Sept. 21, 2006

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

Allendale, Mich. - #1-ranked Grand Valley State scored 21 second-quarter points en route to a 41-20 victory over Michigan Tech Thursday night before a live national television crowd. The Lakers improve to 4-0 on the year and increased the longest winning streak in the NCAA to 17 games. In addition, the Lakers are now 74-5 in their last 79 games.

Grand Valley State scored on its second possession as Jaquan Morrison capped a 4-play, 52-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard TD run on a reverse. PK Todd Carter added the PAT for a 7-0 Laker lead. QB Cullen Finnerty hit WR Eric Fowler with a 54-yard pass play to put the Lakers in scoring position. Michigan Tech answered with an 8-play, 50-yard scoring drive of its own. MTU QB Drew Shaft and WR Keith White came up with the big play on the drive as the two connected on a 36-yard pass and catch on third-and-thirty. Shaft then scrambled in from five yards out, but the PAT was missed and GVSU led 7-6.

Finnerty drove the Lakers 71 yards in seven plays and scored himself on a 2-yard TD run. Finnerty and WR Terry Mitchell team up on a 48-yard completion down to the MTU four to set up Finnerty's run. GVSU then broke the game wide open when safety Buster Larkins picked off a Shaft pass and returned it 30 yards for a TD to put the Lakers up 21-6.

The never say die Huskies came right back and went on a 10-play, 71-yard scoring drive. QB Steve Short scored on a 5-yard run to pull MTU with in eight (21-13). GVSU answered quickly with a 5-play, 61-yard drive that took just 1:41 off the clock. Finnerty was 3-for-3 for 52 yards and RB Astin Martin capped the drive with a one-yard TD run.

"I thought we played hard for 60 minutes," said GVSU head coach Chuck Martin. "We did some nice things in every facet of the game, but we still have a lot of work to do if we want to keep winning games," he added.

The Laker defense forced another turnover as MTU QB Drew Shaft fumbled on his six after being crushed Laker LB Matt Beaty. Mike McFadden recovered the fumble and RB Maurice Gore scored from six yards out on the Lakers' first play to give GVSU a 35-13 lead.

"I was pleased that we forced four turnovers and our defense was directly responsible for 14 points," said Martin.

Short drove the Huskies 59 yards in seven plays and RB Marvin Atkins scored from five yards out to pull Michigan Tech with 15 (35-20). Finnerty came back and drove the Lakers 62 yards in 10 plays for a TD. RB Maurice Gore capped the scoring drive with the second TD of his young career on a two yard run.

Maurice Gore led the rushing attack with 59 yards and two TDs on 15 carries. Finnerty completed 9-of-15 passes for 209 yards. Fowler hauled in a five passes for 123 yards, while Terry Mitchell caught two passes for 63 yards. Defensively, SS Samad Cain and LB Anthony Adams led the way with 1o tackles apiece. DT Mike McFadden added eight tackles and LB Matt Beaty contributed eight tackles. Beaty forced a fumbe that turned into a Lakers TD.

Grand Valley State will return to action Saturday, Sept. 30 at Wayne State. Kickoff is set for 12 noon.

Notes...

• The Lakers' 82 victories since the 2000 campaign also ranks second in college football. GVSU is 86-14 in their last 100 games...GVSU has the second best winning percentage of football playing schools in the State of Michigan, behind Michigan's 852-280-36 (.744) mark. GVSU is 267-114-3 (.698).

• 10,209 fans watched the nationally televised game.

• Grand Valley State is 82-9 since the 2000 season with three NCAA DII National Championships (2002-2003-2005).

• The Lakers are 74-5 in their last 79 games.

• GVSU is 47-3 in GLIAC action since the 2001 season and the GVSU senior class enters the Michigan Tech contest with a 41-4 overall mark and two National Championships.

• The Lakers are 39-2 when being ranked number one since 2000.

• GVSU has been ranked in the AFCA top 25 in 69 straight polls. Since 2000, the Lakers are 39-3 at home and 29-2 in their last 30 road games and 31-3 in all games away from Lubbers Stadium in their last 33.

• Grand Valley State has been ranked number one in the country in 46 polls since the opening game of the 2002 season.