ESPN3 GVSU vs. Indianapolis

GVSU-Indinapolis Game Notes


The Game: #2 Grand Valley State (0-0) at Indianapolis  (0-0)
Date: Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Site:  Key Stadium (5,500) 
Radio: ESPN 96.1 FM - Steve Lloyd-Jones (play-by-play) and Greg Johnson (color)
Web/TV: ESPN3 - Tom Cleary (play-by-play) and Bob Mitchell (color)

The Coaches
Grand Valley State • Matt Mitchell (Cornell College, 1997) • 69-20 (8th) 
Indianapolis • Bob Bartolomeo (Butler) • 72-30-1 (10th)/58-23 at UI (8th)

• The Series
Grand Valley State leads the all-time series with Indianapolis by an 20-2 margin. Indinapolis won the last meeting by a 34-33 score in 2011. GVSU is 10-1 at Indianapolis and 10-1 at home in Lubbers Stadium versus the Greyhounds. 

• Grand Valley State is in its 47th season of football and sports a 383-138-3 all-time record. GVSU's .734 winning percentage tops all of college football regardless of division in winning percentage. Michigan ranks second (.730) and Notre Dame third (.728).

• Grand Valley State is 29-17 all-time in season-openers and have won 15-of-the-last-16 since 2001. The Lakers' last loss in a season-opening game since 2001 was at Azusa-Pacific in 2014 (26-23) in overtime. 

• Grand Valley State is in its 47th season of football and sports a 383-138-3 all-time record. GVSU's .734 winning percentage tops all of college football all-time, regardless of division, that have played at least 500 games. Michigan is second (.730) and Notre Dame third (.728).

• Grand Valley State is ranked second in the 2017 AFCA Coaches' poll. Grand Valley State has now been ranked in the AFCA preseason top three 12 times since 2002 (16 polls) and the top 10 14 times. GVSU has been ranked in every AFCA top 25 preseason poll the last 16 years. In addition, the Lakers have been ranked number one in the AFCA weekly poll an NCAA DII high 88 times since 2000, while NW Missouri State has been ranked number one 30 times. 
• Grand Valley State has been ranked in the top five of 159 AFCA Division II Coaches' polls since 2001.

• Grand Valley State has won 13 consecutive regular season games. 

• Head coach Matt Mitchell is 6-1 in season-opening game. 

     Grand Valley State enters the 2017 season ranked second in the American Football Coaches' Association poll. GVSU has now been ranked in the AFCA preseason top three 12 times since 2002 (16 polls) and the top 10 14 times. The Lakers have been ranked in every AFCA top 25 preseason poll the last 16 years, including a ranking as the number one team in the AFCA weekly poll an NCAA DII high 88 times since 2000, while NW Missouri State has been ranked number one 30 times. 

     Grand Valley State, which claimed the 2016 GLIAC Championship and completed the ninth undefeated regular season in program history, was the highest ranked GLIAC team in the final 2016 AFCA Coaches' Poll at #4. GVSU was also picked by league coaches to win the 2017 GLIAC title.

     "We have the pieces needed to compete for a GLIAC Championship and advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs, but it takes a lot more than names of key returnees and transfers to win at this level of football," said eighth-year head coach Matt Mitchell. 

"It takes a team that will "Embrace the Process" of doing everything needed to be successful, both on an off the field. Being a great teammate and caring about the person in the locker next to you more than you care about yourself. If we are able to do those things the wins will take care of themselves," added Mitchell.

Mitchell will welcome back 41 letterwinners for the 2017 season, including a host of preseason honor candidates on both sides of the ball. Junior RB Marty Carter was a consensus All-American a year ago after leading the nation and setting a GVSU single-season record with 1,908 yards and 20 TDs. Junior QB Bart Williams passed for 3,334 yards and 33 touchdowns as a sophomore and is 24-4 as a starting QB with 7,549 passing yards and 79 TDs. A deep and talented receiving unit returns, highlighted by seniors Brandon Bean (33-560, 3 TD) and Urston Smith(34-769, 8 TD), while junior Nick Dodson (58-864, 13 TD) is a game changer. In addition, two proven tight ends (Nick Keizer and Pete Cender) and four starters on the offensive line will be coming back in 2017. The offensive skill players are the top skill unit in the country as 85.4 percent (5,378 yards) of the total yards gained returns. 

Junior QB Bart Williams is the top returning quarterback in the country with 7,549 yards and 79 touchdowns in two years as a starter. A true coach on the field, Williams excels at making adjustments and changing the play to ensure the Lakers get into or out of a play pre-snap. Redshirt freshmen Cole Kotopka and Matt Crable are entering their third year in the program and will relish and opportunity to get on the field. 

