Postgame Press Conference

#9 Grand Valley State claimed a 20-17 GLIAC win over Ashland Saturday (Nov. 3) night at Lubbers Stadium. The Lakers improve to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in GLIAC action. GVSU will host Wayne State next Saturday (Nov. 10) in the regular season finale that will start at 1 p.m. at Lubbers Stadium. Saturday's win over the Eagles was the 400th in GVSU football history as a program. 

Senior place kicker J.J. McGrath broke a 17-17 tie with his 23 yard field goal with 15 seconds left in the game to give GVSU the three point win. Senior QB Bart Williams engineered the 9-play, 66-yard drive that took 4:47 off the clock prior to McGrath's field goal. Freshman running back Jack Provencher opened the drive with a 12 yard run, followed by a 10 yard pass completion to senior WR Nick Dodson. Williams then hit sophomore WR Brandon Wadley with a 29 yard completion to the Ashland 21 yard line. GVSU picked up a first down and following an Ashland time out the Lakers were able to run the clock down to 18 seconds before McGrath's game-winning field goal. 

Ashland drove deep into GVSU territory on its second possession of the game, but on third and goal from the senior cornerback Jacob Studdard returned an interception 78 yards to the Ashland 19 yard line. Provencher ran the ball on three consecutive downs, the final covering 11 yards for a touchdown and McGrath added the PAT for a 7-0 GVSU lead. Ashland kicked a field goal to culminate a 19-play, 10:04 drive to pull within 7-3, but on the Lakers' first play from scrimmage junior RB Chawntez Moss raced 73 yards for a TD to give the GVSU a 14-3 lead. Grand Valley State went into the lockerroom with a 14-6 lead after the Eagles kicked a 43 yard field goal midway through the second quarter. 

After a scoreless third quarter, Ashland scored on the first play of the fourth quarter and added the two-point conversion for a 14-14 tie. The Laker offense answered with a 9-play, 61-yard drive the culminated with a 24 yard field goal by McGrath. The big play on the drive was a 33 yard pass and catch from Williams to Wadley. Ashland tied the game a second time at 17-17 with a field goal at the 5:02 mark of the fourth quarter to set up the furious finish. 

Ashland ran 30 more offensive play, held a 15 minute advantage in time of possession and 112 advantage in total yards, however, the Lakers forced an Eagle turnover and used big plays on offense to secure the win. Ashland entered the game ranking among the national leaders in rushing defense, yielding 92.3 yards per game, however, GVSU rushed 166 yards and two TDs on 27 carries. Williams completed 9-of-17 passes for 132 yards, highlighted by Waldley's 3-catch, 77-yard receiving day. McGrath kicked field goals of 24 and 23 yards, while punter Collin Cribley averaged 39.4 yards per punt. Grand Valley State was 3-for-3 in red zone opportunities, while Ashland was 2-for-4.