GVSU - MTU Game Notes
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THE GAME
#7 Grand Valley State (6-1, 3-1) will host Michigan Tech (4-3, 3-1) in the 2021 Homecoming contest Saturday (Oct. 30). Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Lubbers Stadium. The game can be viewed on the Grand Valley Sports Network or on WGVU TV 35.

THE SERIES
Grand Valley State leads the all-time series by a 29-4 margin. The Lakers claimed a 44-21 victory at Michigan Tech on Sept. 25 in a non-conference affair and have won five consecutive games in the series. The Lakers have scored 40 or more points 11 times in the last 18 games and 18 times overall versus the Huskies.

LAST WEEK
#7 Grand Valley State won a 28-24 decision at Northern Michigan in a GLIAC road contest. The Lakers led 14-13 at the half and built a 28-16 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Sophomore LB Abe Swanson recorded a career-high 17 tackles, including a key QB sack. Sophomore QB Cade Peterson completed 17-of-22 passes for 230 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 38 yards. Senior RB Bryce Young-Walls rushed for 56 yards and two TDs. 

LAKERY NOTES
• The Laker defense leads the GLIAC and ranks 22nd nationally in total defense per game 285.1. 

• GVSU ranks second in the GLIAC and 29th nationally in total offense, averaging 429.9 yards per game. 

• GVSU leads the GLIAC and ranks 12th nationally in rushing yards per game,  averaging 228.1 yards per game...The Lakers are averaging 6.2 yards per carry and have rushed for 22 TDs in seven games. Five Lakers have for at least two TDs, with Tariq Reid and Aryuan Cain-Veasey leading the way with five each. 

• The Lakers ranked 21s nationally and lead the GLIAC in rushing defense per game (98.8 ypg). The GVSU defense has yielded just three rushing TDs in seven games.

 • The GVSU defense has forced its opponents into 27 three-and-out possessions and 56-of-62 total possessions that have not resulted in points have consisted of six plays or less. 34 drives have consisted of 10 yards or less. 

• 17 different Laker receivers have caught a pass, while 10 different players have caught a TD pass.

• GVSU rushed for 640 yards and 10 TDs versus UW-La Crosse and Michigan Tech. The Lakers rushed for 320 yards and four TDs vs. UWL, followed by a 320-yard, six-TD rushing game at MTU. 

• The Lakers are yielding 98.8 yards per game rushing, 2.9 yards per carry and opponents have three rushing TDs in seven games. The Laker defense limited CSU-Pueblo to 29 rushing yards on 20 attempts (1.5 ypr), Michigan Tech to 82 yards on 31 carries (2.6 ypc) and Northwood to 95 yards on 34 carries.

• GVSU ranks second in the GLIAC and 47th nationally in third down percentage defense .330 (32-for-97).

• The Lakers rank second in the GLIAC and 8th nationally third down conversion at .508 (33-for-65). GVSU is converting .638 percent (23-for-36) of its 3rd down attempts in the first half, while opponents are converting 30.0 percent (12-for-39). 

• GVSU has recorded 19 drives that consisted of eight plays or more that have resulted in points. All total, the Lakers have scored on 38-of-73 drives (.520) this season. 

• GVSU has produced 57 explosive plays (20 yards or more) this season, including 16 via rush, 23 via pass. 

• GVSU has converted 26-of-29 red zone opportunities, including 24 TDs and two FGs. 

• The GVSU defense recorded 49 tackles for loss (-160), 13 QB sacks (-63), 70 QB hurries, 28 pass deflections, recovered seven fumbles and picked off five passes.  

• Twenty-two different defenders have recorded a tackle for loss, including a team-high 7.0 (-21) by Jake Hlava, 5.5 by Colton Hyble (-15) and Abe Swanson (-32). 

• Grand Valley State true freshman kicker Kollin Kralapp converted 18-of-18 PATs in his first three collegiate football games. 

• The group of QB Cade Peterson (54-410-4); Tariq Reid (69-402-5); Bryce Young-Walls 941-308-4) and Aryuan Cain-Veasey (46-303-5) have rushed for a combined 1,423 yards and 18 TDs on 210 carries (6.7 ypc). 

