GVSU Postgame Interviews

The 2016 Battle of the Valleys will go down to many as an epic affair, however, all the #2 Grand Valley State Lakers are smiling about is the outright 2016 GLIAC Championship, the programs first outright GLIAC title since 2008. GVSU claimed the title with a 62-56 double overtime victory over Saginaw Valley State before an overflow crowd of 10,027 at Harvey Randall Wickes Stadium. The overtime win was GVSU's first since a 9-6 victory at UC Davis in the 2003 season opener. GVSU, 10-0 overall and 9-0 in GLIAC action, will stay on the road with a noon kickoff at Wayne State next Saturday (Nov. 12). 

In a game of momentum swings, turnovers and big plays on both sides of the ball, it was a fourth down stop by the GVSU defense in the second overtime and a punishing running game that concluded the game with 27 consecutive runs. 

GVSU had the ball first in the first overtime and ran the four consecutive times. Sophomore RB Marty Carter had runs of seven and two yards, followed by a punishing 15-yard run to the one and then a 1-yard TD run by senior RB Terrell Dorsey to put the Lakers on top. Senior PK Joel Schipper added the PAT for a 56-49 lead. Saginaw Valley State tied the contest with a 24-yard TD pass and the PAT sent the game into a second overtime. 

The drama continued as SVSU was stopped on a third down conversion on the first possession of the second OT and looked poised to kick a field goal on fourth down. However, the Cardinal field goal unit was missing the holder and called timeout. Saginaw Valley State then decided to go for the first down on fourth down, but the rushing attempt up the middle was denied by senior DT Mark Rosenquist and the rest of the defensive front a yard short.

The Laker offense took over and continued to punish the Cardinal defense with the ground game. Carter had runs of six and five yards, followed by Dorsey runs of five yards and no gain to force a third and five at the SVSU nine yard line. Carter blasted up the middle to pick up the third down conversion with a seven yard run and then finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run for the win. 

"Wow, what a game," said seventh-year had Matt Mitchell. "That game had so many twist and turns and ebbs and flows, but our guys just continued to play the next play and showed some grit when we needed it the most. We had a several chances to hang our head and say it just wasn't our day, but that senior class was not about to let that happen and I am really proud of how they led our team. We have a lot to work on, but at the end of the day we are 10-0 and the 2016 outright GLIAC Champions," added Mitchell. 

Saginaw Valley State scored first following a Grand Valley State turnover. Driving eight yards for a touchdown and following the PAT SVSU led 7-0 with 10:32 left in the first quarter. 

The Laker offense regrouped with a 4-play, 69-yard drive that took 51 seconds. Sophomore RB Marty Carter had runs of 10 and 19 yards, followed by a 35-yard TD pass from sophomore QB Bart Williams to sophomore WR Nick Dodson. Senior PK Joel Schipper added the PAT for a 7-7 tie with 9:37 left in the first quarter.  

GVSU's offense continued to roll, going 76 yards in four plays as Williams hit Dodson again, covering 17 yards for a TD. Senior RB Terrell Dorsey recorded a 25 yard run prior to Dodson snatching the TD pass from Williams. 

The Laker defense forced a Cardinal punt and the offense continued to move the ball. GVSU drove 80 yards in five plays, highlighted by a 51 yard pass from B. Williams to senior WR Matt Williams and finished with a 9-yard TD pass from B. Williams to M. Williams at the 1:27 mark of the first quarter. Schipper added the PAT for a 21-7 lead. 

Saginaw Valley State answered with a TD drive of their own, covering 76 yards in 12 plays as QB Ryan Conklin hit tight end Will Farr with a 17-yard scoring pass. 

SVSU pulled to 21-20 at the half after a pair of field goals, covering 49 and 24 yards.  

Saginaw Valley State turned another Laker turnover into points as Tommy Scott scored on a 23 yard run to conclude a 4-play, 34-yard drive. Following the PAT Saginaw Valley State held its first lead, 27-21, since early in the first quarter. 

The Grand Valley State defense got in the scoring column as senior LB Marquez Gollman picked off a Conklin pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.

Saginaw Valley State returned an interception 46 yards for a TD to take a 34-28 lead, then returned another pick 52 yards to the GVSU two yard line. However, the Lakers' Donte Carey picked off a pass at the GVSU two yard line and returned it 48 yards to midfield to thwart the SVSU scoring opportunity. 

B. Williams hit WR Urston Smith with completions of 17 and 28 yards, the second of which went for a touchdown. The PAT by Schipper gave GVSU a 35-34 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter. 

The Cardinals regained the lead with a 10 yard TD run by Scott and SVSU converted the 2-point conversion to take a 42-35 lead. 

B. Williams connected with Smith for the second time, this pass play covering 54 yards for a TD to tie the game at 42-42 with 12:25 following the Schipper PAT. 

The defense forced a punt and the Lakers went on a 16-play, 73-yard scoring drive that took 8:37 off the clock. The drive consisted of 16 running plays, the last of which was a 5-yard TD run by Carter and the PAT put GVSU up 49-42. 

The Cardinals sent the game into overtime with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that took just 1:33 off the clock.

Williams completed 13-of-20 passes for 314 yards and five TDs, while Carter rushed for 200 yards and two TDs on 34 carries. Dorsey added 73 yards and one TD on 12 carries and went over the 1,000-yard career-rushing mark in overtime. WR Urston Smith hauled in six passes for 162 yards and two TDs. Senior WR Matt Williams caught four passes for 88 yards and a TD, followed by Nick Dodson's two catches for 52 yards and two TDs. Safety Garrett Pougnet notched a season-high 15 tackles and two pass breakups. Senior DE Alton Voss added a career-high 12 tackles, senior LB David Talley 10 stops and junior LB Collin Schlosser eight tackles.