Nov. 6, 2010

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Allendale, Mich. - No. 8 Grand Valley State recorded a 35-21 victory over Northwood Saturday night at Lubbers Stadium before a senior night crowd of 9,103. Grand Valley State improves to 9-1 overall and 8-1 in GLIAC action, while Northwood falls to 4-6 overall and 4-5 in GLIAC action. GVSU will close out the regular season next Saturday (Nov. 13) at Saginaw Valley State. Kickoff is set for 12 noon.

Grand Valley State jumped out quickly, scoring 21 first quarter points on the Timberwolves. The Lakers took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Senior QB Kyle McMahon hit junior WR Greg Gay with a 13 yard scoring pass and freshman PK Ryan Stokes added the PAT for a 7-0 Laker lead. GVSU rushed for 58 yards and passed for 22 yards on the opening drive. GVSU forced a three-and-out defensively and went to work offensively. The Lakers drove 59 yards in nine plays, 43 of which came via the ground, for a score as senior RB Justin Sherrod concluded the drive with a two yard run. Stokes added the PAT for a 14-0 lead. GVSU's defense forced a second straight three-and-out and the Laker offense struck quickly before the first quarter could come to an end. McMahon hit Greg Gay with a 31-yard pass and catch, followed by a McMahon 24 yard run. Sherrod caught a swing pass and scampered to the one before McMahon hit WR Jovonne Augustus with a one-yard fade pass in the corner of the endzone for a 21-0 Laker lead with 25 seconds left in the first quarter.

"We had a good week of practice and it showed with how we came out in the first quarter," said first-year coach Matt Mitchell. "Defensively, we did a nice job in the first half and offensively we obviously started strong in the first quarter, but we left some points on the field in the second quarter or we could have been up 35-0 at the half."

Grand Valley State limited Northwood to 79 yards of total offense in the first half, while the Lakers tallied 172 via the ground game and 285 yards of total offense.

Northwood was able to get its ground game going early in the second half, but senior DT Steve Gawronski recorded his second sack of the night on a third and seven play from the GVSU 34 yard line to force a punt. Sophomore WR Israel Woolfork then blocked Tony Hite's punt and freshman safety Charles Hill recovered it on the GVSU 44 yard line. However, Justin Sherrod fumbled on the Lakers' second play from scrimmage and Northwood fullback Anthony Brandon went 49 yards for a TD on the Timberwolves first play to cut the GVSU lead to 14 points (21-7). GVSU's defense came up with a fourth down stop midway through the third quarter to set up a scoring drive. Sherrod concluded an 8-play, 56-yard drive with a 15 yard TD run and Stoke remained perfect on PATs to give the Lakers a 28-7 lead. Sherrod toted the ball five times for 45 yards on the drive.

Northwood would not go away and was able to get its option running game going after some halftime adjustments. The Timberwolves went 80 yards in seven plays for a score as RB Cameron Jackson went the final 32 yards for a touchdown. Trailing 28-14 with over 11 minutes left in the game Northwood decided to go for the onside kick and kicker Pat Sijan executed it to perfection and the Timberwolves recovered the ball on their own 44 yard line. NU wasted no time, driving 56 yards in four plays as Brandon went the final 27 yards for a TD.

GVSU's offense answered quickly, driving 81 yards in seven plays to push the lead back to 14 points (35-21). McMahon finished the drive with a 26 yard TD run and Stokes added the PAT. GVSU rushed for 65 yards on the drive and McMahon hit TE Andrew Lorman with a 16 yard pass on a third-and-seven play from the GVSU 45 yard line.

"I really like the way our offense answered the bell and Northwood was able to creep within seven," said Mitchell.

The Laker defense was able to stop a Northwood fourth down play with just over four minutes left in the game and the Laker offense ran out the clock with a 9-play, 54-yard drive.

GVSU recorded 490 yards of total offense, including 354 via the ground game. McMahon completed 11-of-23 passes for 136 yards and two TDs. Sherrod and Shuford each broke the 100-yard rushing mark for the Lakers, while McMahon was one yard shy of the 100-yard mark. Sherrod toted the ball 17 times for 141 yards and two TDs, followed by Shuford's 118 yards on 14 carries. McMahon rushed for 99 yards and a TD on eight carries. Sherrod added five catches for 38 yards and Gay hauled in three catches for 74 yards.

Junior DB Zach Breen led the defense with 11 tackles, a QB sack (-15), a tackle for loss (-15) and a fumble recovery. Gawronski tallied a career-high 10 tackles and two QB sacks (-12), followed by Luther Ware's eight stops. Justin Victor moved into 13th in all-time tackles with his seven tackles. Victor, who now has 276 career tackles, passed former Laker Terry Foster.

Notes...GVSU is 53-1 in its last 54 regular season home games with 33 straight regular season wins...The GVSU senior class is 45-5 with three outright GLIAC titles and at least a share of a fourth...The 2010 Laker senior class is 39-2 in regular season action.