Oct. 22, 2005

Box Score

Midland, Mich. - #1-ranked Grand Valley State claimed a 30-14 victory at #5 Northwood Saturday afternoon in Midland, Mich. GVSU improves to 8-0 overall and in GLIAC action, while Northwood falls to 7-2 (6-2 GLIAC). The win was also the Lakers' second straight over a top 5 opponent.

GVSU opened the game on the offensive attack and never slowed down, racking up 561 yards of total offense. The Lakers drove 71 yards in 14 plays on their opening drive which resulted in a Scott Greene 26 yard field goal. Northwood scored on the first play of the second quarter when QB Nick Gildersleeve hit Yared Yearby with a 7-yard scoring pass. The 4-play, 14-yard drive was set up when QB Cullen Finnerty fumbled a handoff to RB Astin Martin that was recovered by the Timberwolves. The Lakers struck back quickly when Finnerty hit WR Brandon Langston on a 60 yard fly pattern down the middle of the field for a TD to put GVSU up 10-7. The Lakers missed two scoring opportunities late in second quarter with a lost fumble at the Northwood five and a missed field goal with no time remaining in the first half. GVSU put up 331 yards of total offense in the first half, but led by just three (10-7).

Northwood took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 71 yards in nine plays for a TD. QB Kyle Kolbe ran it in from 18 yards to put the Timberwolves up 14-10. The Lakers answered quickly again, driving 77 yards in six plays for a TD. Brandon Langston accounted for 60 of the 77 yards and finished drive with a 7-yard TD run. GVSU uppped its lead to 23-14 with a 7-play, 57-yard TD drive. Finnerty went the final six yards to paydirt, but the Greene PAT was blocked. GVSU put the finishing touches on the victory with a 5-play, 33-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter as Finnerty rambled in four yards out. All 33 yards came via the ground.

Grand Valley State dominated the game statistically, outgaining Northwood 561-216. RB Astin Martin notched his seventh 100-yard rushing game with 125 yards on 30 carries. Finnerty rushed for 99 yards on 16 carries, while Brandon Langston added 38 and Ryan Hukill 35 on the ground. Finnerty completed 15-of-26 passes for 263 yards and one TD. Eric Fowler caught a career-high eight passes for 89 yards, while Langston hauled in three passes for 126 yards and a TD. GVSU rushed for 298 yards and threw for 263 yards.

As dominent as the Laker offense was, the Laker defense was equally as impressive. GVSU limited the Northwood rushing game that came into the contest averaging 291 yards per game to just 129 yards, its lowest output since a 52-yard outing in the NCAA playoffs a year earlier against the Lakers. Three NU quarterbacks completed 10-of-19 passes for 87 yards. LB Matt Beaty led the way with 10 tackles, followed by Anthony Adams' seven stops. DL Justin Ulberg added six stops, while Mike McFadden recorded a QB sack in his eighth straight game.

Grand Valley State will Northern Michigan next Saturay (Oct. 29) in a 7 p.m. Homecoming contest at Lubbers Stadium.

Notes....GVSU improved to 59-5 overall since the 2001 season and 42-3 in GLIAC action...The Laker senior class is 46-4 in their careers...