Tickets
ESPN3
Audio
GVSU Football Gamenotes
GVSU Football Twitter
GVSU Instagram
GVSU Football Fan Guide

The Game: #10 Grand Valley State (0-0) vs Edinboro (0-0)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. 
Site: Lubbers Stadium (10,440) 
Radio: ESPN 96.1 FM  or iheart radio app - Steve Lloyd-Jones (play-by-play) and Tim Nott (color)
Web/TV: ESPN3 - Tom Cleary (play-by-play) and Bob Mitchell (color)

The Coaches
Grand Valley State • Matt Mitchell (Cornell College, 1997) • 87-25 (10th) 
Edinboro • Wayne Bradford (Salisbury St.) • 13-9 (3rd)

• Grand Valley State is 30-18 all-time in season-openers and have won 16-of-the-last-18 since 2001.

• The Lakers are 33-11 in home openers at Lubbers Stadium, including an 18-1 mark since 2001. 

• GVSU is the winningest team in Division II football history with a record of 401-147-3 (.730).

• Grand Valley State and Edinboro, who is a member of the PSAC, will meet for the first time on the gridiron tonight. However, the Lakers are 14-7 all-time versus the PSAC, including a 13-0 mark since 2001.

10 WIN SEASONS
• Grand Valley State has won 10 or more games 17 times in the 48-year history of the program, including 15 times since 2001.
• Laker Football has a storied 48-year 
history of excellence. 
  - 4 National Championships
  - 6 Championship Game Appearances
  - 9 NCAA Regional Championships 
  - 20 Playoff Appearances
  - 17 conference championships

WINNING WAYS
• Grand Valley State is the only GLIAC program to win at least 12 games three times since 2013 and make two NCAA DII semifinal appearances.

• Grand Valley State is once again is ranked among the nations top teams heading into its 49th year of Laker football. Lindy's College Football Yearbook has GVSU at #9, while while D2Football.com and Street & Smith's College Football Yearbook ranked the Lakers #10. The American Football Coaches' Association tabbed the Lakers at #12. Grand Valley State has now been ranked in the top 10 of a national preseason poll 16 times since 2002 (18 polls), including 14 top five rankings and 12 top three rankings.  
 
NATIONS LEADING WINNING %
• Grand Valley State is the winningest FBS, FCS and Division II program in the country, boasting a record of 401-147-3 (.730) in 48 years of playing football. In addition, GVSU is also the winningest GLIAC program all-time with a 293-73-3 mark (.798). 

NCAA ATTENDANCE LEADERS
• The Lakers led the nation in attendance for the 7th consecutive year in 2018. Lubbers Stadium drew 77,725 fans in seven home dates for an average of 11,104. The total and average led NCAA DII. 

GRAND VALLEY STATE
GVSU will return 44 letterwinners to the mix for the 2019 campaign, including 18 starters. Junior QB Cole Kotopka enters his first year as the starter after playing a key role in two Laker wins in 2018. Junior Bryce Young-Walls, who toted the ball 88 times for 577 yards and nine TDs as a sophomore in 2017, returns after sitting out the 2018 season. He will be joined by sophomores Jack Provencher, who rushed for 622 yards and nine TDs on 130 carries as a redshirt freshman and Aryuan Cain-Veasey, who rushed for 210 yards and one TD on 30 carries. Senior All-GLIAC WR Austin Paritee hauled in 53 receptions for 962 yards and nine TDs in 2018, while junior All-GLIAC honoree Brandon Wadley caught 20 passes for 546 yards and a GLIAC-best 27.3 yards per reception. Three starters return on an offensive line that is young, but talented. Junior center Ethan Culberson earned All-GLIAC honors in 2018, while fellow junior Tom Cwiok and sophomore Matt Stefanski started games up front. Five redshirt freshmen will also be in the rotation on the offensive line.  A pair of experienced tight ends, junior Grant Dempster and sophomore Jayk Slager, will bolster the Lakers offense.

Senior DE Mike Pettis earned All-GLIAC honors as a junior with 49 total tackles, while fellow senior James McBride also tallied All-GLIAC plaudits on the interior DL. Juniors Wallace Hall and Dennis Johnson were impressive in camp, while senior DE Johnny Williams  will be joined by junior Jake Hlava. Senior LB Isaiah Nkansah recorded 65 total tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss en route to earning All-GLIAC honors, while fellow All-GLIAC LB Tyler Bradfield led the Lakers in tackles with 88. The secondary will be led by senior cornerbacks DaMario Johnson, who earned All-GLIAC honors and Kalen Dunham.  Fellow senior Jaylen Moore will be in the rotation at cornerback after transferring from Dixie State. Senior safety Jailyn Harden tallied 61 tackles as a junior, while sophomore Antonio Strong is set for a breakout season. Junior Scott Mullenix will handle the long snapping duties, while redshirt freshman Josh Gorball is the early leader for field goals and extra points. Senior Dan Madden returns for his senior season to handle the punting duties. 

EDINBORO
The Fighting Scots are coming off a 6-5 campaign in which they lost three games by five points or less. Junior QB Andrew Tomko returns after throwing for 1,433 yards and 12 TDs as a sophomore. His top target, Ta'Nauz Gregory, also returns after catching 50 passes for 796 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018. FS Brandon Anderson returns after leading Edinboro in tackles (101) a year ago, while LB's Ryan Bischof  and Connor Kelly also return as starters. Edinboro recorded 117 tackles for loss, 33 QB sacks and picked off 19 passes in 2018. 

