The #20-ranked Grand Valley State Laker football team came up with a big win Saturday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio, defeating the #7-ranked Ohio Dominican Panthers by a 27-24 score. The Lakers scored 10 points in the final 6:04 to claim the win, which is was a reverse of fortune as just one year earlier ODU scored 14 points in the final 6:03 to claim a comeback win over the Lakers. GVSU (2-0, 1-0 GLIAC) will host #6 Ferris State next Saturday in Allendale for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Panthers got on the board first with an 11-play, 44-yard drive that resulted in a 46 yard field goal by senior PK Brent Wahle. However, as it would all day Grand Valley State responded with an 8-play, 62-yard drive that finished with a 16 yard pass from sophomore QB
Bart Williams to junior WR
Matt Williams. Junior PK
Joel Schipper added the PAT for a 7-3 Laker lead.
Ohio Dominican turned a GVSU turnover into a 7-play, 55-yard drive that finished with a 16-yard pass from Grant Russell to JT McFarland and Wahle added the PAT for a 10-7 Panther lead.
The Laker defense got a stop and Williams engineered a 6-play, 63-yard drive. Williams hit sophomore WR
Brandon Bean with a 35 yard completion and senior RB
Kirk Spencer finished the drive with a 4-yard TD run and Schipper converted the PAT.
ODU turned in a blocked punt into a touchdown when Russell tossed a desperation pass into the endzone that Fransohn Buckley caught to give the Panthers a 17-14 lead at the half.
The Laker defense dominated the second half, forcing five Ohio Dominican turnovers. It marked the most turnovers forced by GVSU since 2013 versus Wayne State.
The GVSU defense forced a turnover on the Panthers first possession of the second half when redshirt freshman
Devin McKissic picked off a pass at the ODU 11 yard line.
Junior nickel
Marquez Gollman picked off Russell on the Panthers next possession and returned it to Ohio Dominican 39-yard line. The Lakers picked up one first down and Schipper then drilled a career-long 44-yard field goal into a brisk Columbus wind to tie the game 17-17 with 6:25 left in the third quarter.
The GVSU defense forced its third turnover of the third quarter when sophomore safety
Garrett Pougnet forced a fumble following a pass completion that senior DE
Matt Judon recovered at the ODU 40 yard line. However, the ODU defense stiffened and forced a punt.
Ohio Dominican used three chunk plays to take the lead back with 2:45 left in the third quarter. Russell tossed a 19 yard TD pass and the PAT gave ODU a 24-17 lead.
Trailing 24-17 the Laker offense took over on its own 29 yard line after forcing an ODU punt. Williams hit Bean with an 11 yard pass and catch to open the drive. Williams converted a third down with a quarterback sneak. The key third down conversion came on a third and 10 play. Williams hit junior RB
Terrell Dorsey with a check down for an 18 yard completion. Following a Laker holding penalty, Williams then hit
Justice Wright with a 12 yard completion and then found Bean with an 18 yard pass and catch.
Kirk Spencer went the final 10 yards and Schipper hit the PAT for a 24-24 tie.
On the ensuing kickoff Wright forced a fumble that freshman CB
Jacob Studdard recovered at the Panther 15 yard line. GVSU picked up one first down, but ODU held and forced a Laker field goal. Schipper drilled the 22 yarder through the uprights and GVSU led 27-24 with 3:32 left.
Ohio Dominican drove inside GVSU territory in the closing minute and picked up a fourth down conversion, however, Gollman forced a fumble following a completion to Dez Stewart that
Donte Carey recovered with 49 seconds left.
David Talley led the defense with 10 tackles, while
Garrett Pougnet added nine stops and a forced fumble.
Matt Judon applied pressure all day and chipped in seven tackles and a QB sack.
Spencer rushed for 94 yards and two TDs on 18 carries, while Williams completed 15-of-31 passes for 195 yards and one TD. Bean hauled in seven catches for 124 yards, while
Matt Williams caught three passes for 36 yards and a TD. Schipper converted two field goals and three PATs.
