Oct. 14, 2007

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Allendale, Mich. - #1 Ranked Grand Valley State made history Saturday night with its 41-17 victory over Indianapolis before a homecoming crowd of 12,080. The Lakers upped their winning streak to 34 straight games, tying the record of 34 held by Hillsdale College (1954-57). GVSU improved to 6-0 overall and 5-0 in GLIAC action, while Indianapolis fall to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in GLAIC action. Grand Valley State will hit the road for a GLIAC tilt at Northwood next Saturday (Oct. 20).

The Lakers started slowly, fumbling away the opening kickoff. However, the defense held and forced an Indy punt. The Lakers got on the board first, driving 69 yards in four plays. The final 33 yards was covered by QB Brad Iciek's pass to Antione Trent. GVSU scored 14 points in a span of 25 seconds. The first was a 1-yard run by RB Preston Garris to culminate a 9-play, 54-yard drive. Indianapolis fumbled on its first offensive play and DL Danny Richard recovered the ball on the Greyhound 23 yard line. Iciek completed a 21-yard pass to Jonn Mathews and Garris scored from two yards out to up the lead to 21-0.

"We didn't start the way you want, but we regrouped and found what we could do offensively against a very good defense," said fourth-year head coach Chuck Martin.

Indianapolis turned a Preston Garris fumble into seven points and then used an Iciek fumble to kick a 31-yard field goal to pull within a 21-10 margin. However, Iciek drove the Lakers 68 yards in five plays for a TD with 11 seconds left in the first half. Iciek was 5-for-5 passing and concluded the drive with a 27-yard TD pass to WR Mike Koster.

The Lakers turned an Indianapolis fumble into seven points early in the third quarter. Iciek hit WR Brandon Horn over the middle for a 17-yard pass-and-catch for a TD. The Lakers then upped their lead to 41-10 with a 7-play, 92-yard drive that finished with Garris' third rushing TD of the night. The big play in the drive was a 53 yard run by James Berezik. Indianapolis added a TD early in the fourth quarter against the GVSU second-team defense.

Grand Valley State rushed for 211 yards and three TDs. Indianapolis entered the game yielding just 79 yards rushing per game. The Lakers also passed for 283 yards and three scores. James Berezik rushed for 95 yards on nine carries, while Garris added 50 yards and three TDs on 10 carries. Iciek completed 20-of-26 passes for 283 yards and three TDs. Horn led the receivers with seven catches for 91 yards, while Garris caught five passes for 42 yards.

FS Jacob McGuckin, LB Jordan Munson and SS Samad Cain led the defense with nine tackles each. LB Anthony Adams and Danny Richard each recovered a fumble, while CB Bill Brechin picked off a pass and returned it 11 yards. The 11-yard return upped Brechin's single-season interception return record to 153 yards.

Notes...

• The Lakers' 92 victories since the 2000 campaign ranks second in college football. GVSU is 91-9 in its last 100 games.

• Grand Valley State has won a school-record 34 straight games overall. The Lakers' current streak is second longest in NCAA DII history and is the longest active winning streak in college football. Hillsdale College won 34 straight from 1954-57. GVSU's last loss was Nov. 27, 2004 at North Dakota in the NCAA Northwest Regional final. The Lakers' last regular season loss was 10/23/04 to Northwood (35-14).

• GVSU has the second best winning percentage of football playing schools in the State of Michigan, behind Michigan's 867-284-36 (.742) mark. GVSU is 284-114-3 (.710).

• The Lakers are 91-5 in their last 96 games with four National Championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006).

• Grand Valley State is 92-9 since the 2000 season with four NCAA DII National Championships (2002-2003-2005-2006).

• The 2007 GVSU senior class is 44-3 with two National Championships. The 2006 senior class concluded their careers with an NCAA record 52-4 overall mark and three National Championships.

• The Lakers are 54-2 when being ranked number one since 2002...GVSU has been ranked in the AFCA top 25 in 89 straight polls.

• Grand Valley State has been ranked number one in the country in 62-of-the-last-76 polls since the opening game of the 2002 season...GVSU has finished the year ranked in the top 10 (2001-2, 2002-1, 2003-1, 2004-9, 2005 -1, 2006-1) in six straight postseason polls.

• Since 2001, the Lakers are 48-3 at home, 35-2 in their last 37 road games and 39-3 in all games away from Lubbers Stadium in their last 42.

• Grand Valley State is 59-3 in its last 62 GLIAC games. The Lakers have won 26 straight GLIAC games dating back to the 2004 season. Ferris State holds the league record for consecutive wins with 27.