Oct. 12, 2002

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Wet and cold conditions did not slow down the #1 Lakers as they jumped out to a 41-0 lead and cruised to a 51-14 victory over Northern Michigan at Lubbers Stadium on Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of 9,560. The Lakers rolled up 458 yards of total offense with 262 yards rushing and 196 yards through the air. Senior QB Curt Anes threw for three touchdowns including two to senior WR David Kircus and Reggie Spearmon tallied three touchdowns of his own to lead the Laker offense. GVSU, the #1 team in the AFCA Top 25, improves to 5-0 on the year and 4-0 in the GLIAC. NMU suffered their first GLIAC loss and falls to 4-2 overall.

GVSU started the scoring at 7:53 left in the first quarter as Spearmon finished off a 12-play, 98-yard drive with a two-yard scoring plunge. The defense added the next score as DB Lucius Hawkins picked off a Kyle Swenor pass and returned it 57-yards for a touchdown.

The second quarter started with more of the same as GVSU drove 71 yards on 14 plays with the drive being capped by a Anes to Kircus five yard scoring strike. The Lakers made it 28-0 going into halftime when Spearmon scored his second TD of the game on a 12-yard reception from Anes.

The Lakers scored on three plays to open the third quarter when Spearmon took it in from 3-yards out. Anes connected with Kircus from for his second TD of the game to make the score 41-0 with 8:42 left in the third quarter. After a GV fumble, the Wildcats got on the board when Terrell Goldsmith took the first play 13-yards for a TD. Dave Hendrix finished off the third quarter scoring with a 22-yard field goal.

Brandon Langston was the story in the fourth quarter as he rushed for a 149 yards on 12 carries including a 79 scoring scamper that made the score 51-7 with 11:15 left in the game. NMU finished the scoring as Corey Woods tallied a four-yard rushing TD for the final result.

Anes completed 14 of 25 passes for 196 yards with the three TD's. Kircus caught five passes for 75 yards to go with his two TD's, while Terrance Banks also had five catches for 75 yards. Reggie Spearmon carried the ball 15 times for 80 yards, with two rushing TD's and a touchdown reception.

Lucius Hawkins ended up with two interceptions including one he returned for a touchdown. The Laker defense tallied five sacks and also forced two fumbles with Joe Ballard and Matt Yoches on the recoveries. Orlando Williams led the defense with eight tackles.

The win sets up a showdown with undefeated SVSU who is ranked #4 in the latest AFCA poll. GVSU will travel to University Center for a noon kickoff in the GLIAC showdown.