#4-Ranked Grand Valley State started fast offensively and dominated defensively en route to a 42-7 victory over Truman State Saturday afternoon in Kirksville, Missouri. The game was called due to inclement weather with 4:21 left in the fourth quarter, but head coach Matt Mitchell was credited with the win, his 75th as head coach of the Lakers, moving past former GVSU coaching great Chuck Martin into second on the all-time coaching win list. The Lakers improve to 6-1 overall and will be at Ferris State next Saturday in the DII Showcase Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. 

"It was great to get out to a fast start and it shook out in the first half like I wanted it to," said GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell. "We opened with a great first drive and they did exactly what I thought they would do on their first drive, some things they haven't dome much of through the first six weeks. However, our defense responded and our offense kept rolling so I was pleased with we did," added Mitchell. 

The Laker offense opened with a 6-play, 75-yard scoring drive that took 2:59 off the clock. Junior QB Bart Williams hit WR Nick Dodson with a 7-yard TD pass and Avery Echols added the PAT for a 7-0 lead. Williams opened the drive with a 28 yard completion to senior TE Nick Keizer and later in the drive hit senior WR Brandon Bean with a 28 yard pass and catch. 

Truman State used a variety of runs and passes on its first drive and moved 78 yards in nine plays for a score. Jordan Salima toted the ball in from 10 yards out and with the PAT the game was tied 7-7. 

However, while that was it for the Bulldog offense in the first, half the Laker offense was just getting started. GVSU drove 72 yards in six plays for a second touchdown. Junior RB Marty Carter raced in from 35 yards out on a fourth-and-one play and Echols added his second PAT. Williams hit senior WR Urston Smith for a 22-yard completion on the second play of the drive. 

The GVSU defense forced a three-and-out and the offense went back to work. Williams connected with sophomore Austin Paritee for a 20 yard gain, then hit Bean with a 28 yard completion to the Truman State 17 yard line. Sophomore RB Bryce Young-Walls went the final nine yards for his first TD of the day and Echols added the PAT for a 21-0 lead. 

Williams drove the Lakers 80 yards in seven plays for another score, hitting Bean for 24 yards and then Keizer for 25 yards and a touchdown. The defense notched another three-and-out before the offense continued on cruise control.  Williams hit freshman WR Brandon Wadley with a circus 45 yard completion and and Young-Walls finished the drive with his second rushing TD of the game, this one covering 10 yards. Following the Echols PAT GVSU led 35-7. 

Sophomore safety Jailyn Harden caused a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that senior safety Kyle Short recovered. Williams hit Bean for 31 yards and then Dodson with a short TD pass to up the first-half lead to 42-7.

Williams set a GVSU single-game record for completions to start a game as he finished the first half of action 15-for-15 passing for 290 yards and three TDs. Carter rushed for 63 yards and one TD on nine carries, while Young-Walls added 37 yards and two TDs on nine carries. Bean caught five passes for 111 yards, while Keizer hauled in three passes for 63 yards and a TD. 

The Laker offense rolled up 398 yards in the first half, 290 through the air and 108 via the ground. Truman State tallied 78 yards on the first drive of the game and 73 through the rest of the first half. 

Freshman QB Cole Kotopka was 4-for-6 through the air for 34 yards, while Dodson caught five passes for 38 yards and two TDs. 

Defensively, Garrett Pougnet and Kyle Short led the way with seven tackles each, while Tyler Bradfield added four tackles. As a team, GVSU notched six TFL, three QB hurries and three pass breakups.