Oct. 19, 2002
Final Stats
Allendale, Mich. - The game lived up to the hype with two of the top teams in the nation battling down to the wire but it was the #1 Lakers prevailing with a 23-18 victory over #3 SVSU on Saturday at Wickes Stadium in University Center, Mich. GVSU opened up a 14-0 lead at halftime with two Curt Anes to David Kircus touchdowns. The Cardinals made some big plays in the second half to cut the lead down to 23-18 with 2:28 left in the game, but the Laker offense tallied two first downs to run out the clock and earn the victory. The Lakers take over sole possession of first place in the GLIAC standings with a 5-0 record, while they are 6-0 overall. It was the 22nd straight victory for the Lakers which ties a school record. The Cardinals are now 6-1 on the year and 5-1 in conference play.
The Lakers took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards on seven plays to open up an early 7-0 lead. Anes hooked up with Kircus for a 20-yard scoring strike to finish off the drive. After several stops by the GVSU defense Anes and the offense drove 80 yards in 3:37 on 11 plays to add another TD. Anes hit Kircus from seven yards to make the score 14-0 with 13:59 left in the half and the two defenses prevented any more scoring to keep the score the same at the intermission.
GVSU increased the lead as Dave Hendrix knocked down a 40 yard field goal to make the score 17-0 with 6:04 remaining in the third period. SVSU put up their first points on the scoreboard with a 27-yard field goal after a 10 play, 47-yard drive.
SVSU cut even further into the Laker lead when the Cardinal senior QB Matt LaFleur connected with Travis alpine for a 10-yard TD. SVSU then added the two-point conversion after Ruvell Martin took a bad snap and ran in for the conversion to make the score 17-11 with 8:46 left.
After a 49-yard kickoff return by Terrance Banks, the GVSU offense responded with a scoring drive of their own as the Lakers took the ball 46 yards to open up a 23-11 lead. Brent Lesniak scored the TD when he punched it in from 8 yards out with 6:26 left in the game. After the failed two-point effort the score was 23-11.
LaFleur and the Cardinal offense made a big play to cut the lead to 23-17 when the senior connected with Martin on fourth down for a 25-yard touchdown. The extra point finished the scoring at 23-17 with 2:28 to go. GVSU took over on the 30-yard line after the kickoff. On third down an Anes pass to Terrance Banks drew a pass interference penalty for a first down. After the next two plays garnered six yards, Anes took the ball five for the last first down of the game. GVSU took a knee on the last two plays to drain the final seconds.
Anes completed 20 of 33 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions in the first half. Banks caught nine passes for 106 yards, while Kircus tallied four catches for 52 yards and two scores. Lesniak toted the ball 26 times for 123 yards to lead all rushers in the game.
The Laker defense recorded a school-record 10 sacks for a loss of 52 yards and also tallied 22 tackles for loss. SVSU was held to -22 yards rushing. Orlando Williams led the GVSU defense with 3.5 sacks and and six tackles for a loss. Keyonta Marshall also tallied 2.5 sacks and and four tackles for a loss.
