Aug. 28, 2004

Box Score

Big Rapids, Mich. - #1 Grand Valley State, the two-time NCAA Division II National Champions, forced seven Ferris State turnovers en route to a 24-6 season-opening win Saturday (Aug. 28) in Big Rapids. The win was the first for first-year head coach Chuck Martin and the 48th in the Lakers' last 50 games.

"I'm extremely proud of how we competed tonight against a good Ferris State team. The offensive line did an outstanding job and our defense made a lot of big plays," said Martin.

The Lakers scored the first three times they had the ball. The first two scores came after Ferris State turnovers and the third covered 91 yards following a punt. The Lakers drove 82 yards in 10 plays on its first possession as junior Ryan Hukill scored on a six-yard run. Senior defensive end Aaron Hein set up the scoring drive when he recovered a FSU fumble on the Laker 18. GVSU's All-American defensive tackle Keyonta Marshall then recovered another fumble on the GVSU 46 yard line on the Bulldog's next possession. Six plays and 54 yards later, GVSU took a 14-0 lead when QB Cullen Finnerty hit freshman receiver Demonte Collins with a 33-yard TD reception on a fourth and six play from the Ferris State 33. GVSU then drove 91 yards in 16 plays as Finnerty culminated the 7:10 drive with a one-yard TD run to give the Lakers a 21-0 lead. GVSU went up 24-0 with a Scott Greene 37 yard field goal in the third quarter. FSU scored its only TD in the fourth quarter when WR Carlton Brewster hauled in a 10-yard TD reception. The TD was the first the Laker defense yielded in 15 quarters.

Tennessee led the ground game with 159 yards on 39 carries, while also catching seven passes for 38 yards. Finnerty completed 17-of-23 passes for 164 yards and one TD. Collins caught six passes for 76 yards, while Mark Catlin hauled in three passes for 28 yards. Lucius Hawkins intercepted two passes, notched on pass deflection and recorded 5.5 tackles. Marshall recovered two fumbles and recorded 1.5 tackles for loss.DeJuane Boon and Zach Jones each recorded interceptions for the Laker defense. FSU managed just 74 yards via the ground and was limited to 280 yards of total offense.

"This was a great way to start the season, but we have a lot of work to do offensively," said Tennessee. "The offensive line was outstanding and our defense just made plays like they always do," added the Harlon Hill Candidate. GVSU, which has now won 21 straight road games, will continue its road journey with a contest in Erie, Penn. Sept. 4 at Gannon. The game will be GVSU's eighth consecutive road game.