Junior running back Marty Carter returns as the top running back in the country after rushing for a national-best 1,908 yards and 20 TDs in 2016. Carter was a consensus All-American and finished fifth in the Harlon Hill Award voting as the Division II Player of the Year. Sophomore Bryce Young-Walls returns after an injury plagued 2016 campaign. Young-Walls turned in a solid spring and will be counted on for a significant contribution. Fellow sophomore Caleb Richard will push for playing time and redshirt freshman Dre'on Kemp was impressive in the spring and coaches feel he could make key contributions. 

A deep and talented receiving unit returns, highlighted by seniors Brandon Bean (33-560, 3 TD) and Urston Smith (34-769, 8 TD), while junior Nick Dodson (58-864, 13 TD) is a game changer. In addition, two proven tight ends (Nick Keizer and Pete Cender) will be key components in the Laker offense. In addition, senior Jon-Mark Anderson, juniors Jalen Bryant and Ethan Cortazzo along with redshirt freshman Austin Paritee will push for playing time in the rotation. 

The Lakers return four starters on the offensive line, including Nate Brady, a First-Team All-GLIAC performer as a freshman. Junior Ben Walling will be a candidate for postseason honors, while senior Evan Schriner and junior Nick Fish all saw starting duty on the offensive line. This group will pave the way for the most prolific group of returning skill players in the country. Seniors Dan DeLuca and Scott Koenigsknecht, along with juniors Josh Bass, Tyler Cukovich and Derek Sparkman will join sophomores Guerin Wagner, John Gaughier, Kyle Korman, Keegan Golder, Tom Cwiok and Ethan Culberson as potential two-deep players. 
The 2016 Laker defense had flashes of brilliance, evidenced by holding four opponents to seven points or less. In addition, the GVSU defense ranked among leaders in every GLIAC defensive category. The 2017 Laker defense is ready for a signature season and leading the way will be senior LB Collin Schlosser  who led the team in tackles a year ago with 108 stops and 10.5 tackles for loss. Senior safety Garrett Pougnet chipped in 60 tackles and junior DL Dylan Carroll added 39 tackles, 14.5 TFL (-82) and 7.5 QB sacks (-61). Senior interior defensive tackle Keane Belcher is a proven performer on the defensive line and will be looking for a big senior campaign. Tre Walton, Kalen Dunham, Jacob Studdard, Jailyn Harden, Brendan McMahon, Thad Little and Kyle Short will all battle for playing time in the secondary, while Dae'Shaun Hurley, Isaiah Nkansah will log time at linebacker. 

Two starters return on the defensive line in senior Keane Belcher and junior Dylan Carroll. Both will be relied on to lead the way up front, but the addition of transfers Demetrius Farmer (Ohio Dominican) and Reggie Spearman (Illinois State) will bolster the defensive line. Farmer was a First-Team All-GLIAC performer a year ago, while Spearman began his career at Iowa. Senior Cody Moore and junior Jacob Howe will see a significant amount of playing time and sophomore Mike Pettis moved from linebacker to defensive line in the spring and will make an immediate impact. Sophomores Wallace Hall and James McBride, will join redshirt freshman Dennis Johnson and Chaz Westfall for playing time. 

Senior Collin Schlosser is the undisputed leader of the Laker defense. Schlosser is an all-america candidate and will go down as one of the top linebackers in GVSU football history. Senior Garrett Pougnet made a seamless transition from safety to linebacker and will see action as a nickel and weakside backer. Senior Dae'Shaun Hurley will see action at nickel and sophomore Isaiah Nkansah will also see action as the weakside linebacker. Junior Brendan McMahon and freshmen Jace Demonov and Tyler Bradfield will also see action in the middle of the Laker defense.  

Senior Tre Walton enters his final season with the most experience in the defensive secondary and is a proven player. Junior Jacob Studdard, along with sophomores Kalen Dunham and Jailyn Harden will play significant roles in the secondary. Senior Kyle Short and Ball State transfer, Darius Conaway will push for starting assignments at safety and corner. Sophomores Thad Little, DaMario Johnson and De"Aundre Simpkins will also push for playing time. 

Sophomore Dan Madden averaged 37.7 yards per punt a year and will handle those duties. Sophomores Bryce Lovelace and Avery Echols, along with freshman Jake Crabtree will battle for the place kicking duties. Junior J.J. McGrath will handle all kickoffs. 

