Nov. 26, 2005

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #1-ranked Grand Valley State erased a 14-7 halftime defecit with 10 third quarter points and seven in the fourth en route to a 24-17 victory over #4-ranked Saginaw Valley State in the NCAA DII Northwest Regional final. Grand Valley State advances to its fourth NCAA DII National Semifinal in the last five years next Saturay vs. East Stroudsburg. Grand Valley State is expected to host the semifinal contest and if so the game would be played at 1 p.m. in Lubbers Stadium.

Saginaw Valley State scored first when RB Logan Barnhart rambled in from three yards out on a direct snap from center at the 2:31 mark of the first quarter. PK Bobby Belmonte added the PAT to give the visiting Cardinals a 7-0 lead. Freshman LB Dan Skuta put the Lakers in position for their first points of the game when he picked off a Chris Dougherty pass and returned in 27 yards to the Cardinal 13. Junior LB Cullen Finnerty found junior WR Terry Mitchell in the back of the endzone on second and eight for a TD. Scott Greene added the PAT to tie the game. GVSU looked to run the clock out late in the first half, but Finnerty fumbled the snap from center and SVSU's Derek Volmering recovered the ball at the Laker 20 with 49 seconds left in the opening 30 minutes. SVSU drove down to the Laker eight and Dougherty then hit RB Justin Barcey over the middle for a score to put SVSU up 14-7. The Lakers tallied just 91 yards of total offense in the first half and committed 10 penalties for 63 yards.

GVSU tied the game early in the third quarter with a 12-play, 58-yard scoring drive. GVSU converted a fourth and six play when Finnerty hit Mitchell with a 10 yard completion. The Lakers then faced a fourth and one from the Cardinal 16 when Finnerty faked a run to Astin Martin and found senior TE Jeremy Cochrane all alone over the middle in the endzone for a score. Greene hit the PAT to tie the game at 14-14. The Laker defense forced a three and out to give the Laker offense another shot. Finnerty found junior WR Eric Fowler over the middle with a perfectly thrown 58 yard pass and catch. When GVSU failed to get a first down Greene connected on a 33 yard field goal to give GVSU its first lead of the game (17-14).

Saginaw Valley State turned the ball over on its next two possessions and GVSU took advantage of the second with a 9-play, 44-yard scoring drive. GVSU ran the ball on all nine plays and senior RB Ryan Hukill ended the drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge to put the Lakers up 24-14 with 5:18 left in the game. The Lakers appeared to put the game away when SVSU was forced to punt with 3:37 left. However, the punt was muffed and the Cardinals recovered on the Laker 29. Saginaw Valley State drove to the Laker 6, but on third and one Barnhart was dropped for a 4-yard loss to force a 27-yard field goal by Belmonte. Ryan Hukill recovered the onside kick for GVSU and the Lakers ran out the clock to preserve the victory.

GVSU dominated the second half, churning out 120 rushing yards and 217 yards of total offense. Finnerty was 3-for-9 for 19 yards in the first half, but regrouped at the half and completed 6-of-9 passes for 97 yards. RB Astin Martin broke the 100-yard rushing mark for the eighth time in 11 games with 108 yards on 22 carries. Ryan Hukill added 48 yards and a TD on 11 carries. Finnerty comleted 9-of-18 passes for 116 yards and two TDs. Terry Mitchell caught three passes for 27 yards and Eric Fowler two for 60.

All-American candidate Mike McFadden led the Laker defense with seven tackles, two QB sacks, three tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception. Dan Skuta notched a career-high 13 tackles, picked off a pass and deflected a pass, while CB Brandon Carr notched eight stops. LB Anthony Adams notched seven tackles and recovered a fumble. GVSU forced five turnovers (3 fumble recoveries/2 interceptions) and recorded six tackles for loss.

Notes...Grand Valley State improved to 15-2 since 2001 in the NCAA playoffs...GVSU is 68-5 since the sixth game of the 2000 season with back-to-back National Championships (2002-2003). The Lakers are 49-3 in GLIAC action since sixth game of the 2000 season and its senior class enters is 49-4 following the SVSU contest.