Post-Game Press Conference

Grand Valley State dropped a 35-31 decision to Ferris State Saturday night before a crowd of 16,563 at Lubbers Stadium.  The Lakers fall to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in GLIAC action. 

It was a game of runs for both the Lakers and the Bulldogs throughout the night. Grand Valley State held a 10-0 first quarter advantage after the first of three rushing touchdowns by RB Chawntez Moss and PK J.J. McGrath booted a 24 yard field goal with 2:30 left in the first quarter . Ferris State opened the second quarter with a pair of touchdowns to give the Bulldogs a 14-10 advantage, but the Lakers answered quickly with 3-play,, 80-yard scoring drive. Senior QB Bart Williams hit WR Brandon Wadley with a 30 yard pass, followed by a 27-yard completion to WR Austin Paritee. A pass interference call put the Lakers at the FSU 8-yard line and Williams hit WR Nick Dodson with a TD pass to give GVSU a 17-14 hlaftime lead. 

GVSU opened the second half with a 5-play, 74-yard scoring drive take a 24-14. Williams hit Dodson with passes of 30 and 28 yards, followed by a Moss 11 yard TD run.  Ferris State answered with an 80 yard TD pass to pull back within three (24-21).

Neither team was able to mount anything offensively for the remainder of the third quarter, but FSU mad the big play with an interception return for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 28-24 lead.

GVSU answered again as Williams drove the Lakers 68 yards in seven plays. Dodson with passes that covered 28, 13 and 25 yards and Moss ended the drive with a 2-yard TD run to give GVSU a 31-28 lead. Ferris State used a running back throwback pass on fourth-and-two from the GVSU 31 yard line to pull out the win. 

Grand Valley State drove down to the field, but Williams was picked off at the Ferris State 29 yard line to end the game.

Williams completed 23-of-50 passes for a career-high 487 yards and one TD. The Lakers had three receivers go over the 100-yard receiving mark for the first time since Ashland in 2015. Dodson caught 10 passes for a career-high 200 yards and two TDs, while Wadley caught five for 166 yards and Paritee four for 105.  

The Laker defense limited Ferris State, the nations leading offense, to nearly 200 yards below its average. Senior LB Brendan McMahon led the way with eight tackles, a QB sack (-4) and two tackles for loss (-8), while Junior DE Michael Pettis added eight stops, 1.5 QB sacks (-9) and 1.5 TFL. Jailyn Harden, Tyree Horton and Isaiah Nkansah each tallied seven tackles and Horton also recovered a fumble.