#14 Grand Valley State claimed a 48-0 GLIAC victory over Grand Rapids foe Davenport University Saturday night before the second largest crowd (16,734) to watch a college football game at Lubbers Stadium. GVSU will now head to Houghton, Michigan for a 1 p.m. contest on ESPN3 Saturday (Sept. 9).
It was a slow start for both offenses throughout the first quarter as the only points scored came from the Laker special teams unit. Redshirt freshman safety
Eric Plate blocked a punt that redshirt freshman receiver
Luke DeLong recovered in the end zone with 1:22 left in the first quarter. The Laker defense dominated the first half and forced a punt that settled at the 50 yard line. It took just six plays for junior QB
Bart Williams hit paydirt as he found TD Pete Center all alone in the endzone, The PAT was blocked and GVSU headed to the lockerroom with a 13-0 lead.
Offense was not a problem in the second half for the Lakers as they scored 35 point, including a TD on all three third quarter possessions. GVSU drove 70 yards in eight plays, highlighted by a 40 yard run by junior RB Marty Carter on the first play. Williams hit senior WR
Brandon Bean with a 4 yard TD pass and the made PAT upped the Laker lead to 20-0.
Redshirt freshman LB
Tyler Bradfield picked off the first pass of his career and returned it 12 yards to the DU 26 yard line on the third play of the next Panther possession. Williams hit Carter with a 12 yard shovel pass and Carter then ran it in from 14 yards out to increase the lead to the 27-0. Davenport fumbled the ensuing kickoff as senior safety
Kyle Short forced the fumble that senior CB
Tre Walton recovered. The Lakers drove 28 yards in six plays as Carter finished the drive with a 5 yard TD run.
J.J. McGrath added the PAT for a 34-0 lead.
The fourth quarter was much the same as sophomore
Bryce Young-Walls rambled in from 14 yards out to culminate a 5-play, 60-yard drive. Sophomore RB
Caleb Richard had the big play on the drive with a 37 yard run. Richard then finished a 6-play, 63-yard drive with a 12 yard TD run and McGrath added the PAT for the 48-0 win.
The Laker offense churned out 423 yards, rushing for 208 yards and passing for 215. Williams completed 17-of-25 passes for 187 yards and two TDs, while Carter led the rushing game with 1-6 yards on 16 carries just a little over two quarters of action. Richard chipped in 55 yards and a TD on six carries. Bean led the receiving unit with eight catches for 75 yards and a TD.
Defensively, GVSU limited Davenport to 53 rushing yards and 68 passing yards. Senior DT
Demetrius Farmer, Short and Bradfield led the defense with six tackle apiece.