2017 Preseason Honor Candidates

Bart Williams (Jr., QB)
Career: Tallied a 24-4 record as a starting QB...Completed 476-of-813 passes for 7,472 yards and 79 touchdowns...Pass efficiency rating of 161.2...Averaging 243.5 yards and 2.82 TD passes per game...Ranks fifth all-time in passing TDs (79) and sixth in passing yards (7,549)...Holds the third (280.4) and the fifth-best (256.5) single-season passing yards per game average in Laker football history.
    2016: CoSIDA Second-Team Academic All-American...CoSIDA District 4 First-Team honoree...Academic All-GLIAC selection...CCA Super Region 4 performer...Earned All-GLIAC plaudits...Completed 202-of-331 passes for 3,334 yards and 33 TDs...Ranked second nationally and led the GLIAC in Pass efficiency rating (172.5)...Ranked fourth nationally and led the GLIAC in yards per completion (16.5 ypc)...Completed 61.0 percent of his passes and averaged 256.5 yards passing per game.

Marty Carter (Jr., RB) 
    Career: Ranks eighth in GVSU career rushing yards with 2,797 yards and 27 TDs on 391 carries...3-for-4 passing for 77 yards and two TDs...Rushed for 723 yards and five TDs in five NCAA Playoff games.
    2016: D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Year...Fifth in final voting for 2016 Harlon Hill Award as the D2 Player of the Year...D2Football.com First-Team All-American...Associated Press First-Team All-American...Don Hansen Football Gazette First-Team All-American...CCA First-Team All-American...GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year...Don Hansen Football Gazette Super Region 4 First-Team...CCA Super Region 4 First-Team...First-Team All-GLIAC...Led the nation in rushing yards (1,908) and rushing TDs (20)...1,486 yards rushing yards in GLIAC games only ranks fifth all-time...GVSU single-season rushing record with 1,908 yards...Ranks second all-time in rushing yards per game (146.8) and rushing touchdowns (20) in a season...Led the GLIAC in all-purpose yards with 1,940...1,940 all-purpose yards ranks third all-time at GVSU...Rushed for 1,908 yards and 20 TDs, while hauling in 12 passes for 86 yards and one TD...GVSU single-game rushing record with 298 yards on 20 carries vs. Northern Michigan (9/17)...298 yards ranks sixth in GLIAC history for a single-game...102 points scored in GLIAC games ranks 10th all-time...Broke the 100-yard rushing mark in a game nine times and went for 200 yards or more four times...Did not play in second half of four games.

Nick Dodson (Jr., WR)
    Career: Tallied 90 catches for 1,343 yards and 18 TDs in two years...All-GLIAC Honorable Mention in 2016...Led team with 58 catches for 864 yards and 13 TDs...Ranked third in the GLIAC in receiving TDs (20) and ninth in receiving yards (864)...Broke the 100-yard receiving mark twice...

Brandon Bean (Sr., WR)
    Career: Played in 32 career games...Hauled in 72 receptions for 1,277 yards and 11 TDs...Averaging 17.7 yards per catch...Recorded 1,537 all-purpose yards.

Demetrius Farmer (Sr., DL) 
Prior to GVSU: Played three years at Ohio Dominican...2016:  First-Team All-GLIAC performer...Don Hansen Football Gazette Super Region Four honoree...Recorded 68 total tackles, eight quarterback sacks (-46), 13.5 tackles for loss (-62) and forced two fumbles...

Garrett Pougnet (Sr., LB)
    Career: Recorded 187 career tackles, 11.5 (-28) tackles for loss, five interceptions and 13 pass deflections.
    2016: All-GLIAC selection...Played in 10 games, missing three starts with an ankle injury...Tallied 60 total tackles (28 solo/32 assisted)...

Collin Schlosser (Sr., LB) 
    Career: Played in 36 career games...210 career tackles (87 solo/123 assisted)...19.5 tackles for loss (-72) and 8.5 QB sacks (-46)...Seven QB hurries.
    2016: GLIAC Academic Excellence honoree...CCA Second-Team All-American...CCA Super Region 4 First-Team...All-GLIAC performer...Led team with 108 total tackles (45 solo/63 assisted)...Recorded 10.5 TFL (-27) and 2.5 QB sacks (-14)...Recovered two fumbles.

Urston Smith (Sr., WR)
    Career: Hauled in 55 career receptions for 1,113 yards and 11 TDs...Averaging 20.2 yards per reception in his career. 
 2016: Earned second varsity letter...Played in 12 games...Ranked third on the team in receptions with 34 for 769 yards and eight TDs.

Nate Brady (So., OG)
    2016: Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American...Don Hansen Super Region 4 honoree...All-GLIAC performer.

Dylan Carroll (Jr., DE)
    Career: Tallied 74 tackles, 11.0 QB sacks (-84), 21.0 TFL (-117) in two years. 
    2016: Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American...All-GLIAC performer.

Nick Keizer (Sr., TE)
    Career: 16 receptions for 230 yards and two TDs.