Oct. 2, 2004

Box Score

Grand Valley State, the number one ranked team in DII football, continued its winning ways with a 34-0 victory over Wayne State Saturday in Detroit. The Lakers have now won 23 straight road games and improved to 52-2 in their last 54 games. GVSU has also been ranked number one in the country in 30 of the last 35 AFCA coaches polls.

The Laker offense struggled in the first quarter despite gaining possession of the ball in Warrior territory four times. Scott Greene kicked a 30- yard field goal at the 5:58 mark of the first quarter to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. Cullen Finnerty scrambled in from 16 yards out and Greene added the PAT to give the Lakers a 10-0 lead. GVSU's Brandon Langston recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that Lucius Hawkins forced to give the Lakers possession on the Warrior 23 yard line. However, the Wayne State defense held and blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt by Greene.

Greene culminated a nine-play, 35- yard drive with a 27-yard field goal, his second of the day early in the second quarter. FS DeJuane Boone intercepted a pass at the Warrior 36 yard line to give GVSU possession in WSU Territory. Brandon Langston scored on a 19 yard run five plays later to give the Lakers a 20-0 lead with 8:19 left in the second quarter. CB Marvis Bryant picked off the Lakers' second pass of the day at the WSU 42 and returned it to the 28. Finnerty hit Langston with a nine yard TD pass and Greene added the PAT to give GVSU a 27-0 lead. The Lakers drove 52 yards in eight plays to close the first half. Finnerty hit freshman WR Demonte Collins with a nine yard TD pass with 20 seconds left in the second quarter to give GVSU a 34-0 lead. For the GVSU starters it also marked the end of their day as the Laker reserves played the entire second half.

The Laker defense held WSU to 21 yards and no first downs on 24 plays in the opening 30 minutes. Wayne States recorded its first first down at the 13:41 mark of the fourth quarter.

Finnerty completed 15-of-26 passes for 129 yards and two TDs in the first half. He also rushed for a TD. Backup Jeff Dock completed 8-of-13 passes for 40 yards. The Lakers rushed for 244 yards led by Brandon Ryan's 88 yards on 10 carries. Ryan Hukill rushed for 64 yards on 16 carries and WR Preston Garris toted the ball 11 times for 59 yards. Brandon Langston caught six passes for 47 yards and a TD, while rushing for 24 yards and a TD on two carries.

The Laker defense held Wayne State to 69 total yards and three first downs. The Warriors rushed 22 times for 13 yards, while completing just 9-of-26 passes for 56 yards. GVSU picked off two passes and recovered one fumble.

Notes: Freshman receiver Demonte Collins has caught a TD pass in all five games played this season...GVSU is now yielding just 7.8 points per game...GVSU has limited 13 of its last 19 opponents to 100 yards rushing or less..