• GVSU GLIAC Player of the Week Honorees:

Abe Swanson Vs. Northern Michigan
Grand Valley State sophomore LB Abe Swanson tallied a career-high 17 tackles (9 solo/8 assisted), a QB sack (-8) and a tackle for loss (-8) in the Lakers' 28-24 GLIAC road win at Northern Michigan. Swanson recorded a key QB sack and tackle for loss on a third down play in the fourth quarter that thwarted the Wildcat drive and forced a field goal attempt. Swanson has been named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season. 

Cade Peterson Vs.  Northwood
Grand Valley State sophomore QB Cade Peterson (Maple City, Mich.) completed 14-of-20 passes for 251 yards and four TDs, while rushing for 32 yards on four carries in just one half of action. Peterson guided the Lakers to six first half TDs on six first half possessions. In addition, the Lakers tallied 406 yards of total offense on 38 plays, collected 19 first downs, averaged 10.7 yards per play and converted all four third down attempts.

Abe Swanson Vs. Saginaw Valley State
Grand Valley State sophomore LB Abe Swanson (St. Charles, Ill.) tallied eight tackles (2 solo/6 assisted), recorded a pass deflection and notched an interception that he returned 45 yards for a touchdown in the Lakers' 49-17 victory over Saginaw Valley State. GVSU led 7-3 before Swanson picked off a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to up the lead to 14-7. Swanson was key piece of a Laker defense that dominated the second half, limiting the Cardinals to 124 yards of total offense. Swanson, who now has two GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, leads GVSU in tackles with 34, while also recording 3.5 TFL.
 
Allante Leapheart Vs. SVSU
Grand Valley State senior CB Allante Leapheart (Detroit, Mich.) tallied three pass deflections, one tackle and returned a blocked field goal 55 yards for a touchdown in the Lakers' 49-17 victory over Saginaw Valley State. GVSU led 14-3 when SVSU lined up for a field goal that the Lakers blocked and Leapheart returned for a TD to up the Laker lead to 21-3 midway through the second quarter. Leapheart leads the GLIAC in pass breakups with seven on the year.

Tariq Reid Vs.  Michigan Tech
Grand Valley State sophomore runningback Tariq Reid (Davison, Mich.) rushed for 131 yards and a school-record tying four TDs on 13 carries to lead the Lakers to a 44-21 victory over Michigan Tech. Reid recorded five runs of 10 yards or more, including a pair of touchdowns that covered 34 and 26 yards and averaged 10.1 yards per carry. Reid leads the Lakers in rushing yards (262) and rushing TDs (5).

Cade Peterson Vs. UW- La Crosse
Grand Valley State sophomore quarterback Cade Peterson (Maple City, Mich.) completed 12-of-17 passes for 214 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 89 yards on four carries during the No. 10 Lakers' 45-24 victory over Wisconsin-Lacrosse. Peterson opened the second half with a 69-yard run on GVSU's first play from scrimmage and accounted for 303 yards of total offense and two touchdowns for the game. He completed passes to eight different receivers, including the first-ever pass and catch to younger brother Drew Peterson. The Laker offense tallied 534 total yards, including 320 on the ground. 

Abe Swanson Vs. CSU-Pueblo
Sophomore linebacker Abe Swanson (St. Charles, Ill.) led the Grand Valley State defense with nine tackles, 1.5 TFL (-5) and a QB sack (-1) as the #14 Lakers claimed a 34-14 win over #16 Colorado State-Pueblo, which was the only GLIAC matchup featuring top 20 teams. The GVSU defense yielded just one touchdown. The Lakers limited the Thunderwolves to 29 rushing yards on 20 carries (1.5 ypa), 162 yards of total offense on 58 plays (2.8 ypg) and converted just 2-of-13 third downs.

Juwan Johnson Vs. CSU-Pueblo
Senior wide receiver Juwan Johnson (Springfield, Mo.) returned his first punt as a Laker 80 yards for a touchdown as #14 Grand Valley State claimed a 34-14 victory over #16 Colorado State-Pueblo in the only GLIAC matchup that featured top 20 teams. Johnson also caught three passes for 32 yards and touchdown. The punt return for a TD was the first for GVSU since Nick Dodson returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown at Saginaw Valley State in 2018. All three of Johnson's receptions resulted in either a TD or first down.

CELEBRATING 50 SEASONS

• Grand Valley State's first season of varsity football was 1971 and this fall marks the 50th season of Laker football. 

• GVSU will celebrate the 50th season all season long, honoring specific decades at five home games. 

• GVSU will release the top 100 players in program history and the top 25 wins.