Oct. 11, 2008

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

Allendale, Mich. - #1-Ranked Grand Valley State built a 28-7 halftime lead and never looked back en route to a convincing 41-10 victory over Hillsdale College before the fourth largest crowd in Lubbers Stadium history (14,161). GVSU improves to 6-0 both overall and in GLIAC action, while Hillsdale falls to 4-3 overall and 3-3 in GLIAC play.

The Lakers scored TDs on their first three possessions, highlighted by a 3-play, 99-yard scoring drive on its opening possession. Hillsdale downded a punt at the GVSU one yard line following an 8-play, 33-yard drive. Junior QB Brad Iciek hit TE Jonn Mathews on first down for 11 yards, followed by rush for 0 yards by RB James Berezik. Iciek then found a wide open Blake Smolen over the middle with a pass that he took 88 yards for a TD. The pass play was the fourth longest in GVSU football history. Hillsdale was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt on its second possession. RB P.T. Gates returned the punt 16 yards and on first down Berezik broke a couple of tackles and raced 60 yards for a TD to up the Laker lead to 14-0.

Hillsdale pulled to within 14-7 with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:42 off the clock. The seven points were the first points scored against Grand Valley State in the first quarter this season (108-7). Grand Valley State answered quickly with a 6-play, 81-yard scoring drive that took 2:19 off the clock. Iciek hit Smolen with a 41-yard scoring pass over the middle again to up the lead to 21-7. The Laker scoring continued and Berezik continued his stellar running with runs of 25, 9 and 2 yards to give GVSU a first-and-goal. Smolen toted the ball to the six and Iciek hit Mathews with a TD pass in the corner of the end zone for a 28-7 Laker lead. Berezik rushed for 104 yards on eight carries in the first half, while Smolen hauled in three passes for 148 yards and two TDs. Iciek completed 6-of-9 passes for 196 yards.

Iciek drove GVSU 60-yards in five plays for a touchdown on its opening drive in the second half. Berezik closed the drive with a 22-yard TD run, then added a 32-yard TD scamper midway through the fourth quarter for the final points in a 41-10 lead.

Berezik rushed for a career-high 172 yards and three TDs on 14 carries and caught one pass for 31 yards. Smolen caught five passes for a career-high 185 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 47 yards on six carries. Iciek completed 13-of-19 passes for 275 yards and three TDs. Junior P.T. Gates returned three punts 53 yards and a kickoff 33 yards. Smolen tallied 259 all-purpose yards, while Berezik added 203 all-purpose yards. Senior DT Dan Skuta led the defense with six tackles, four QB sack (-27) and four tackles for loss (-27). The four QB sacks ranks second in Laker annals for a single-game, while his four sacks give him 30 in his career which is second all-time behind Mike McFadden's 36. Sophomore CB Chris Huley led the defense with nine tackles, while sophomore LB P.J. Beuke chipped in eight stops. The Laker defense recorded eight tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups.

Notes...• GVSU is 94-6 in its last 100 games with four National Championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006). The Lakers are 104-10 since the start 2000.

• The 2008 GVSU senior class is 46-1 with three two National Championships and three GLIAC titles. In addition, the 2008 senior class has never lost a regular season game (38-0) and is undefeated (36-0) in GLIAC action.

• Grand Valley State has won 38 consecutive regular season games...Since 2001, the Lakers are 56-3 at home, 39-3 in their last 42 road games and 43-4 in all games away from Lubbers Stadium in their last 47.

• Grand Valley State leads the nation in scoring defense (8.0 ppg) and punt returns (23.0), ranks third in pass efficiency offense (186.37), fourth in pass defense (127.80) and sixth in scoring offense (43.4). GVSU ranks in the top 10 of 10 team categories.

• Grand Valley State is 69-3 in its last 72 GLIAC games. The Lakers have won a GLIAC record 36 straight GLIAC games dating back to the 2004 season.

GVSU has been ranked in the AFCA top 25 in 103 straight polls.

• Grand Valley State has been ranked number one in the country in 68-of-the-last-90 polls since the opening game of the 2002 season.

• Grand Valley State has outscored its first five opponents 108 in the first quarter this season and 188-21 in the first half.