Sept. 19, 2009

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

Big Rapids, Mich. - No. 1 Grand Valley State and Ferris State battled for four quarters Saturday night in Big Rapids, but in the end a 9-yard touchdown pass from senior QB Brad Iciek to junior WR Mike Koster with 4:13 left in the game proved to be the difference in the Lakers' 17-10 victory. GVSU improves to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in GLIAC action, while Ferris State falls to 1-3 overall and 0-3 in GLIAC action. The Lakers will remain on the road with a 6 p.m. contest at Michigan Tech next Saturday (Sept. 26).

Grand Valley State dominated the first half stats, but held a slim 10-3 lead. Iciek hit Koster with a 5-yard TD pass with 4:53 left in the first quarter to culminate an 8-play, 77-yard drive. Justin Trumble added the PAT for a 7-0 Laker lead. Trumble then upped the GVSU lead to 10-0 with a 22-yard field goal with 7:22 left in the first half. Ferris State answered with a Shawn Snoor 45-yard field goal to pull the Bulldogs within seven (10-3). Iciek led the Lakers deep inside FSU territory, but a James Berezik fumble was recovered by FSU to snuff out the GVSU scoring opportunity. GVSU racked up 257 yards of total offense and limited FSU to just 79 total yards, 35 of which came on one running play, in the opening two quarters.

After a scoreless third quarter, Ferris State used a big play early in the fourth quarter to pull even. Kyle Parrish hit Aaron Olman, who snuck behind the Laker secondary, with a 74 yard pass and catch to the Laker two. Tyler Thomas then found pay dirt and Snoor added the PAT to tie the game at 10-10. Both teams traded punts before Iciek directed the game-winning drive. Iciek used the ground game and a short passing game to move down the field with the 8-play, 56-yard drive. Berezik rushed for 21 yards, while Iciek hit WR Blake Smolen with a pass for 16 yards and Koster for 13 yards before the winning play.

The GVSU defense then stepped up and held Ferris State to just four yards on five plays in the closing minutes to secure the win. Berezik was the workhorse for the Lakers, toting the ball a season-high 29 times for a season-high 178 yards. P.T. Gates added 50 yards on nine carries. Iciek completed 16-of-27 passes for 186 yards and two TDs, while Koster hauled in six passes for 51 yards and two scores. Berezik added four receptions for 22 yards. The GVSU defense recorded four sacks (-27) and 12 tackles for loss (-45), led by junior LB Justin Victor. Victor recorded seven tackles, three QB sacks (-19) and 3.5 tackles for loss (-20). Senior safety Jacob McGuckin added a team-high nine tackles and three tackles for loss (-8). The GVSU defense held Ferris State to 108 rushing yards and 102 passing yards, 74 of which came on one play. The Laker offense rushed for 214 yards passed for 186 for 400 yards of total offense.

Notes...Grand Valley State has won 46 consecutive regular season games and 43 straight GLIAC games...GVSU is 76-3 in its last 79 GLIAC games...Brad Iciek has thrown a TD pass in 29 straight games...James Berezik broke the 100-yard rushing mark for the 14th time in his career...Blake Smolen upped his career kickoff return total to 974 yards...James Berezik now has 386 yards rushing in three games versus Ferris State.