Oct. 31, 2009

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Allendale, Mich. - No. 5 Grand Valley State used a dominating running game en route to a 31-19 victory over Northern Michigan on Halloween night at Lubbers Stadium. The Lakers, 9-1 overall and 8-1 in GLIAC action, have clinched at least a tie for the 2009 GLIAC title. GVSU will close the 2009 regular season next Saturday, Nov. 7 at home versus Wayne State at 1 p.m.

The Lakers scored early and often in the first quarter. Following a Northern Michigan punt, senior QB Brad Iciek directed a 5-play, 80-yard scoring drive that took just 2:10 off the clock. Iciek hit TE Andrew Lorman with a 26 yard pass and catch, followed by a 30 yard run by junior RB James Berezik. Iciek hit senior WR Blake Smolen with a 17 yard TD pass and Trumble added the PAT for a 7-0 GVSU lead. The points marked the ninth time in 10 games that the Lakers have scored points on their opening offensive drive of the game. Grand Valley State forced another three-and-out and the offense went back to work. Senior RB P.T. Gates finished off the 8-play, 76-yard drive with a 24 yard TD run at the 5:53 mark of the first quarter. GVSU closed the first quarter with a 9-play, 34-yard drive that concluded with a Trumble 25 yard field goal. GVSU held onto the ball for 10:04 of the first quarter and notched 121 yards of total offense.

Northern Michigan moved into GVSU territory on its opening drive of the second quarter and had the ball on the Laker 25 yard line. However, three NMU penalties, an incomplete pass and a rush of minus two yards put the Wildcats in a third and 32 situation from the 47 yard line. Following another NMU punt GVSU drove 67 yards in 12 plays before the drive stalled at the Northern Michigan 12 yard line. Trumble booted a 29 yard field goal to give the Lakers a 20-0 lead with 4:44 left in the half. NMU drove 71 yards in eight plays for a TD, but junior DL Danny Richard blocked the PAT that Justin Victor picked up and returned 90 yards for a defensive safety to give the Lakers a 22-6 lead

"I felt like we left some points on the field in the first half, but we moved the ball well," said head coach Chuck Martin.

GVSU churned out 271 yards of total offense in the opening half, including 176 on the ground. The GVSU defense limited NMU to just 95 yards of total offense.

Grand Valley State dominated the second half statistically, but turned the ball over three times. Iciek directed an 11-play, 73 yard drive deep in NMU territory on the Lakers' opening drive, but was intercepted for the first time in 2009 to thwart the drive. Following a second Iciek interception at the NMU 48 yard line, the Wildcats drove 52 yards in 12 plays for a TD, but the two-point attempt failed. Berezik answered the NMU TD with a 49 yard rush on the opening play of the Lakers' next drive. The Lakers drove inside the NMU one, but were forced to kick a field goal. Trumble hit his third field goal of the night to conclude an 8-play, 72 yard drive.

"We just didn't do a good job converting red zone opportunities into touchdowns," Said Martin. "It was a combination of execution and play call, but we need to do a better job of getting touchdowns instead of field goals."

The GVSU defense stiffened and forced a punt, however, a first down fumble was turned into an NMU touchdown. GVSU's lead was down to six (25-19) following the PAT. Grand Valley State's offense took control of the game with a 10-play, 62-yard TD drive, with nine of the 10 plays coming via the rush. Berezik carried the ball four times for 22 yards, while P.T. Gates added 29 yards on four carries and Iciek finished the drive with an 8-yard TD run.

GVSU tallied 507 yards of total offense, including a season-high 356 rushing yards. The Lakers ran 74 plays to the Wildcats 46 plays and held onto the ball for 38:43. James Berezik rushed for a season-high 213 yards on 26 carries, while P.T. Gates added 106 yards on 18 carries. Iciek completed 10-of-18 passes for 151 yards and one TD. WR Blake Smolen caught three passes for 53 yards, while Berezik hauled in three catches for 41 yards. Lorman also pulled in two receptions for 41 yards. Sophomore LB Brad Howard led the defense with nine tackles, while Danny Richard tallied four tackles, two tackles for loss (-15) and two QB sacks (-15).