Sept. 29, 2012

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#4 Grand Valley State jumped out to a 37-7 halftime lead and went on to claim a 51-43 victory at #22 Michigan Tech Saturday (Sept. 29) before an MTU record crowd of 4,684. GVSU improves to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in GLIAC play, while Michigan Tech falls to 3-1 both overall and in GLIAC action. The Lakers will entertain Ferris State next Saturday (Oct. 6) at Lubbers Stadium.

Grand Valley State scored early and often, building a 34-0 second quarter lead. The Lakers drove 90 yards in five plays on its second drive of the game. Freshman running back Kirk Spencer went up the middle for 38 yards on first down. Junior RB Billy Seiler ran for five yards, but a personal fourl face mask added 15 yards to the play. Sophomore QB Isiah Grimes hit freshman tight end Jaime Potts with a 25 yard completion to the Michigan Tech 12 yard line and following a pass interfence call on the Huskies, Spencer went in from two yards out to get the Lakers on the board first. Marco Iaderosa added the PAT for a 7-0 Laker lead.

Junior CB Reggie Williams returned a punt 29 yards to set up the Lakers' second scoring drive. Grimes hit sophomore WR Darryl Pitts with a 32-yard pass and catch, followed an 11-yard TD pass from Grimes to senior WR Charles Johnson for a 13-0 GVSU lead.

Grand Valley State took a 20-0 lead with a 13-play, 64-yard scoring drive. Spencer converted a fourth-and-one play and Grimes hit Johnson with a 1-yard TD pass in the back of the end zone.

The Laker defense dominated MTU in the first half, forcing seven straight punts to open the game. Michigan Tech ended with negative yards on three first half drives. Following a three and out midway through the second quarter Grimes hit Johnson with a 56-yard TD pass on first down and Iaderosa added the PAT for a 27-0 GVSU lead.

The Laker offense continued to roll in the second quarter with a 5-play, 69-yard scoring drive. Sophomore running back Ben Hutchins caught a swing pass for a 31-yard completion and Grimes hit Pitts with a 22-yard scoring pass with 3:36 left in the first half.

Michigan Tech put together its only productive drive of the first half, a 7-play, 76-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown, however, GVSU went 44 yards in seven plays, concluding with a 37-yard field goal by Iaderosa with no time left on the clock for a 37-7 halftime lead.

The Laker defense forced a punt on the Huskies' opening possession of the second half and the Laker offense picked up where it left off in the first half. GVSU drove 77 yards in seven plays. Grimes hit Johnson with a 30-yard pass and Potts with a 24-yard pass and catch. Sophomore RB Ben Hutchins scored the first of his two third quarter TDs, the first coving 10 yards. MTU answered with an 11-play, 83 yard scoring drive, but the Lakers answered with its sixth straigh scoring drive. GVSU drove 73 yards in five plays for a score. Grims hit Johns with a 51-yard completion and Hutchins finished the drive with a 2-yard TD run.

Michigan Tech rallied for 23 fourth quarter points, but a Grimes to Potts 41 yard completion on third-and-sixth seeled the win for the Lakers.

"I am really proud of the way we started," said head coach Matt Mitchell. "Our defense came out and really executed the game plan, while our offense continued to be efficient."

The Laker defense limited Michigan Tech to 34 yards on 22 carries, including just 114 total yards in the first 30 minutes. GVSU tallied 388 total yards on 42 plays.

The Laker offense finished with a season-high 636 todal yards, including 411 through the air and 225 on the ground. Grimes completed 17-of-27 passes for 411 yards and four TDs in his second collegiate start. Spencer rushed 28 times for 136 yards and one TD, while Hutchins added 43 yards and two TDs on 11 carries.

"This was a nice win against a ranked opponent on the road," added Mitchell. "Michigan Tech is going to win a lot of games and we feel good about getting a GLIAC road. However, we have a lot work to do with a talented Ferris State coming to Lubbers Stadium next Saturday."

Charles Johnson continued his stellar play, hauling in seven receptions for 165 yards and three TDs. Sophomore WR Brandon Green caught four passes for 71 yards and rushed five times for 32 yards. Potts caught three passes for 90 yards, while Pitts hauled in two passes for 54 yards and a TD.

Defensively, Williams tallied a team-high nine tackles, while junior Charles Hill and freshman Brad Horling added six stops each.