Sept. 28, 2002

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State won their 19th straight regular season game 44-19 over Hillsdale on Saturday (Sept. 28) night at Lubbers Stadium in front of 10,031 fans. WR David Kircus caught three TD's to tie the NCAA DII career touchdowns record at 49 and QB Curt Anes threw for five touchdowns. The Lakers, #1 in the AFCA Top 25, improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Lakers jumped out to a 21-0 lead three minutes into the 2nd quarter, but Hillsdale scored the next 16 points to cut the lead to five. After a fumbled punt return by the Chargers, GVSU marched down the field to increase the lead to 29-16, and then scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

Anes and Kircus hooked up for the first score of the game five minutes into the game on a 10- yard scoring strike. Terrance Banks scored the next two TD's for GVSU on passes of 23 and 15 yards from Anes.

The Chargers got back in the game when RB Kevin Clive, who tallied 118 yards on the ground, rushed for two touchdowns and Matt Menchinger kicked a 40-yard field goal.

After a stalled GVSU drive the Laker special teams made a big play as Melvin Estes recovered a fumbled punt return which led to a 10-yard TD pass from Anes to Kircus. It was not the only big play for the special teams as four minutes later Sidney Lewis blocked a Hillsdale field goal.

The Lakers finished the Chargers off with two scores in the fourth quarter as Reggie Spearmon scored from 13 yards out and Anes hooked up with Kircus for their third TD connection from 17 yards. Hillsdale kicked a 34-yard field goal with 0:35 for the final margin of victory.

Anes completed 20 of 31 passes for 243 yards to go with his five TD's. It was the ninth time in the last 13 games that Curt has thrown five or more touchowns in a game. Banks led the receiving corps with 10 catches for 107 yards while Kircus caught 6 balls for 92 yards. Reggie Spearmon supplied the ground attack with 165 yards on 27 carries.

Scott Mackey recorded 13 tackles with one sack and Dustin Cole posted eight tackles with a sack to lead the defense. Darren Smith picked off a Hillsdale pass, which was the only turnover forced by GVSU.

#1 Grand Valley State travels to Houghton, Mich. next Saturday (Oct. 5) to take on the Michigan Tech at noon in a GLIAC matchup.