Box Score ALLENDALE -- Grand Valley State's Lakers were dressed for it.

Throwback uniforms seemed a good fit for some throwback football. The Lakers, dressed in baby blue and white from way back, turned back visiting Wayne State 17-3 Saturday night by, well, repeatedly turning the Warriors back.

Yes, Grand Valley won a defensive battle, which hasn't really been the norm around here in recent years. It was a black-and-blue game, only with some baby blue for contrast.

"It was a defensive game, and we had a feeling it might be that way because they bring a lot of pressure and have a lot of linebackers blitzing," said Grand Valley coach Matt Mitchell. "The only three points we gave up came off a blocked punt, and the defense did a good job on the quick change and short field."

Do not be mistaken, the offense had its moments. Quarterback Heath Parling had a night of good decisions, 17-of-28 passing for 256 yards and some key throws to Jamie Potts when third down was an issue. And in defensive games, third down is often an issue.

The defense gets the nod on this homecoming night though. The Lakers had allowed at least 21 points in the previous five games of the season, but Wayne State was fortunate to get three points. It wasn't that the Warriors didn't try everything, as in two quarterbacks, a runner and a passer, screens, downfield passes, an assortment of runs were all attempted. They didn't work.

They just ran into guys in baby blue like David Talley, Grand Valley's sophomore middle linebacker who had eight tackles, a half sack, 2.5 tackles for lost yardage, a forced fumble and all with a cast on his right hand.

"He's a younger player who plays with a lot of confidence and plays older than he really is," said junior defensive end Matt Judon of Talley. "He is fast, and he looks at a lot of film. He's a study guy and he knows his run fits."

Talley was also able to make plays because the defensive linemen like Judon, Matt Mosley, Frank Beonzi and Isiah Dunning were up front making the Wayne State offensive line miserable. This is a Grand Valley team in which three of the top four tacklers on the team play on the defensive line.

"They lost some linemen (in injury in the first half), so they had some younger linemen come in and we took advantage of that," Judon said. "We were prepared for both quarterbacks. Our coaches had a great game plan, so we knew what was coming and kept the pressure on."

Linebacker Joe Moran, a sophomore who had three tackles and a fumble recovery as well as some other disruptive plays, loved the game.

"Smash mouth, that's my style of play," he said. "I like it when it's like that. When it's going to be a run play, I'm in there and it's fun."

Wayne State finished with four turnovers, just 29 net yards rushing for a 1.1 average per rush and just 132 yards of total offense. Except for one offensive possession that ended in a fumble, the Warriors found the Lakers hard to solve up front.

"The defensive line played great," Moran said. "When they are like that, it frees up the linebackers to make plays. They make it easy for us, and it is fun."

After a 0-3 start, then games in which the Lakers won 66-28 and 42-21, it was a welcome sight for the Lakers to see the defense step to the forefront and pound out a win.

It shows growth, which is important when a team starts 0-3. Getting a winless team to 3-3 from 0-3 takes work, focus and growth on both sides of the ball.

"Our defensive mentality every week is to play sound football," Moran said. "You don't want to get too caught up in things. Be one of 11. Focus on the next play."

Mitchell is pleased.

"We recruit character guys to Grand Valley, and even when we were 0-3 they came to practice and worked the process, kept their enthusiasm, worked to improve and showed pride," he said.

Mitchell is also a defensive guy, spends most of his time working with the guys on that side of the ball, and inside every defensive guy there is the love of a game where just three points are allowed. He was asked how much he liked the game and it was clear he liked it a lot.

"Good homecoming," he said and smiled.