Sept. 13, 2003

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #1Grand Valley State opened the 2003 GLIAC season with a resounding 40-10 victory over West Michigan rival Ferris State Saturday night. GVSU (2-0, 1-0 GLIAC) has now won 16 straight games overall, 28 straight regular season games, 25 straight GLIAC games and 23 straight home games.

GVSU scored first as Michael Tennessee capped an 11-play, 69-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run on the Lakers' opening drive. FSU answered quickly after a 59-yard kickoff return by Andrew Terry. QB Tom Marsan hit Carlton Brewster with a 20-yard scoring pass to tie the game. Tom Perez hit a 34-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs up 10-7. GVSU freshman wideout Micah Staley hauled in a 34-yard scoring pass from QB Cullen Finnerty to put the Lakers up 14-10 and David Hendrix added a 48-yard field goal with one second left in the half to give the Lakers a 17-10 lead after 30 minutes. The Hendrix FG was set up by a 56-yard interception return by CB Marvis Bryant.

Tennessee put the Lakers up 24-10 after he hauled in a shovel pass and took it 69 yards for a score. Hendrix added a 24 yard field goal before the Laker defense took over. Senior CB Dion Charity picked off a Marsan pass and returned it 46 yards for a TD and just over a minute later senior LB Dustin Cole picked off another pass and returned it 46 yards for the final margin of 40-10.

The Laker defense limited the Bulldogs to 168 yards of total offense, including just 56 yards via the ground. GVSU limited just 34 yards rushing to Derek Fudge who gained over 270 yards versus Hillsdale one week earlier. GVSU toted the ball 51 times for 248 yards. Tennessee led the ground game with 99 yards on 28 carries. Finnerty added 82 yards on 12 carries. Finnerty completed 15 of 27 passes for 187 yards and two TDs. Freshman receiver Mark Catlin caught a team-high seven passes for 13 yards, while Staley hauled in three passes for 64 yards and a TD. Dustin Cole led the defense with seven tackles. GVSU ran 23 more plays than the Bulldogs and gained 435 yards of total offense.

A record crowd of 12, 627 watched the game from Lubbers Stadium.