Sept. 17, 2005

Box Score

Ashland, Ohio - #2 Grand Valley State needed a big play in the fourth quarter and a big play was delivered by junior QB Cullen Finnerty and senior tight end Jeremy Cochrane. Trailing 10-7 late in the fourth quarter Finnerty scrambled to his right and found Cochrane all alone at the five yard line for a 45 yard pass and catch for a TD to give GVSU the lead for good with 8:06 left in the game. PK Scott Greene added the PAT to put the Lakers in front 14-10. The Laker defense then delivered by thwarting a late Ashland drive and stopping a fourth down pass play with 2:04 left in the game. GVSU improves to 4-0 overall and GLIAC action, while Ashland falls to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in GLIAC action.

Grand Valley State and Ashland started the game with fireworks, as each team drove quickly down the field on its open possession. Ashland took the opening kickoff and drove to the Lakers' 14 yard line, but Heath Studer missed a 32 yard field goal wide left. The Lakers drove impressively down the field on their opening drive and faced a third and goal from the five, however Finnerty was unable to connect with Antione Trent in the back of the endzone, and Scott Greene then missed a 22 yard field goal to negate the potential scoring drive.

The Lakers put points on the board first when WR Eric Fowler hauled in a 12 yard TD reception from Finnerty on the first play of the second quarter. Scott Greene added the PAT to give GVSU a 7-0 lead. The TD pass culminated a 7-play, 63-yard drive that took just 2:26. Ashland got on the board when the Lakers were forced to punt from deep in their own territory and Devon Cornwell the Matt Regnery punt and Rock Lewis returned it six yards for a TD. Studer added the PAT to tie the game at 7-7.

The Lakers missed several scoring opportunities in the opening half, including a Finnerty fumble into the endzone that Ashland recovered for a touchback. The Lakers dominated the opening half statistically, outgaining Ashland 258-94. Ashland tallied just 29 yards of total offense following their first drive that accounted for 65 yards.

Ashland missed scoring opportunities of their own, highlighted by the Eagles' second drive of the third quarter. AU drove the ball from their own three yard to the Laker eight yard line with the help of 45 yards in GVSU penalties. The Eagles faced a fourth and one and elected to attempt a 27 yard field goal that Jared Karrasch missed wide right.

Ashland took a 10-7 lead with a 22 yard field goal by Heath Studer at the 10:22 mark of the fourth quarter. The Eagles drove 60 yards in 13 plays to take their first lead of the game.

The Lakers answered quickly with their 65 yard game-winning scoring drive. Prior to Finnerty's scoring pass to Cochrane, Finnerty hit WR Eric Fowler with 15 yard pass and catch on third and nine to keep the drive alive.

Eric Fowler caught a career-high nine passes for 104 yards and a TD, while Finnerty completed 14-of-28 passes for 208 yards and two TDs. RB Astin Martin rushed 16 times for 70 yards. GVSU outgained Ashland 344 to 225.

Defensively, Anthony Adams led the way with eight tackles, while Joe Ballard added seven. The Lakers recorded eight tackles for loss (-19) and deflected five passes.

The GVSU defense did not yield a TD for the third time in four games. The only TD the Laker defense has yielded this season was in the fourth quarter at Indianapolis.