Oct. 30, 2004

Box Score

Marquette, Mich. - #19 Grand Valley State was able to get back on the winning track Saturday night in Marquette, Michigan with a convincing 45-29 victory over Northern Michigan before a crowd of 2,971 in the Superior Dome. GVSU moves to 7-2 overall and in league play with the victory. The Lakers head into the final game of the season versus Michigan Tech in Ann Arbor needing a win to have any chance at a NCAA DII playoff berth.

Grand Valley State took advantage of a Lucius Hawkins interception in the opening quarter. The Lakers drove 46 yards in 6 plays as sophomore QB Cullen Finnerty went the final two yards for the TD. PK Scott Greene added the PAT and GVSU had its first lead in two games. Northern Michigan kicked a 23 yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the first quarter to culminate a 12-play, 54-yard drive. However, Finnerty hit Brandon Langston with a 59 yard TD pass on the first play of the second quarter to put the Lakers up 14-3 after the Greene PAT. Greene added a 39 yard field goal midway through the second quarter to give GVSU a 17-3 lead and Finnerty hit Demonte Collins with a 47 yard pass play for a TD with 33 seconds left in the first half to give the Lakers a 24-3 lead. The drive was 80 yards in 4 plays and was set up by a Marvis Bryant interception in the endzone.

GVSU forced a punt on the Wildcats first possession and then drove 88 yards in 7 plays for a TD as Michael Tennessee scored on a 15 yard run to give GVSU a 31-3 lead. Tennessee became the Lakers second all-time leading rusher (3,178) on the drive, passing former Laker great Jamie Hosford. Northern Michigan drove 65 yards for a TD as Kelly Reed hit Chris Messano with an 8 yard TD pass. Keyonta Marshall blocked the PAT and GVSU led 31-9. GVSU answered with another long TD drive, this one covering 80 yards in 6 plays. Tennessee scored his second rushing TD of the game as toted the ball in from two yards out. Finnerty hit Langston with a 32 yard pass play and Ryan Hukill added a 43 yard run to put the Lakers in scoring position. Northern Michigan scored on the first play of the fourth quarter and added a two point conversion to pull within 38-17. After Lucius Hawkins recovered the onside kick, Finnerty hit Langston with a 43 yard TD pass to put the Lakers up 45-17. Northern Michigan added a pair of TD's in the final two minutes against the Laker reserve defense for the final margin.

GVSU averaged an incredible 9.2 yards per play with 516 yards on 56 plays. The Laker offense used a balanced attack with a season-high 252 yards rushing and 264 yards passing. Cullen Finnerty completed 8-of-13 passes for 264 yards and three TDs. Finnerty averaged an amazing 33.0 yards per completion. WR Brandon Langston hauled in five catches for 170 yards (34.0 ypr) and two TDs, while rushing for 35 yards on four carries. Michael Tennessee led the rushing game with 88 yards and two TDs on 21 carries. Ryan Hukill added 65 yards on three carries and Finnerty rushed for 43 yards and a TD on seven totes. DeJuane Boone led the Laker defense with 13 tackles, while Justin Ulberg chipped in 10 stops. The Laker defense picked off a pair of passes and recorded seven tackles for loss. Tennessee moved into second place on the all-time rushing list as he enters the Michigan Tech contest with 3,216 yards rushing.