Dec. 3, 2005

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #1 Ranked Grand Valley State scored 34 first-quarter points and cruised to a 55-20 NCAA DII National Semifinal victory at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale Saturday afternoon. Grand Valley State will now appear in its fourth NCAA DII National Championship game in the last five years. GVSU lost the 2001 title game, but won back-to-back DII National Championships in 2002 and 2003.

"I'm so proud of how this team has competed and played together as a team for 15 weeks," said second-year head coach Chuck Martin. "This group is so close on both sides of the ball and they compete with one another to make each other better," added Martin.

Grand Valley State took the opening kickoff and drove 87 yards in seven plays for a a TD. Brandon Langston finished the drive with an 18 yard TD run at the 11:39 mark of the first quarter. Langston continued his stellar play when he blocked a punt on East Stroudsburg's second straight three and out. QB Cullen Finnerty found Langston all alone over the middle in endzone for a 22-yard TD and a 14-0 Laker lead. That was the first of four consecutive touchdowns for the Lakers. RB Astin Martin scored from one yard out to put the finishing touches on a 4-play, 64-yard drive and Brandon Carr returned a fumble 40 yards for a TD to give GVSU a 27-0 lead. Grand Valley State put the finishing touches on an incredible first quarter when Finnerty hit Langston on a fly pattern that covered 81 yards on the final play of the first quarter for a score. The Lakers' 34 first quarter points set a GVSU playoff record for points in a quarter, breaking the previous mark of 31 (2nd Q) set in 2002 versus Indiana (Pa.). RB Ryan Hukill put GVSU up 41-0 with 8:20 left in the second quarter when he finished a 9-play, 79-yard drive with a 5-yard shovel pass for a TD. East Stroudsburg's only points in the first half came following a Finnerty interception that was returned to the Laker 20. Jim Terwilliger ran it in from two yards out for the Warriors first score. GVSU's 41 first half points were the second most in a half for a playoff game behind the 51 put up against Indiana (Pa.) in 2002.

GVSU sacked Terwilliger seven times in the opening 30 minutes and limited the Warriors to just 150 yards of total offense. ESU was held to -1 yard rushing on 17 carries and Terwilliger completed just 10-of-27 passes for 151 yards. GVSU dominated the game offensively, racking up 409 yards of total offense. Finnerty completed 10-of-14 passes for 241 yards and three TDs, while Astin Martin rushed for 73 yards and one TD on 14 carries. Langston caught four passes for 148 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 18 yards and one TD.

Martin opened the second half with a 44 yard TD run to put the Lakers up 48-7. Martin's TD run capped a 5-play, 82-yard scoring drive. ESU added third and fourth quarter TDs, but GVSU's Brandon Carr returned an onside kick 47 yards for the final score of the day. GVSU ran the ball 26 times in the second half and attempted just one pass.

GVSU rolled up 562 yards of total offense on the day, including 320 rushing and 242 passing. The Laker starting offensive unit finished its day midway through the third quarter. Martin broke the 100-yard rushing mark for the ninth time this season with 134 yards and two TDs on 18 carries. Ryan Hukill rushed for 90 yards on nine carries, while Mark Catlin chipped in 51 yards on nine carries. Finnerty completed 10-fo-14 passes for 241 yards and three TDs, while rushing for 39 yards on four carries.

The Laker defense was dominating, sacking the Harlon Hill Finalist, Jimmy Terwilliger, 10 times for a -42 yards. ESU finished with 10 net rushing yards. Terwilliger completed 24-of-47 passes for 287 yards and two TDs, with most of that yardage coming when the outcome of the game was already decided. Sophomore LB Anthony Adams recorded 10 tackles, three tackles for loss (-20) and two QB sacks (-19). Kirk Carruth chipped in seven tackles and sack, while Dan Skuta added six tackles and a QB sack. All-American and Gene Upshaw Award finalist Mike McFadden tallied five tackles, four tackles for loss (-13) and three QB sacks (-12). CB Brandon Carr returned a fumble 40 yards for a TD and recorded five tackles. GVSU notched 11 pass deflections and 13 tackles for loss (-72 yards).

Notes... Grand Valley State is 16-2 in its last 18 playoff games...The GVSU senior class improved to 50-4 in four years...GVSU is 69-5 in its last 74 football games...Brandon Langston moved into 9th in all-time points scored with 204...Cullen Finnerty moved past Jeff Fox (9,237) into second in all-time total offense with 9, 257 yards...Astin Martin's 1,283 rushing yards is fifth on the single-season rushing yards list...Defensive lineman Mike McFadden's three QB sacks gives him 28 in his career, the second-best career total behind Joe Huhn's 29. McFadden's total of 18 in 2005 is the top single-season total...Offensive tackle Josh Bourke will appear in his fourth NCAA DII title game. Bourke, who sat out the 2004 season with a knee injury, appeared in the 2001, 02 and 03 title games.