Press Conference

Grand Valley State dropped a 42-17 decision to Northwest Missouri State in NCAA DII First-Round playoff action at Lubbers Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Lakers finish the 2018 campaign with a 10-2 mark, while the Bearcats advance to a second-round playoff game. 

Northwest Missouri State led 14-10 at the half of evenly played game through the first 30 minutes of action. The Bearcats scored on their third offensive play of the game when a missed tackle led to a 51 yard touchdown pass on a third and 10. However, the GVSU special teams unit downed a punt on the NW Missouri State one yard line and senior DE Dylan Carroll recovered a fumble on the Bearcats' second offensive play for a touchdown. Senior PK J.J. McGrath added the PAT to tie the game at 7-7 after one quarter of action.

NW Missouri State put together an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive to take a 14-7 lead. early in the second quarter, but the Lakers were able to put a 35-yard J.J. McGrath field goal on the board to pul within four (14-10) at the half. The Laker defense forced a pair of punts to start the second half before NW Missouri State put together a 4-play, 65-yard scoring drive to take a 21-10 lead. The Laker offense answered with a 7-play, 63-yard scoring drive that began with 28 yard pass and catch from senior QB Bart Williams to to senior WR Nick Dodson. Redshirt freshman RB Jack Provencher ended the drive with a 2 yard TD run and the Lakers were back to within four (21-17).

The back breaker for the Lakers came on the Bearcats first play from scrimmage when running back Isaiah Strayhorn raced 84 yards for a touchdown to up the NW Missouri lead to 28-17. NWMS added two fourth quarter TDs for the final margin. 

The Laker offense rushed for 111 yards and passed for 128 yards, highlighted by 60 rushing yards and a TD from Provencher. Austin Paritee caught five passes for 58 yards and Nick Dodson hauled in two passes for 57 yards. Sophomore LB Tyler Bradfield led the defense with nine tackles and an interception, while LB Brendan McMahon added eight stops and a QB sack (-12). DE Dylan Carroll notched three tackles and recovered a fumble for a TD.