Press Conference
#8 Grand Valley State claimed a 34-6 victory over GLIAC rival Saginaw Valley State Saturday night before the sixth largest crowd in Lubbers Stadium history (15,985). GVSU improves to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in GLIAC action, while SVSU falls to 2-3 overall and 0-3 in GLIAC play. Grand Valley State will hit the road for a GLIAC game at Wayne State next Saturday (Oct. 7).
The Laker defense forced a three-and-out on the Cardinals first possession and the Laker offense took over and struck quickly. Junior QB
Bart Williams hit senior WR
Urston Smith with a 38-yard pass and catch on the first play from scrimmage. GVSU needed just six more plays to hit paydirt as senior WR
Brandon Bean carried it in on a jet sweep. The PAT was blocked and GVSU led 6-0.
SVSU put its only points on the board on its ensuing possession, helped by a 70 yard completion to the GVSU five. Freshman RB Nate McCrary carried it in from one yard out, but the PAT hit the upright and the score was tied 6-6.
Neither team was able to put much together offensively so the GVSU special teams unit decided it was time to make an impact. Sophomore safety Jailyne Harden blocked a Cardinal punt and the Laker offense didn't was any time getting in the endzone. Sophomore WR
Brandon Wadley went nine yards on the first play and sophomore running back
Bryce Young-Walls went the final 16 yards to paydirt and
Bryce Lovelace added the PAT for a 13-6 Laker lead.
Special teams play once again played a key role as the Lakers'
Brendan McMahon forced a fumble on a SVSU punt return that Dae'Shaun Hurley recovered. Williams hit Bean with a 10 yard TD pass on the first play and PK
Avery Echols added the PAT for a 20-6 lead.
Saginaw Valley State went on a 19-play, 77-yard drive that took 9:22 off the clock, but PK Alex Kenrick missed a 32 yard field goal wide right and GVSU went into the lockerroom with a 20-6 lead.
Laker special teams continued to dominate as Wadley returned the second half kickoff 56 yards to the SVSU 44 yard line. Williams hit Bean again with a big play, this one covering 30 yards to Cardinal five yard line. Williams then his WR
Nick Dodson with a two yard TD pass and after the Echols PAT GVSU led 27-6.
GVSU's final points came from the defensive side of the ball as sophomore defensive end
Michael Pettis forced a fumble that senior LB
Garrett Pougnet returned 37 yards for a touchdowns. Earlier Pougnet picked off a pass and returned it 29 yards.
"I thought we did a great job defensively overall," said GVSU head coach
Matt Mitchell. "We were able to shut down the running game and we got great pressure on the QB with six sacks. We also held a great advantage on special teams."
The GVSU defense tallied 13.0 tackles for loss (-68), six QB sacks (-58) and forced three turnovers. Senior LB
Collin Schlosser led the way with eight stops, while DE
Dylan Carroll chipped in eight stops and a TFL (-2). Pougnet recorded six tackles and a QB sack (-8) to go along with his fumble return for a TD and interception.
Young-Walls led the offense with 15 carries for 97 yards and a TD, while U. Smith hauled in three catches for 79 yards.
