Post Game Press Conference

#3 Grand Valley State opened the 2016 football campaign with an impressive 45-7 GLIAC win over Tiffin in front of 13,588 fans inside Lubbers Stadium. GVSU improved to 29-17 in season-opening games, including wins in 15-of-the-last-16. In addition, GVSU improved to 31-13 in home openers, having won 15-of-the-last-16. GVSU will host Lake Erie College next Saturday (Sept. 10) at 7 p.m.

The Lakers scored on their second possession as sophomore QB Bart Williams connected with junior WR Urston Smith on a 43 yard pass and catch. Senior PK Joel Schipper added the first of his five PATs for a 7-0 GVSU lead. GVSU drove 70 yards in seven plays on its next possession as sophomore RB Marty Carter finished the drive with a 9-yard TD run. 

Sophomore WR Nick Dodson hauled in a 9-yard TD pass from Williams with 8:36 left in the second quarter to conclude a 9-play, 92-yard drive. Williams hit junior WR Brandon Bean with completions of 19 and 35 yards on the drive, while also hitting senior WR Matt Williams with a 17-yard pass and catch. 

The Laker defense got on the board in the third quarter as senior LB David Talley picked off a pass from Tiffin QB Antonio Pipkin and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. 

Junior backup QB Ollie Ajami added two rushing TDs in the fourth quarter, scoring from 13 and five yards. Schipper also booted a 43 yard field goal in the fourth quarter. 

Tiffin's lone TD came midway through the fourth quarter against the GVSU second and third defensive unit. 

GVSU limited Tiffin to 254 yards of total offense, including the starting defense which limited the Dragons to 167 yards and kept TU off the scoreboard while they were in the game. A balanced Laker offense rushed for 277 yards and passed for 233 yards on 72 plays (7.1 ypp). 

Terrell Dorsey toted the ball 15 times for 100 yards, while Ollie Ajami added 82 yards on six carries. Sophomore Marty Carter added 57 yards on nine carries. B. Williams completed 15-of-25 passes for 233 yards and two TDs. Junior Brandon Bean hauled in six passes for 112 yards, Nick Dodson added five catches for 43 yards and one TD. Urston Smith chipped in two catches for 48 yards and Matt Williams tallied two catches for 30 yards. 

Junior LB Collin Schlosser led the defense with six tackles, while Garrett Pougnet added four stops and a TFL. Redshirt freshman Kalen Dunham, Donte Carey and Joe Moran each tallied four tackles. Sophomore DE Dylan Carroll notched 2.0 TFL (-15) and 1.5 QB sacks (-14) and senior Sydney Omameh posted a QB sack (-2) and a TFL (-2).