Oct. 15, 2011

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 Rubick's View

Painesville, Ohio - Grand Valley State claimed a 61-31 GLIAC victory over Lake Erie College Saturday night in Painesville, Ohio. GVSU improves to 4-3 overall and 3-3 in GLIAC action. GVSU will host Ferris State next Saturay (Oct. 22) at Lubbers Stadium, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

Grand Valley State scored 28 fourth quarter points to put away a tight game. GVSU led 33-31 and had the ball on its own 40 yard line facing a third-and-five as the fourth quarter began. Sophomore QB Heath Parling hit junior WR Charles Johnson with an 11 yard completion, followed by a 49 yard TD run by junior RB Norman Shuford. Sophomore PK Ryan Stokes' PAT gave the Lakers a 40-31 lead. The Laker defense forced a three-and-out, just its second of the evening, on Lake Erie's next possession to get the Laker offense back on the field. Shuford notched runs of 11, 13 and 53 yards to the Storm 6 yard line before freshman RB Michael Ratay scampered in from 4 yards out to up the GVSU lead to 47-31.

Junior CB Kenny Veal picked off a Sean Bedevelsky pass at the Lake Erie 32 yard line and after a GVSU holding penalty Parling hit Johnson with a 41 yard TD pass on a third-and-20 play. Stokes' PAT gave the Lakers a 54-31 lead. Sophomore safety Erik Thompson returned a Bedevelsky pass and returned it 49 yards for a TD to close the scoring on a crazy fourth quarter.

"It was a wild game and we had to fight for everything tonight," said second-year coach. "Sean Bedevelsky is an outstanding player and we knew coming in that it was going to be difficult defensively for our squad. Lake Erie has been in every game they have played this season."

Lake Erie College got on the scoreboard first with a 44 yard field goal at the 6:22 mark of the first quarter. The Storm drove 73 yards in nine plays and took 3:16 off the clock.

However, the Lakers struck back quickly as sophomore Erik Thompson returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. The kickoff return tied the school record for longest return, equalling Lou Scarpino's 100 yard return in 1983 vs. Northwood.

Lake Erie reclaimed the lead quickly as senior QB Sean Bedevelsky hit WR Aaron Lindgren with a 54-yard TD pass. Following the PAT Lake Erie led 10-6.

Hersey Jackson went 35 yards for a TD on the first play of the second quarter and sophomore Ryan Stokes added the PAT to give GVSU a 13-10 lead. The TD culminated a 3-play, 42-yard drive that took 1:08 off the clock.

Ryan Stokes hit a 24-yard field goal at the 10:19 mark of the second quarter to complete a 7-play, 89-yard drive. Sophomore QB Heath Parling hit junior RB Norman Shuford with a swing pass that covered 57 yards prior to the Stokes field goal.

Lake Erie College took a 17-16 lead with a 7-play, 73-yard drive that took 3:13 off the clock. LEC used a 40 yard run by Rod Smith to get the ball down to the GVSU one yard line and Smith then scored on the following play.

Stokes added his second field goal of the game, this one covereing 23 yards to give GVSU back the lead at 19-17.

Lake Erie had the ball for the final 2:39 of the first half, but senior safety Zach Breen blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt by the Storm on the final play of the half.

The Laker defense forced a three-and-out on Lake Erie's first possession and sophomore CB Reggie Williams returned the punt 40-yards to the Storm 14 yard line. Shuford carried carried the ball twice, taking it the final nine yards for a TD and Stokes added the PAT for a 26-17 Laker lead.

Lake Erie College went 79 yards in 9 plays as Bedevelsky hit David Romeo with a 5-yard completion that was tipped by GVSU's Reggie Williams. The PAT pulled pulled Lake Erie within two (26-24).

GVSU faced a third-and-24 midway through the third quarter, but Parling hit Shuford with a pass over the middle that covered 58 yards for a touchdown. Stokes added the PAT for a 33-24 GVSU lead.

LEC answered with a Romeo 72 yard TD run with 6:51 left in the third quarter.

Grand Valley State rolled up 547 yards of total offense (340 rushing/207 passing), highlighted by Norman Shuford's 167 yards rushing and 118 yards receiving. Hersey Jackson toted the ball 14 times for 112 yards rushing. Parling completed 9-of-20 passes for 207 yards and two TDs. Brad Howard led the defense with 11 tackles, while Jarrod Cox chipped in nine stops.