Oct. 21, 2006

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Allendale, Mich. - #1-Ranked Grand Valley State recovered five fumbles and picked off a pass en route to a convincing 45-7 victory over #9 Northwood Saturday night before a crowd of 13,480 at Lubbers Stadium. GVSU improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in league action, while Northwood falls to 6-1 overall and in the GLIAC. The Lakers won their school-record 21st game overall. GVSU will hit the road next week for a 2 p.m. contest at rival Ferris State.

Northwood opened the game with an impressive 5-play, 81-yard drive that resulted in Antonie Ivy 19-yard TD run with just 2:42 off the clock. However, that would be the last time the Timberwolves scored and Northwood managed just 85 yards of total offense for the remainder of the game. GVSU moved into Northwood territory on its first possession, but sophomore kicker Todd Carter missed a 40 yard field goal wide right. The Laker defense then took over the game. The ball was snapped over QB Kyle Kolbe's head on Northwood's second play following the missed FG and junior defensive tackle Justin Ulberg scooped it up and rambled 7 yards for a TD. Carter added the PAT and the game was tied.

"That was big boost for our team," said GVSU head coach Chuck Martin. "Northwood scored quick and then we missed a scoring opportunity, so we felt good after Justin's (Ulberg) TD.

The Lakers downed a Justin Trumble punt on the Northwood three early in the second quarter and then forced a three and out. NU punter Chris Kollias unleashed an 8-yard punt that rolled out of bounds at the Northwood 14. QB Cullen Finnerty hit WR Eric Fowler with a 12-yard scoring pass to put the Lakers up 14-7. DL Ryan Gaydosh forced another Northwood fumble that LB Anthony Adams recovered. Finnerty drove the Lakers 33 yards in six plays and then hit Fowler with a 2-yard TD pass.

Mark Catlin returned a Kollias punt 32 yards to the 50 yard line with 1:10 left in the first half. Finnerty hit WR Terry Mitchell with a 15-yard completion, then hit Mitchell with a 35-yard pass and catch for a TD and a 28-7 Laker lead at the half.

"We took advantage of turnovers and field position in the second quarter and that proved to be the difference in the game," said Martin.

Grand Valley State took the opening kickoff of the second half and used up 8:07 off the clock before a dropped snap on a field goal attempt. The Lakers forced yet another Northwood turnover and Carter drilled a 32-yard field goal for a 31-7 Laker lead. Northwood fumbled on its first play from scrimmage and Anthony Adams recovered his third fumble of the night, returning this one 11 yards for a TD. QB Brad Iciek hit WR Mike Koster with a 5-yard TD pass for the final points of the game. The TD pass was the first for both Iciek and Koster.

"Our defense was outstanding, both in defending the run and forcing turnovers," stated Martin.

GVSU used a balanced attack on offense, passing for 158 yards and rushing for 157 yards. GVSU produced 17 first downs, while Northwood was limited to just eight, three of which came on the first drive of the game. Finnerty completed 9-of-19 passes for 146 yards and three TDs in a steady rain. In addition, he rushed 14 times for 80 yards. Maurice Gore rushed nine times for 37 yards and Astin Martin 17 carries for 33 yards. Fowler caught four passes for 49 yards and two TDs, while Koster hauled in three passes for 23 yards. Mitchell pulled in two passes for 50 yards and a TD.

Defensively, GVSU allowed 130 yards rushing for the game, 81 of which came on the opening drive of the game. Anthony Adams led the defense with 11 tackles, three fumble recoveries, and two tackles for loss. Brandon Carr tallied eight tackles and a pass deflection, while P.J Beuke chipped in six stops. Buster Larkins added five tackles and an interception. DT Ryan Gaydosh recorded three tackles, a tackle for loss, a QB sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on the night.

"Northwood is an outstanding team and our defense had to execute the game plan to stop their offense," said LB Anthony Adams. "We had to do our job individually for us to have a solid team effort," addaed Adams.

Notes...GVSU has won a school-record 21 straight games...The Lakers have a 78-5 record in their last 83 games...GVSU is 51-3 in its last 54 GLIAC games...The Laker senior class improved to 45-4...QB Cullen Finnerty improved to 44-4 as a starting QB. The 44 wins are an NCAA all division, all-time record...Grand Valley State improved to 43-2 when being ranked number one in the country...Northwood turned the ball over four times in the opening half, one more than they had in the six previous games.