The #24-ranked Grand Valley State football team upped its record to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in GLIAC action with an impressive 38-17 road win over Wayne State Saturday night before the second largest crowd (5,377) in Adams Field history. GVSU will return home for a White Out next Saturday (Oct. 17) at Lubbers Stadium versus Michigan Tech.
Wayne State struck first with a 30 yard field goal at the 2:09 mark of the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead and then drove 88 yards in 12 plays for a TD that upped the Warrior lead to 10-0 with 3:29 in the first half. However, Grand Valley State answered with a key 10-play, 77-yard drive that took 2:32 off the clock. The Lakers converted three third downs and sophomore QB
Bart Williams hit junior WR
Matt Williams with a 7-yard TD pass. Junior place kicker
Joel Schipper added the PAT and pulled the Lakers to within three (10-7) at the half.
Wayne State received the opening kickoff of the second half and the Laker defense began its domination. GVSU forced a three-and-out and
Matt Williams returned the punt 26 yards to the WSU 24 yard line.
Bart Williams found senior RB
Kirk Spencer with an 8-yard pass and catch in the flat on first down, then Williams hit senior WR
Jamie Potts with a 16 yard TD pass at the 12:36 mark of the third quarter to give the Lakers a 14-10 lead.
Wayne State fumbled the ensuing kickoff and
Jacob Studdard recovered the ball at the Wayne State 24 yard line. GVSU went 24 yards in five plays, with Spencer rambling the final 11 yards for the TD to take a 21-10. GVSU picked up a fourth down conversion with a Spencer 4 yard run prior to his TD run to keep the drive alive.
The Laker defense continued to dominate forcing another punt and the Lakers drove 66 yards in 10 plays as Williams hit freshman WR
Nick Dodson with a 27 yard TD pass. The touchdown reception was the first in Dodson's career and upped the Laker lead to 28-10. Another short Wayne State drive resulted in a punt and GVSU continued to be aggressive on offense, driving 79 yards in eight plays for its fourth TD of the half. Williams hit WR
Brandon Bean with a screen pass that he took 26 yards for a TD and a 35-10 Laker lead.
Wayne State added a late TD before the Lakers concluded the scoring with a Schipper 27 yard field goal following a sack and forced fumble by
Matt Judon.
Bart Williams completed 25-of-37 passes for 327 yards and four TDs. His completions and yards were career highs, while his four TD passes tied a career-high. Bean caught a career-high eight passes and tied his career-high with 124 receiving yards and one TD, while
Matt Williams caught six passes for 56 yards and one TD. Wiliams also had a key 26 yard punt return. Potts hauled in four passes for 59 yards and a TD, while Dodson pulled down three catches for 43 yards and a TD. Spencer rushed for 88 yards and one TD, while catching three passes for 41 yards.
LB
Marquez Gollman led the defense with nine tackles, while Judon added eight tackles, 3.5 QB sacks and a forced fumble.
Joe Moran chipped in six tackles and a QB sack and
Collin Schlosser added three tackles and a QB sack.
Tre Walton picked off a pass and
Keane Belcher recovered a fumble. The Laker defense limited Wayne State to 108 rushing yards and 293 yards of total offense.
