Dec. 11, 2006

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Allendale, Mich. - Sweet Home Alabama. Grand Valley State will be making its fifth NCAA DII National Championship game appearance in the last six years after claiming an impressive 49-30 victory over Delta State Sunday night at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale. GVSU (14-0) will play Northwest Missouri State (14-0) in the National Championship game Saturday (Dec. 16) in Florence, Alabama. The game is a rematch of the 2005 final in which GVSU claimed a 21-17 victory in the title game.

The Laker offense started quickly following a Delta State punt down to the GVSU 11 yard line. RB Astin Martin carried the ball for 19 yards on the first play, followed by a 40-yard completion from Cullen Finnerty to WR Eric Fowler. Finnerty then found WR Terry Mitchell quarantined in the corner of the endzone for a 30-yard TD reception. The drive covered 89 yards in three plays and took just 45 ticks off the clock. Delta State drove 63 yards in nine plays late in the first quarter, but failed to score when Sid Halliday's 35-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. The Lakers wasted little time while looking for another score. Finnerty hit Fowler with a 53-yard pass and catch on the first play, then found Mitchell again, this time all alone in the left corner of the endzone on the very next play for a 27-yard TD reception. The drive took 35 seconds and covered 80 yards in two plays.

"We really came out clicking in the first quarter," said third-year head coach Chuck Martin. "The whole offense was locked in and Cullen was just taking advantage of what the Delta State defense was giving us," added Martin.

Delta State regrouped and took advantage of a GVSU fumble for its first points of the game. Finnerty was sacked and fumbled the ball on his own 8-yard line. Delta State QB Scott Eyster hit WR Eric Marshall on the second play for a 7-yard TD reception. Delta State's special teams then took advantage of another Laker miscue. The Statesmen blocked a Laker punt and Chad Schroeder recovered it the endzone for another Statesmen score to tie the game at 14-14.

"Our defense was playing great football and yet the game is tied," said Martin. "Two turnovers led to 14 points, but like many other times this team didn't get down, they just kept playing football," added Martin.

Mark Catlin sparked the Lakers, returning the kickoff 44 yards to the 49. Astin Martin toted the ball for 16 yards on the first play and Finnerty found Fowler again, this one covering 21 yards. Preston Garris carried the ball for a 4-yard run before Finnerty hit Antione Trent with a 10-yard TD pass.

"Mark Catlin gave our team a big lift with that kickoff return," stated Martin. "You have a lot of options when you start a drive at midfield," he added.

The Laker defense made a key play on DSU's next possession as LB Kirk Carruth picked off a Scott Eyster pass at Delta State 48. Following a Laker penalty and 22-yard rush by Finnerty, GVSU faced a 4th-and-1 on the Delta State 39. Chuck Martin rolled the dice and went for it on fourth down. Finnerty looked for Fowler down the right sideline, but a DSU defender has hit off his pads into the hands of Fowler for a 35-yard completion. Finnerty found Trent over the middle and GVSU led 28-14 at the half.

"That was a big drive," said Finnerty. "The defense gave us the ball in a scoring position and we needed to take advantage of it and score some points."

Leading 28-14, the Laker offense made a statment with its opening drive of the second half. Finnerty guided GVSU on a 7-play, 67-yard scoring drive that took 3:11 off the clock. Finnerty hit freshman receiver Blake Smolen with a short pass that Smolen took the final 8 yards for a score and a 35-14 Laker lead.

GVSU's special teams had its second punt blocked, this one went out of the endzone for a safety and Delta State trailed 35-16. However, the quick strike Laker offense struck again, this drive covering 59-yards in three plays. Finnerty completed passes of 29 yards to Mitchell and 22 yards to Fowler for a TD and a 42-16 GVSU lead.

Delta State's Scott Eyster hit WR Eric Marshall with a 65-yard TD pass on its next possession, but Finnerty once again drove the Lakers to paydirt. RB Astin Martin finished the 5-play, 56-yard scoring drive with a 3-yard TD run. Eyster finished the Statesmen scoring when he capped off a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 7-yard TD pass to Robert Davis.

"This was a great team win," said Martin. "That was one of the most impressive performances I think I've seen in my coaching career," added Martin.

Finnerty led the offense, completing 16-of-30 passes for 365 yards and six TDs. The six TDs equelled his career-high he set in the regular season finale at Northern Michigan. WR Eric Fowler hauled in seven receptions for a career-high 218 yards and one TD, while Terry Mitchell caught four passes for 97 yards and two TDs. Antion Trent cuaght three passes for 20 yards and two TDs, while Blacke Smolen hauled in two passes for 30 yards and a TD. RB Astin Martin rushed for 99 yards and a TD on 16 carries.

Dan Skuta led the Laker defense with 11 tackles and a TFL (-2). Buster Larkins, Anthony Adams and Brandon Carr each chipped in six tackles. GVSU recorded nine tackles for loss (-37) and four QB sacks (-24).

Scott Eyster completed 31-of-48 passes for 324 yards and three TDs. Eyster passed for 155 yards in the first three quarters, and 169 yards in the fourth when the outcome of the game had already been decided. WR Robert Davis caught 10 passes for 126 yards, while Eric Marshall hauled in five passes for 100 yards. GVSU held Delta State to just 34 rushing yards.

Notes...• The Lakers' 85 victories since the 2000 campaign ranks second in college football. GVSU is 89-11 in its last 100 games. The Lakers are 85-9 since 2000.

Grand Valley State quarterback Cullen Finnerty extened his NCAA college football record as the all-time winningest starting QB in terms of total wins to 50. Finnerty is 50-4 as a starting QB.

• Grand Valley State has won a school-record 27 straight games overall. GVSU's last loss was Nov. 27, 2004 at North Dakota in the NCAA Northwest Regional final.

GVSU Playoff History: Grand Valley State is making its 11th NCAA Division II playoff appearance in school history. GVSU is 20-2 in its last 22 playoff games since the 2001 season, and the Lakers have won 11 straight home playoff games.

• The Lakers are 84-5 in their last 89 games with three National Championships (2002, 2003, 2005).

• Grand Valley State is 85-9 since the 2000 season with three NCAA DII National Championships (2002-2003-2005).

• The 2006 GVSU senior class enters the NW Missour State game with a 51-4 overall mark and two National Championships. The 2005 senior class finished their career's with a 51-4 record.