Nov. 10, 2007
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Allendale, Mich. -
#1 Grand Valley State scored on its first three possessions and never looked back en route to a 44-14 victory over Northern Michigan Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 10,270 at Lubbers Stadium. GVSU (10-0) will await word on its playoff fate. The Lakers entered the game as the #2 team in the Northwest Regional rankings. If GVSU remains second they will receive a first-round bye and will host a game on Nov. 24th at Lubbers Stadium versus an opponent to be determined. The NCAA DII selection show is Sunday (Nov. 11) on ESPNU at 11:30 a.m.
Junior CB Corey Edwards picked off NMU QB Buddy Rivera on Northern Michigan's first possession at the GVSU three and returned it 48 yards to the Wildcat 49. GVSU drove 49 yards in five plays as Blake Smolen hit paydirt on a 1-yard TD run. Following Rivera's second interception, this one by SS Jacob McGuckin, GVSU drove 27 yards in six plays for another score. Freshman RB James Berezik toted the ball in from three yards and GVSU had a 13-0 lead after the missed PAT by Todd Carter.
GVSU drove 94 yards in 12 plays as Antione Trent hauled in a 1-yard TD reception from Iciek. The Lakers closed the half with a 7-play, 79-yard drive that took just :46 seconds. Iciek hit tight end Jonn Mathews with 30 seconds left in the second quarter to up the lead to 27-0. The Lakers opened the third quarter with an 8-play, 76-yard touchdown drive as Iciek hit Trent with a 26-yard scoring pass and Carter added the PAT for a 34-0 Laker lead with 10:49 left in the third quarter. The GVSU starters were also finished for the day. Carter kicked a 24-yard field goal with 3:50 left in the third quarter as the Laker backups moved 49-yards in eight plays. Following a 3-yard run by NMU's Mark Bossuah, Chad Somerville scored on a 1-yard run for the Lakers' final points of the day. Rivera hit Fred Wells with a 5-yard scoring pass with under eight minutes left in the game.
Redshirt freshman Gary Fant led the Laker rushing game that churned out 304 yards with a career-high 107 yards on just six carries. Blake Smolen added 92 yards on nine carries, while James Berezik chipped in 54 yards on 14 carries. Iciek completed 16-of-22 passes for 225 yards and three TDs. Chad Somerville was 4-of-5 for 35 yards. Antion Trent caught eight passes for a career-high 116 yards and two TDs.
LB Anthony Adams and SS Gary Anderson led the Laker defense with seven tackles apiece. Kirk Carruth chipped in six tackles, while Danny Richard added five tackles, two tackles for loss (-17) and two tackles for loss (-17). CB Corey Edwards and SS Jacob McGuckin each picked off a pair of passes. The Laker starting defense limited Northern Michigan to 127 yards of total offense with four interceptions and five QB sacks. Rivera entered the game with four interceptions, but GVSU picked off four passes in seven possessions.
Grand Valley State continued to build on its NCAA DII record winning streak. The Lakers have now won 38 straight games, which is also the longest active winning streak in college football. GVSU also set the GLIAC record for consecutive wins with 30, break the previous mark of 29 also held by GVSU from 2001-2003. GVSU won its third consecutive GLIAC Championship, the first time in school history the Lakers have won three straight GLIAC crowns.
Notes...GVSU is 95-5 in its last 100 games...The 2007 Laker senior class is 48-3...GVSU is 58-2 when ranked #1 and the Lakers have been ranked number one in 65-of-the-last-79 weeks...GVSU is 63-3 in its last 66 GLIAC games.
