GVSU - Northwood Highlights
GVSU Press Conference

#6 Grand Valley State claimed a 70-9 victory over GLIAC foe Northwood Saturday night before a Laker Family Day crowd of 15,254. The Lakers, 5-0 overall and 2-0 in GLIAC action, will host #2 Ferris State (5-0, 2-0) in the annual Anchor-Bone Classic next Saturday (Oct. 16) at Lubbers Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Grand Valley State head coach Matt Mitchell picked up his 100th victory as head coach of the Lakers. 

Northwood actually took a brief lead, driving 86 yards in six plays on its opening possession. The drive was primarily through the air as QB Ty Cox connected with WR Noah Koenigsknecht three times for 81 yards, including a 24-yard TD pass-and-catch. The PAT was wide left and the Timberwolves led 6-0. However, the lead was short lived as the Lakers drove 72 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. QB Cade Peterson connected with freshman WR Darrell Johnson on a third down that covered 34 yards, then hit WR Hunter Rison with a 15-yard pass, freshman WR Cody Tierney with a 15-yard pass and freshman WR Jaylon Tillman with a 9-yard jet sweep for a TD. Freshman place kicker Kollin Kralapp converted the first of his 10 PATs and GVSU led 7-6. 

The Lakers scored touchdowns on all six first half possessions and blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown en route to a 49-6 halftime lead. Senior RB Aryuan Cain-Veasey concluded a 4-play, 52-yard drive with a 6-yard TD run, then drove 91 yards in 11 plays for a score that ended with a Peterson to Rison 29-yard TD pass. Cain-Veasey added a 24-yard TD run to up the lead to 28-6 before the Laker special teams got involved. LB Denzel Williams blocked a punt that CB Grant Hart returned 19-yards for a TD. 

The GVSU offense continued to roll with a 5-play, 71-yard drive that was capped a 52-yard TD pass from Peterson to Tierney and the Peterson to Rison connection produced another touchdown, this one covering 19-yards for a 49-6 GVSU halftime lead. 

Peterson completed 14-of-20 passes for 251 yards and four TDs in the first half, while Rison hauled in six receptions for 106 yards and two TDs. The Laker offense rolled up 406 yards of total offense (155 rushing/251 passing) in the first half on 38 plays, while the Laker defense limited Northwood to 149 yards, 86 of which came on the opening drive. 

Grand Valley State added three rushing touchdowns in the second half, the first that covered seven yards from sophomore QB Cal Endicott and junior RB Jack Provencher scored on runs of 1 and 6-yards for the final margin of 70-9. 

Senior RB Bryce Young-Walls led the ground game with 53 yards on four carries, while Cain-Veasey added 39 rushing yards and two TDs on four carries. Peterson chipped in 32 yards, Provencher rushed eight times for 30 yards and two TDs, followed by Ja'Kaurie Kikland's five carries for 28 yards. Endicott was 4-for-4 through the air for 63 yards and freshman Avery Moore was 1-for-1 for eight yards. 

Tierney caught three passes for 67 yards, Tillman three for 61 yards, Johnson two for 32 yards and freshman receiver Kyle Nott caught two for 19 yards. 

The Laker offense produced 541 total yards, 244 rushing and 322 through the air. The GVSU defense limited Northwood to 269 yards of total offense (95 rushing/174 passing) and 14 first downs. Anthony Humm led the defense with seven tackles, Johnanthony Lowery added six and Jake Archbold four. Denzel Williams added four tackles and block a punt. 

• The 70 points scored by the Laker offense were the most since a 70-7 victory over Tiffin in 2011.

• The Lakers have outscored Northwood 198-19 in the last four meetings between the schools...The 70 points scored equaled the 70 points scored by GVSU versus the Timberwolves in a 70-14 victory in 1994. The 61-point margin of victory was the largest in the series that GVSU now leads 31-9-1.