GV - NU Game Notes
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#6 Grand Valley State (4-0, 1-0) will host Northwood (1-3, 1-1) Saturday (Oct. 9) in the annual Laker Family Day contest. Kickoff at Lubbers Stadium is set for 7 p.m. GVSU is coming off a 49-17 victory over Saginaw Valleys State, while Northwood dropped a home contest. The game with Northwood could be the last in a series due to Timberwolves leaving the GLIAC to joint the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. 

GVSU leads the all-time series with Northwood by a 30-8-1 margin. The Lakers have outscored the Timberwolves 128-10 the last three meetings, with the only Northwood score being a Hail Mary at the end of the first half in the 2018 meeting. GVSU has won 11 consecutive games in the series and 24-of-the-last-27. Northwood's last win came in 2004 (35-14) in Allendale.

• Grand Valley State head football coach, Matt Mitchell, enters the Northwood game with an all-time record of 99-28. 

LAST WEEK
#6 Grand Valley State scored in all three phases of the game in the opening half and never looked back en route to a 49-17 victory over Saginaw Valley State. In addition to a pair of offensive TDs, LB Abe Swanson returned an interception 45 yards for a TD and CB Allante Leapheart returned a blocked field goal 55 yards for a score. GVSU held the Cardinals to 124 yards of total offense in the second half and the Lakers scored TDs on three consecutive dives. GVSU passed for three TDs and ran for a pair. 

LAKERY BYTES
• The Laker defense leads the GLIAC and ranks 13th nationally in total defense per game 258.5. 

• GVSU leads the GLIAC and ranks seventh nationally in rushing yards per game,  averaging 256.5 yards per game...The Lakers are averaging 6.7 yards per carry and have rushed for 14 TDs in four games. 

• GVSU ranks second in the GLIAC and 35th nationally in total offense, averaging 427.8 yards per game. 

• The Lakers ranked 21st nationally and lead the GLIAC in rushing defense per game (91.0 ypg)

 • The GVSU defense has forced its first four  opponents (CSU-Pueblo/UWL/MTU) into 16 three-and-out possessions and 36-of-41 total possessions that have not resulted in points have consisted of six plays or less. Five drives have resulted in negative yards and 22 drives have consisted of 10 yards or less. 

• Four games into the 2021 season, 17 different Laker receivers have caught a pass, while seven different players have caught a TD pass.

• Three Lakers (Scott Cooper, Kyle Nott, Cody Tierney) all caught their first career TDs at SVSU, while Cal Endicott tossed his first 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. UWC, followed by a 320-yard, six-TD rushing game at MTU. 

• The Lakers are yielding 91.0 yards per game rushing, 2.8 yards per carry and opponents have one rushing TD in four games. The Laker defense limited CSU-Pueblo to 29 rushing yards on 20 attempts (1.5 ypr) and Michigan Tech to 82 yards on 31 carries (2.6 ypc).

• GVSU leads the GLIAC and ranks 21 nationally in rushing defense per game (91.0).

• GVSU ranks second in the GLIAC and 22nd nationally in third down percentage defense .283 (15-for-53).

• The Lakers rank second in the GLIAC and 27th nationally third down conversion at .476 (20-for-42). GVSU is converting 56.0 percent (14-for-25) of its 3rd down attempts in the first half, while opponents are converting 25.0 percent (7-for-28). 

• GVSU has recorded 12 drives that consisted of eight plays or more that have resulted in points. All total, the Lakers have scored on 21-of-45 drives (.466) this season. 

• GVSU has produced 34 explosive plays (20 yards or more) this season, including 11 via rush, 12 via pass. 

• GVSU has converted 15-of-16 red zone opportunities, including 13 TDs and two FGs. 

• The GVSU defense recorded 30 tackles for loss (-92), 10 QB sacks (-47), 40 QB hurries, 16 pass deflections, recovered four fumbles and picked off four passes.   

GVSU - NU By The Numbers...
GVSU leads series 30-8-1
Last Meeting: GV 27, @NU 3 (2019)
Last Meeting at NU: GV 27, @NU 3 (2019)
Last Meeting at GV: GV 49, NU 0 (2017)
At Allendale: GV leads 14-5
At Midland: GV leads 16-3-1
Current Series Win Streak: 11, GV (04)
Longest Series Win Streak: 11, GV ('85-'98)
First Game: @ NU 14, GV 7 (1973)
Most Points Scored By GV: 70 (1994)
(GV 70, @ NU 14 )
Most Points Scored By NU: 45 (2000)
Last NU Win: 2004 (NU 35, @ GV 14)
Last GV Win: 2019 (GV 27, @NU 3)
Most Decisive Score: GV 70, NU 14 (1994)

NATIONS LEADING WINNING %
• Grand Valley State is the winningest FBS, FCS and Division II program in the country, boasting a record of 413-146-3 (.737) in 49 years of playing football. In addition, GVSU is also the winningest GLIAC program all-time with a 297-76-3 mark (.794). 

NCAA ATTENDANCE LEADERS
• The Lakers led the nation in attendance for the 8th consecutive year in 2019. Lubbers Stadium drew 68,746 fans in seven home dates for an average of 9,820. The total and average led NCAA DII. GVSU is averaging 10,565 in two home games in 2021. 

10 WIN SEASONS
• Grand Valley State has won 10 or more games 17 times in the 49-year history of the program, including 15 times since 2001.

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.