Press Conference

#8 Grand Valley State claimed a 45-21 GLIAC victory over Wayne State Saturday before a crowd of 9,406 at Lubbers Stadium. The Lakers improve to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in league action. The NCAA DII Football playoff selection show will take place Sunday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. on NCAA.com. The Lakers entered Saturday's game third in the latest NCAA DII Super Region 3 rankings. GVSU has won 10 or more games in a season 16 times in the 48 year history of the program. 

The Laker offense started fast with an opening drive that covered 75 yards in 10 plays and took 4:55 off the clock. Senior QB Bart Williams hit senior WR Nick Dodson with a 14 yard completion to convert a third down, while sophomore QB Cole Kotopka picked up a third down conversion with a 12 yard run. Junior RB Chawntez Moss finished the drive with an eight yard TD run and place kicker J.J. McGrath added the PAT for a 7-0 lead. The Laker defense forced a punt the offense went back to work with a 5-play, 61-yard scoring drive. Williams hit RB Jack Provencher with a 26 yard completion on the first play and then finished the drive with a 22 yard TD pass to Grant Dempster. The TD reception was the first of Dempster's career.

Wayne State answered with a scoring drive of its own before the Laker offense struck again early in the second quarter with a Chawntez Moss 52 yard touchdown run to up the Laker lead to 21-7. The Warriors used a fake punt to continue a drive that led to a touchdown before a GVSU 7-play, 63-yard scoring drive that took 3:45 off the clock. Williams connected with Dodson three times on the drive for 44 yards, including a 12 yard TD pass to give the Lakers a 28-14 halftime lead. 

McGrath converted a 24 yard field goal to finish a 6-play, 73-yard scoring drive, but a Wayne State double reverse throwback pass was good for a 68 yard touchdown to pull the Warriors within 10 (31-21). 

Wayne State turned the ball over with two fumbles and two interceptions on four consecutive drives that led to the Lakers' final two touchdowns. FS Thad Little returned a fumble 51 yards to the Wayne State 10 and Williams hit WR Austin Paritee with a 10 yard TD pass on the first play. LB Tyler Bradfield recovered a Wayne State fumble and Provencher finished a 6-play, 47-yard drive with a 10 yard TD run for the final margin. 

In addition to the two fumble recoveries freshman defensive back Antonio Strong and junior safety Jailyn Harden each picked off passes in the second half. 

Williams completed 20-of-26 passes for 250 yards and three TDs for the offense, while Dodson hauled in seven receptions for 104 yards and one TD. Moss toted the ball 12 times for 100 yards and two TDs, while Provencher chipped in 33 yards on 10 carries and six catches for 58 yards. Paritee caught four passes for 53 yards. 

LB Tyler Bradfield led the defense with eight tackles and a fumble recovery, while follow LB Tyree Horton added six stops. 

Williams tied the NCAA DII career record for games throwing a TD pass at 47, moved into third in all-time TD passes with 126 and 13th in all-time passing yards with 12,302.