UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -- Overcoming penalties, injuries and a desperate opponent, the No. 9 Grand Valley State Lakers dropped the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals, 31-28, in the annual Battle of the Valleys showdown Saturday (Oct. 27) at Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium. The Lakers, who have now beaten the Cardinals in seven straight meetings, improve to 8-1 on the year and 5-1 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play, while SVSU drops to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the league.
 
The Lakers gained 195 yards on the ground, led by redshirt-freshman Jack Provencher, who went over the century mark in rushing for the first time in his career and scored what would prove to be the game-winner late in the fourth quarter. Cole Kotopka, who made his first career start at quarterback for an injured Bart Williams, threw for 200 yards and also rushed for a pair of touchdowns in the win. The Lakers wound up with 395 overall yards of offense, compared to 405 by Saginaw Valley.
 
The Cardinals, who celebrated senior day Saturday, entered the game ranked tenth in the Super Region 3 poll. The loss more-than-likely eliminates SVSU from playoff contention. Their hunger was palpable during that fourth quarter, which the Lakers entered with a 24-6 lead before needing a defensive stand to hold on for the win at the buzzer. The Lakers were called for 12 penalties, accruing 92 yards, in the game – something head coach Matt Mitchell said would be a point of emphasis after this one.

Post-game sound: hear from head coach Matt Mitchell after a thrilling Battle of the Valleys win pic.twitter.com/z7lmM2KqZF

— GVSports Network (@GVSUSportsNet) October 27, 2018

 
Nick Dodson had a game-high seven grabs for 67 yards while Austin Paritee had 96 receiving yards, including a crucial 40-yard catch during the Lakers final scoring drive. The Lakers would go 6-12 on third downs in the game and convert their only fourth down try. Tyler Bradfield finished with a game-high 15 tackles, including five solo stops. Brendan McMahon and Tyree Horton each also had double-digit tackles with Horton making a pair of TFLs.
 
The Lakers got the scoring started on special teams when Nick Dodson fielded a line-drive punt on a bounce and broke away for an 83-yard touchdown return with six minutes left in the first quarter. It was the first special teams touchdown of the season for the Lakers.
 
Kotopka would add to the lead early in the second quarter, pushing the pile across the goal line on third down from two yards out. The teams would trade field goals on the ensuing possessions, with J.J. McGrath punching home a 24-yard field goal to make it a two-touchdown lead, 17-3, at halftime.
 
The Cardinals would drive for a field goal on the opening possession of the third quarter before picking off a Kotopka pass in Laker territory. The GVSU defense would answer; however, with an interception by Thad Little at the goal line to rescue possession for the Lakers. GVSU would flex their muscle with a 12-play, 6:33 drive, capped by Kotopka's second rushing touchdown of the day after Jack Provencher raced the ball inside the one on a 19-yard play the previous down.
 
The Cardinals would answer with a quick scoring drive of their own, using seven plays to 74 yards in just 2:35, with a Nate McCrary touchdown run getting SVSU in the end zone for the first time in the game. Brandon Wadley would take the following kickoff all the way into Cardinal territory, setting the Lakers up at the SVSU 41.
 
The Lakers drove deep into Cardinal territory, but had the field goal partially blocked – compounded by an unnecessary roughness penalty – to put the Cardinals at the 35. They would drive down the field, converting on three key third downs, for a touchdown with 7:37 left in regulation and would convert on the two-point conversion to cut the GVSU lead to three.
 
Starting at their own 30, the Lakers got a 40-yard air strike from Kotopka to Ausitn Paritee to set up Provencher for a 16-yard touchdown scamper to make it a two-score lead with five minutes left. An unsportsman like penalty gave SVSU the ball at midfield on the ensuing drive and the Cardinals would convert two 4^th and 6 efforts en route to a touchdown to once again trim the Laker lead to three, this time with 92 seconds left.
 
Laundry would once again hurt the Lakers, as a penalty allowed the Cardinals to kick off from midfield. The initial onside kick attempt was bobbled by the hands team and recovered by SVSU, but a procedural penalty forced a retry and, this time, Ethan Cortazzo came up with the recovery. The Lakers would go three-and-out, leaving just over a minute to go for the Cardinals – needing a field goal to tie. They'd get as far as midfield, allowing a hail mary heave to the end zone, but Brandon Wadley intercepted the ball securing the win for the Lakers.
 
Grand Valley State has two regular season games remaining, both at Lubbers Stadium, beginning with the Ashland Eagles next Saturday (Nov. 3) at 7:00 PM in Allendale. ESPN3 will have the live broadcast, the Grand Valley Sports Network will have radio coverage and gvsulakers.com will provide live stats. @GVSUFootball will live-Tweet the game as well.