Nov. 24, 2007

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Allendale, Mich. - #1 Ranked Grand Valley State used a strong ground game and stingy defense to claim a 21-14 victory over North Dakota in NCAA DII Second-Round playoff action Saturay (Nov. 24) afternoon at Lubbers Stadium. GVSU (11-0) will host Central Washington next Saturday (Dec. 1) at Lubbers Stadium. Central Washington claimed a 20-17 upset win over the top seeded Nebraska-Omaha.

Grand Valley State opened the scoring with a 7-play, 75-yard scoring drive late in the first quarter. Sophomore running back Blake Smolen finished the drive with a 17-yard run at the 2:38 mark of the first quarter. GVSU increased its lead to 14-0 with a 9-play, 80-yard drive into a brisk wind that took just 2:20 off the clock. Sophomore QB Brad Iciek hit a wide open Brandon Horn with a 7-yard scoring pass with 2:12 left in the second quarter. Grand Valley State upped its lead to 21-0 early in the third quarter by taking advantage of a Danny Richard blocked punt. Junior tight end Jonn Mathews made a 22-yard diving catch on the first play from Iciek.

North Dakota reached paydirt on FS Jacob McGuckin's tipped pass that All-American receiver Weston Dressler hauled in for a 39-yard touchdown. DL Dan Skuta blocked the PAT and GVSU led 21-6. North Dakota stopped a GVSU fourth down run attempt as Blake Smolen was tackled for a 2-yard loss on the North Dakota 41 with 2:30 left in the third quarter. Dressler took a short pass and ran 41 yards to the GVSU 14 and the Fighting Sioux scored two plays later on a Josh Murray 3-yard run and Murray added the two-point conversion run to pull UND within seven (21-14). GVSU controlled the clock for over nine minutes in the fourth quarter, including a 14-play, 66-yard drive that consumed 6:47. UND had one last chance that started on their own 13 with 1:59 left, but senior All-American LB Anthony Adams sacked Jake Landry on fourth down to preserve the win.

GVSU dominated the game statistically, outgaining North Dakota 433-212. GVSU rushed the ball 56 times for 280 yards, while holding the UND to just 36 net yards rushing. The GVSU defense recorded five QB sacks (-26)and nine tackles for loss (-34), led by Adams' 11 tackles, two QB sacks (-8) and three TFL (-10). Sophomore LB Jordan Munson added eight tackles, while DL Dan Skuta chipped in four tackles, two QB sacks (-13) and two TFL (-13).

Sophomore running back Blake Smolen carried the ball a career-high 27 times for a career-high 139 yards, while freshman James Berezik added 116 yards on 18 carries. Smolen recorded a career-high 211 all-purpose yards. It marked the first time since 2004 that GVSU has had two players rush for over 100 yards in the same game. Iciek was 10-24 for 153 yards and two TDs. Junior tight end Jonn Mathews hauled in three passes for 62 yards and a score, while fellow tight end, Scott Blasko, caught three passes for 37 yards, including a key fourth down reception in the fourth quarter.

Notes...Grand Valley State increased its NCAA DII record winning streak to 39 games. GVSU's last loss was Nov. 24, 2004 at North Dakota...The GVSU senior class is 49-3, including an 11-1 mark in the NCAA DII playoffs...GVSU has won 22 straight games at Lubbers Stadium.