GVSU Post Game Press Conference
The 12th-ranked Grand Valley State football team claimed a 49-0 victory over GLIAC foe Northwood Saturday night before a crowd of 13,659 at Lubbers Stadium. The shutout for the Laker defense was the second of the season, marking the first time since 1995 GVSU has shutout two opponents in the same season. GVSU will now host Saginaw Valley State in the Battle of the Valleys next Saturday (Sept. 30) at Lubbers Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Grand Valley State got on the board first after forcing a Northwood turnover. The Lakers put together an 8-play, 78-yard drive that sophomore running back
Bryce Young-Walls finished with a 9-yard TD run. Junior QB
Bart Williams hit senior WR
Jon-Marc Anderson with a 20 yard completion on the second play from scrimmage, while Young-Walls also ripped off a 32 yard run.
Avery Echols added the PAT for a 7-0 GVSU lead. Junior QB
Bart Williams guided the Laker offense on a 7-play, 97-yard scoring drive early in the second quarter. Junior RB Marty Carter opened the drive that started on the Laker three yard line with a 27 yard run, followed by back-to-back completions from Williams to senior WR
Brandon Bean that covered six and 37 yards. Williams and Bean then hooked up for the third time on the drive, this completion covering four yards for a Laker TD. Echols added the PAT for a 14-0 lead. The GVSU offense did miss one scoring opportunity with a lost fumble inside the Northwood 10 midway through the second quarter.
The Laker offense scored early and often in the third quarter to the tune of 28 points. GVSU drove 74 yards in five plays to open the quarter, with the big play coming on a Williams to sophomore WR
Austin Paritee 54 yard pass and catch. Senior TE
Nick Keizer ended the drive with an 8 yard TD reception from Williams and Echols kicked the first of his four third quarter PATs.
The Laker defense forced its seventh punt of the night and the offense did not waste any time moving down the field. Williams hit Keizer with a 34 yard completion and closed the drive with a 21 yard touchdown pass to senior WR
Urston Smith. Carter raced 70 yards for a touchdowns with 4:40 left in the third quarter and Young-Walls closed the quarter with an 11 yard TD run.
The final points for the Lakers came on a 15-play, 69-yard drive that sophomore RB
Caleb Richard finished with a 3 yard TD run. Richard carried the ball 11 times for 42 yards on the scoring drive.
The GVSU defense limited Northwood to 188 yards of total offense, inlcuding just 28 through the air on 2-of-15 passing. The Timberwolves averaged just 3.4 yards per play and the Laker defense tallied eight tackles for loss (-31 yards) and two QB sacks (-13). Sophomore DE
Michael Pettis led the defense with eight tackles, while junior SS
Jacob Studdard chipped in seven stops and returned an interception 54 yards. Junior LB
Brendan McMahon added six stops and senior LB
Garrett Pougnet five.
Offensively, Grand Valley State churned out 591 yards, including 265 rushing yards on 43 rushes and 326 passing yards. Carter rushed for 150 yards and one TD on 17 carries, while Young-Walls added 62 yards and two TDs on seven carries. Williams completed 15-of-25 passes for 288 yards and three TDs. Bean led the receiving unit with eight catches for 126 yards and a TD, while Keizer added three catches for 66 yards. Nine different receivers caught passes for GVSU.
Laker Notes...
Bart Williams moved into third on the all-time passing yards chart with 8,515 yards and 89 TDs. Williams passed Brad Iciek (8,461) and Jeff Fox (8,493). Curt Anes is second with 10,581 yards...Marty Carter moved into fourth on the all-time rushing yards list with 3,287 yards. Carter passed former Laker great Jamie Hosford (3,157)...WR Brandon Bean now has 101 career catches for 1,628 yards and 15 TDs.
