Nov. 27, 2004

Box Score

Grand Forks, ND. - For the third time in four years the final score was determined by four points or less when Grand Valley State and North Dakota met on the gridiron. The 2004 contest was won by the Fighting Sioux by a 19-15 score and UND now advances to play #1 Pittsburg State next Saturday. Grand Valley State concludes the year 10-3 overall and the Laker senior class finishes their careers with a 51-5 playing career record and two National Championships.

North Dakota scored first with an 11-play, 54-yard drive that resulted in a Jeff Glas 28 yard field goal. UND gained control of the ball after stopping the Lakers on a fourth and one play in Fighting Sioux territory. Aaron Hein kept the Lakers close when he blocked a 43-yard field goal by Jeff Glas after the fighting Sioux drove to the Laker 26 yard line in the second quarter.

GVSU got on the board late in the second quarter when sophomore QB Cullen Finnerty hit freshman Demonte Collins with a 31 yard TD pass with 1:13 left in the first half to give GVSU its first lead of the game. Scott Greene added the PAT to give the Lakers a 7-3 lead at the half. The TD drive culminated a 7-play, 74-yard drive to took 3:27 off the clock.

The Lakers' Ryan Hukill fumbled on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, but the GVSU defense held and forced a punt. Following a downed punt at the Laker four yard line, the Lakers Matt Regnery got GVSU out of trouble with a punt out the Sioux 41 yard line. However, GVSU forced another three and out to force another punt. Neither team was able to mount a scoring threat on its following two possessions.

Brandon Langston downed a 36 yard Matt Regnery punt at the North Dakota one yard line with 5:55 left in the third quarter and the GVSU defense got on the board when Adam Roland was tackled in the endzone on the Fighting Sioux's first play. Anthony Adams was credited with the safety.

Senior safety DeJuane Boone thwarted another second half Sioux drive with an interception at the Laker five. North Dakota drove 34 yards in nine plays before Glas booted a 37 yard field goal to pull the Fighting Sioux within three (9-6) early in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers struck back when Brandon Langston took a swing pass from Finnerty and raced 76 yards to paydirt to put the Lakers up 15-6. The PAT was missed following a bad snap from center.

The Fighting Sioux answered quickly with a 68 yard TD drive that took 41 seconds. Brandon Strouth capped the drive with a 24 yard TD run. However, the PAT was missed and GVSU maintained a three point lead (15-12). The TD was the first UND scored against the Laker defense in the last seven quarters dating back to the 2003 National Championship game.

North Dakota scored the game-winner on a Chris Belmore two yard run for a TD at the 4:59 mark of the fourth quarter. The drive was set up when Finnerty was sacked and fumbled.

Finnerty completed 13-of-26 passes for 225 yards and two TDs. Brandon Langston rushed for 75 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes for 92 yards. Freshman receiver Demonte Collins caught five passes for 87 yards. Matt Regnery averaged 46 yards on eight punts. Marvis Bryant led the Laker defense with 11 tackles, while Rory Steinbech talled seven tackles. DeJuane Boone and Derrick Phillips each recorded interceptions. GVSU recorded eight tackles for loss (-18).