a career total of 73. In addition, he moved into fifth on the all-time passing yards chart with 6,069. Smolen hauled in six receptions for 112 yards and two TDs, while Koster chipped in fourth catches for 80 yards. Nine different Lakers caught passes. Jimmy Berezik rushed for 74 yards on 12 carries for GVSU. Defensively, junior DT Danny Richard led the way with eight tackles and two tackles for loss (-8). Justin Victor added eight tackles, while sophomore Zach Breen recorded eight stops. The GVSU defense notched eight tackles for loss and two QB sacks. GVSU tallied 464 yards of total offense, including 365 through the air.

Notes...• Grand Valley State has won 45 consecutive regular season games. The Lakers' last regular season loss was 10/23/04 to Northwood (35-14)...Including the last six games of the 2000 season, the Lakers are 59-3 at home, 46-3 in their last 49 road games and 48-4 in all games away from Lubbers Stadium in their last 52.

• The American Football Coaches Association has released 112 polls since the 2001 season and GVSU has been ranked No. 1 75 times, including an AFCA record 36 straight weeks at No. 1. The AFCA started its coaches' poll in 2000 and the Lakers have opened the season as the No. 1 ranked team six times.

• Grand Valley State has been ranked number one in the country in 75 of the last 99 polls since the opening game of the 2002 season. GVSU has finished the year ranked in the top 10 (2001-2, 2002-1, 2003-1, 2004-9, 2005 -1, 2006-1, 2007-4, 2008-4) in eight straight postseason polls. GVSU has been in the top five 96 times and top 10 101 times.

• Grand Valley State has the second longest streak for consecutive games without being shutout at 205 games. The Lakers were last shutout by Ferris State (23-0) in 1992. Valdosta State's 216 games without being shutout is the longest streak.

• Grand Valley State is 75-3 in its last 78 GLIAC games. The Lakers have won a GLIAC record record 41 straight GLIAC games dating back to the 2004 season. GVSU also held the previous record of 29 from 2001 - 2003. The Lakers' last GLIAC loss was a 35-14 decision to Northwood on 10/23/04 at Lubbers Stadium.