Press Conference

#6 Grand Valley State dropped a 35-28 decision to #3 Ferris State Saturday night before a Lubbers Stadium record crowd of 17,007. GVSU, which falls to 5-1 overall, will hit the road for a GLIAC tilt at Northern Michigan next Saturday (Oct. 23). 

It was a game of missed opportunities for Grand Valley State and untimely penalties on a drive midway through the fourth quarter that contributed to the loss. The Lakers turned the ball over twice inside the Ferris State five yard line, including a fumble that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown that created a 14-point swing with under a minute left in the first half. 

GVSU took a 7-0 lead midway the first quarter as sophomore QB Cade Peterson concluded a 9-play, 70-yard drive with a 33-yard TD run. Freshman PK Kollin Kralapp added the PAT for 7-0 lead. Ferris State answered with a 7-play, 72-yard scoring drive to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:42 left in the opening quarter. GVSU put together a 12-play, 60-yard drive that took 6:03 off the clock, but ended with an interception at the Bulldog one yard to thwart the scoring opportunity. Ferris State drove 85 yards in 10 plays, picking up two key third downs, for a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead. 

GVSU's Jon'Tavous Webb picked off a Jared Bernhardt pass on the Ferris State 41-yard line with 1:25 left in the first half and the Lakers quickly moved into scoring position. Peterson rushed for 14 yards and then completed a 25-yard pass to junior WR Jacob Miller to the FSU 1-yard line. Sophomore running back Tariq Reid appeared to score a TD as the ball crossed the goal line as viewed by pictures and video, but the ball was knocked out of his possession and returned 99 yards for a TD to give the Bulldogs a 21-7 lead. Another flag was thrown on the play for a blindside block before the score, but for some reason the penalty was not administered despite it taking place before the touchdown. 

Ferris State took a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter, but GVSU krept its way back into the game. The Lakers put together an 11-play, 59-yard scoring that concluded with a Peterson to Bryce Young-Walls 13-yard scoring pass to pull with in 28-14. Following a three-and-out and a 12-yard punt, the Lakers drove 36 yards in five plays for a score. Peterson hit WR Hunter Rison with a 3-yard TD pass and the Lakers trailed 28-21. 

Trailing 28-21, GVSU got the ball back and converted a fourth down on a fake punt, but was unable to pick up a first down and punted. Ferris State picked up three third down conversions and was aided by two crazy pass interference calls that prolonged the drive and led to a score. 

The Lakers answered quickly with a 5-play, 57-yard scoring drive finished with a Peterson to Rison 8-yard touchdown pass. The ensuing onside kick bounced around, but was eventually recovered by Ferris State. 

GVSU held a 381-364 advantage in total yards, including a 206-129 advantage in rushing yards. Peterson rushed for 85 yards and a TD on 10 carries, but completing 19-of-28 passes for 175 yards and three TDs. Tariq Reid rushed for 51 yards on 13 carries and Bryce Young-Walls added 40 yards on six carries. Aryuan Cain-Veasey chipped in 29 yards on seven carries. Miller hauled in five catches for 56 yards, Rison caught five passes for 48 yards and two TDs, while Cody Tierney added three for 26 yards. LB Abe Swanson led the defense with 11 tackles, while FS Ian Kennelly chipped in eight, Antionio Crosby seven and 1.5 TFL.