Sept. 17, 2011
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Indianapolis, Ind. -
Indianapolis QB Chris Mills drove the Greyhounds 63 yards in four plays for the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left as UI claimed a 34-33 victory Saturday night at Key Stadium over the Lakers. GVSU falls to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in GLIAC action, while Indianapolis improves to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in GLIAC action.
The UI game-winning drive was forced after Grand Valley State drove 86 yards in 11 plays for the go ahead score with 36 seconds left in the game. GVSU QB Heath Parling hit senior TE Andrew Lorman with a 31 yard scoring pass and Ryan Stokes' PAT gave GVSU its first lead of the game, 33-28.
"We were not able to get a stop when we needed it most, said second-year head coach Matt Mitchell. We were able to hold them on two drives late in the fourth quarter and give our offense a chance, but in the end we were not able to get enough pressure on the quarterback or cover them long enough."
Indianapolis struck first with a 4-play, 80-yard drive, highlighted by a 27 yard TD run from QB Chris Mills. RB Klay Fiechter tallied a 38 yard run on the drive that put the Greyhounds in Laker territory.
Indianapolis took a 14-0 lead on a 28 yard touchdown pass from Rob Doyle to MarQuone Edmonds with 14:07 left in the second quarter. The 12-play, 83-yard drive took 7:38 off the clock.
The Laker offense finally got on track and with a 3-play, 79-yard scoring drive to get back into the game. QB Heath Parling hit WR Brandon Green with a 5 yard TD pass at the 7:43 mark of the second quarter and PK Ryan Stokes added the PAT. RB Norman Shuford set up the score with a 65 yard run to the Greyhound five yard line.
Indianapolis answered the Laker scoring drive with one of their own, driving 85 yards in 9 plays for a TD with six seconds left in the first half. Mills hit Edmonds with a 5 yard scoring pass to up the Greyhound lead to 21-7.
Grand Valley State opened the second half with a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive that took 5:26 off the clock. Parling hit a wide open Charles Johnson with a 14 yard scoring pass, but Stokes missed the first PAT of his career and the Greyhounds remained on top 21-13.
The GVSU defense forced an Indianapolis three and out on the Greyhounds opening possession of secnd half and the offense continued to pick up the pace, driving 75 yards in nine plays for a TD. RB Hersey Jackson picked up a key first down on a third and one, followed by a 45 yard pass completion from Parling to WR Jovonne Augustus. Jackson dove over from a yard out and Stokes hit the PAT to pull the Lakers within one (21-20) with 3:35 left in the third quarter.
Indianapolis answered again with a 11-play, 64-yard scoring drive as Mills hit WR Ryan Forney with 22-yard scoring pass with 12:13 left in the fourth quarter to up the lead UI lead to 28-20. Indianapolis picked up key third and fourth down conversion to keep the drive alive.
The Laker offense answered as Parling hit Johnson with a 25 yard touchdown pass with 10:06 left in the game, but the two-point conversion pass from Parling sailed high and Indianapolis stayed on top 28-26.
Trailing 28-26, GVSU blocked an Indianapolis field goal attempt with just under six minutes remaining, but Parling was picked off on a third and eight play. However, the Laker defense held the Greyhounds and forced a field goal attempt. The Laker defense twarted an Indianapolis fake field goal and gave the offense possession of the ball at the 15 yard line with 3:17 left in the game.
"Defensively, we were just not able to come up with a tackle or a pass deflection when we needed it the most, said junior safety Jarrod Cox. We did not get the job done on defense after the offense gave us a chance, but we have to come back Monday and get ready for Findlay. No one is going to feel sorry for us."
Junior RB Norman Shuford rushed for a career-high 170 yards on 18 carries for the Lakers. Sophomore Hersey Jackson added 80 yards on 14 carries. Parling completed 16-of-28 passes for 226 yards and four TDs, while Johnson led the receiving corps with 97 yards and two TDs on seven receptions. Lorman hauled in four catches for 61 yards and a TD.
Charles Hill led the defense with 10 tackles, while Andre Thomas and Brad Howard each added eight stops.
"We have to come back to work on Monday and get ready for Findlay, said Mitchell. "We will see how our players and coaches react to the adversity that we are facing."
