Dec. 14, 2013

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

Maryville, Mo. - Grand Valley State dropped an NCAA DII semifinal contest at Northwest Missouri State Saturday afternoon by a 27-13 margin. GVSU, making its eighth national semifinal appearance since 2001, finished the 2013 campaign with a 12-3 mark. NW Missouri State will play Lenior Ryne next Saturday (Dec. 21) in the DII National Championship game in Florence, Alabama.

Grand Valley State turned a Northwest Missouri State lateral that was recovered by Matt Mosley into into three points as freshman kicker Joel Schipper booted a career-long 37-yard through the uprights to give GVSU a 3-0 lead at the 12:59 mark of the first quarter. The Laker defense forced a three and out and the offense drove 48 yards yards in eight plays as Schipper booted a 28 yard field goal to up the GVSU lead to 6-0. Junior QB Heath Parling hit junior TE Joe Wirth with a 28 yard reception on the drive.

Northwest Missouri State answered, driving 80 yards in nine plays as sophomore QB Brady Boles went the final six yards for the TD and Ben Trewyn added the PAT for a 7-6 Bearcat lead.

NWMS fumbled at the GVSU one yard line and senior safety Erik Thompson picked it up and returned it to the GVSU 15 yard line. GVSU then drove 68 yards in 14 plays on a drive that took 5:44 off the clock. Schippper was wide right on a 34-yard attempt into the wind.

NW Missouri State kicked a 19 yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to complete a 10-play, 78-yard drive that took 2:24 off the clock.

Northwest Missouri State drove 84 yards in six plays for a score on its first drive of the second half to take a 17-6 lead.

Following a Lakers missed field goal, the Bearcats added a third quarter field goal of there own to take a 20-7 lead.

Grand Valley State answered with an 8-play, 77-yard touchdown drive as Parling hit sophomore tight end Jamie Potts with a 4-yard TD pass. Schippers's PAT cut the Bearcat lead to 20-13.

The Bearcats added a 43 yard TD from Trevor Anderson to Reuben Thomas to seal the game.

Junior QB Heath Parling completed 17-of-31 passes for 239 yards and one TD, while sophomore TE Jamie Potts caught seven passes for 77 yards and a TD. Senior WR Brandan Green caught five passes for 78 yards. Junior RB Chris Robinson rushed for 53 yards on 15 carries,

Senior SS Erik Thompson tallied nine tackles, while LB Charles Hill added seven stops.