QB    
Cole Kotopka (6-6, 235, Jr., Plainfield, Ill.) - Completed 48-90 passes for 658 yards and 4 TDs...Rushed for 151 yards and 3 TDs...1-0 as a starter.

RB
Bryce Young-Walls (5-8, 195, Jr., Ann Arbor, Mich.) - Rushed for 713 yards and 9 TDs on 105 carries...6.8 ypc average...DNP in 2018

Jack Provencher (5-11, 212, So., Shelby Twp., Mich.) -  As a RSFR rushed for 622 yards and 9 TDs, while catching 39 passes for 314 yards and 3 TDs.
    
Aryuan Cain-Veasey (5-10, 225, So., Michigan City, Ind.) - As a RSFR rushed for 210 yards and 1 TD on 30 carries.
    
WR     
Brandon Wadley (6-0, 195, Jr., South Bend, Ind.) - 26 rec. for 625 yards in 22 games...20 rec. for 546 yds in 2018...All-GLIAC

Kordell Hoover (6-1, 195, So., Euclid, Ohio) - 1 reception for 26 yards as a RSFR.

Hunter Broersma (6-0, 192, Jr., Norton Shores, Mich.) - Western Michigan transfer.
      
Austin Paritee (6-1, 185, Sr., Birmingham, Mich.) - Lone Sr on Off....68 catches for 1,304 yds and 11 TDs...2018 All-GLIAC 53 for 962 and 9 TDs.

Amadou Barry (5-11, 175, Jr., Upper Darby, Pa.) - Transfer from Kutztown U...53 catches for 771 and 5 TD in 22 career games.
    
TE    
Grant Dempster (6-3, 250, Jr., Lafayette, Ind.) - 3 catches for 55 yards and a TD.

Jayk Slager (6-4, 260, So., Zeeland, Mich.) - Played in 12 games.    

        P
Dan Madden (6-3, 210, Sr., Parma Heights, Ohio) - Missed 2018 with an injury...Averaged 37.8 ypp in 2017...24 career punt inside the 20 yd. line

DE    
Johnathon Williams (6-5, 270., Sr., Benton Harbor, Mich.) - Saw action in 8 games, recording 18 tackles, 4.5 TFL and 3.5 QB sacks.

Xavier Washington (6-2, 270, Sr., Dallas, Tex.) - Northwestern transfer.

DT
James McBride (6-1, 280, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.) - 53 tackles, 11 TFL & 3 QB sacks...2018 All-GLIAC with 37 tackles and 6.5 TFL.

Dennis Johnson (6-2, 310, Jr., Columbus, Ohio) -  4 tackles and 2.5 TFL.
DT    
Wallace Hall (6-2, 280, Jr., Ypsilanti, Mich.) - 36 tackles, 5.5 TFL...17 stops and 4 TFL in 2018.

Kurrell Vaughn (6-3, 285, Sr., Shreveport, La.) - Played in all 12 games...14 tackles, 2.5 TFL.

DE    
Michael Pettis (6-2, 250., Sr., Battle Creek, Mich.) - 94 tackles, 19 TFL, 9 QB sacks...2018 All-GLIAC 49 tackles, 10.5 TFL.

Jake Hlava (6-3, 250, Jr., Batavia, Ill.) - 26 tackles, 5 TFL, 1.5 QB sacks.

MLB      
Isaiah Nkansah (6-2, 225, Sr., Mason, Ohio) - 120 tackles and 11 TFL...All-GLIAC 2018...65 stops and 9 TFL.
WLB    
Brendann Brown (6-1, 213, So., Southfield, Mich.) - Saw action as a reserve.

Derrick Hubbard (6-2, 215, So., Ann Arbor, Mich.) - Transfer from Western Michigan.

Jace Demonov (6-1, 225, Jr., Ithaca, Mich.) - 32 career tackles...Saw action as a reserve LB.

NLB    
Tyler Bradfield (5-11, 200, Jr., Rockford, Mich.) - 133 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 3 QB sacks...All-GLIAC and Acad. AA..88 stops and 6.5 TFL.

Nick Foster (5-11, 193, So., West Chicago, Ill.) - Saw action on special teams.

CB
DaMario Johnson (6-1, 183, Sr., Hammond, Ind.) - 67 tackles, 17 PBU, 2 INT...2018 All-GLIAC...32 tackles and 9 PBU.

Kalen Dunham (6-2, 185, Sr., Canton, Mich.) - 69 tackles, 15 PBU and 2 INT...2018 19 tackles and 1 INT.
      
FS
Antonio Strong (6-0, 195, So., Grand Rapids, Mich.) - 18 tackles at safety.camp.
Grant Postma (5-11, 195, Sr., Zeeland, Mich.) - Back from injury and will be in rotation at safety.
 
SS
Jailyn Harden (6-0, 185, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.) - 132 career tackles...Team leader...61 tackles in 2018.

Eric Plate (6-1, 195, Jr., Greenville, Mich.) - 34 career tackles...Impressive preseason camp..
    
CB
Jaylen Moore (6-0, 185, Sr., Murrieta, Calif.) - Transfer from Dixie State.