GVSU - Kentucky State Gamenotes

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TV/RADIO
TV - FLO SPORTS
WXSP-TV
Bryan Fongers (p-b-p) and Bob Mitchell (Color)

RADIO -97 LAV FM GR /
106.1 FM THE TICKET - GR
WJRW-AM 1340 - GR
WLCS-FM 98.3 - MUSKEGON
IHEART RADI0 APP
Steve Lloyd-Jones (p-b-p) and Tim Nott (Color)

RADIO - LA PODEROSA 93.3 FM /
810 AM - GR
103.1 FM - MIDLAND
1080 AM - LANSING
Miguel Esparza (p-b-p) and Elio Benitez (Color)

GVSU Social
Official Twitter:     @gvsulakers
Football Twitter:    @gvsufootball
Coach Scott Wooster Twitter:
        @CoachWooster
FB Instagram:    @gvsufootball

• Grand Valley State will be playing Kentucky State for the first time in program history. Kentucky State is the second program that GVSU will play that is considered to be an HBCU. GVSU is 3-2 versus Central State and will open the 2024 season versus Central State. 

•  The Lakers are celebrating their 52nd year of football in 2023. GVSU is the all-time winningest program in DII history with a record of 434-150-3 (.741).  In addition, GVSU is also the winningest team in GLIAC history with a 310-77-3 mark (.795).     

• GVSU has won a total of four national championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) in program history.

• The Lakers have made six NCAA championship appearances (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009) in program history.

•  GVSU has made a total of 22 playoff appearances in program history, with the most recent coming in 2022.

NATIONS LEADING WINNING %
• Grand Valley State is the winningest FBS, FCS and Division II program in the country, boasting a record of 434-150-3 (.741) in 51 years of playing football. In addition, GVSU is also the winningest GLIAC program all-time with a 310-77-3 mark (.793). 

NCAA ATTENDANCE LEADERS
• GVSU led the nation in attendance for the 11th consecutive year in 2022. The Lakers drew 81,767 fans for seven home dates, an average of 11,681 per game. GVSU was involved in six of the top 13 single-game marks in 2022, including five at Lubbers Stadium. The 2023 home opener total was 15,182, the 11th best single-game total in program history. 
 
10 WIN SEASONS
• Grand Valley State has won 10 or more games 18 times in the 51-year history of the program, including 16 times since 2001.


• Grand Valley State has always played one of the most challenging schedules nationally and 2023 is no different. Five of the Lakers' first six opponents, including the first three non-conference games, are ranked in a national poll and six are currently ranked overall.  

Opponent (AFCA/D2Football)
Colorado Mines - #2/#2
Colorado State-Pueblo - #22/#21
Assumption - #19/#23 
Saginaw Valley State - NR/#25
Ferris State - #1/#1
Davenport - #18/#16 

• GVSU holds the Division II record for the longest winning streak at 40 consecutive wins from 2005-2007. The Lakers won two national championships during that span.

• The Laker defense did not allow SVSU a first down in the first half and forced 10 drives of three plays or less in the game. In addition, the Laker defense held the Cardinals to eight yards or less on 10-of-13 drives in the game. 


Last Week - 
Grand Valley State used a dominating defense and 35-point outburst in a six minute span late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to take a 20-14 lead and turn it into a 55-14 win. The Laker defense limited SVSU to -11 yards on 18 plays (6 three and outs) in the first half. GVSU scored on a 94-yard kickoff return by Kellen Reed, a 57-yard punt return by Darrell Johnson, a short TD run after the GVSU defense forced a fumble, a 44-yard interception return by Luke McLean and an 87-yard run by Kyle Nott. DE Niles King led the defense with 2.5 QB sacks and 2.5 TFL, while Christian McCarroll added 1.5 QB sacks and 1.5 TFL.

LAKER BYTES
• Special Special Teams - 
   - GVSU ranks first nationally in kickoff return defense (14.27 ypr).
   - GVSU ranks first nationally in kickoff return average (33.38 ypr).
   - GVSU ranks fourth nationally in net punting (41.2 ypp).
   - GVSU ranks 21st nationally in punt return defense (1.67 ypr). 
   - GVSU ranks 30th nationally in punt return (14.5 ypr)

 - Assumption tallied 12 kickoff return yards on three returns (4.0 ypr).

 - The Lakers' kickoff return team tallied the 5th-best single-game total in GVSU football history with 216 yards on five returns vs. CSU-Pueblo.

 - GVSU tallied 215 return yards (Punt-KO) at Saginaw Valley State, including a kickoff return for a TD and a punt return for a TD on consecutive returns.

• Grand Valley State ranks seventh nationally and leads the GLIAC in scoring offense (45.8 ppg).

• The Laker defense ranks 29th nationally and second in the GLIAC in first down defense (70)...The Laker offense is second in the GLIAC in first down offense with 95. 

• Grand Valley State ranks 9th nationally in rushing defense (67.5 ypg) and have held the last three teams to an average of 55.6 yards per game rushing. 

• The Laker offense ranks 15th nationally in rushing yards per game (212.2) and total offense per game (447.8). 
• GVSU has 14 rushing TDs and have yielded just three rushing TDs in four games.

• GVSU ranks 19th nationally and first in the GLIAC in QB sacks per game (3.0).

• GVSU ranks 17th nationally and first in the GLIAC in third down defense (.283). 

• For the first time in program history GVSU recorded a kickoff return for a TD (Kellen Reed - 94 yards) and a punt return for a TD (Darrell Johnson - 57 yards) in the same game. In addition, the Lakers' returned an interception for a defensive TD (Luke McLean - 44 yards) for another first of three non-offensive TDs in one game.

• RS Freshman Kellen Reed leads the nation in kickoff return average (50.6) and kickoff returns for touchdowns (2). Reed has touched  the ball 11 times in his career for 387 yards (35.2 ypt) for three TDs...Reed is averaging 129.0 all-purpose yards per game, 23rd in the country and second in the GLIAC.   

 - Reed's TD have covered:
  ^ 95-yd kickoff return for TD (CSU-P)
  ^ 67-yd reception for TD (Assumption)
  ^ 94-yd kickoff return for TD (SVSU)

• Junior Darrell Johnson ranks eighth in the country in yards per punt return (18.6) and is third in punt returns for a TD with one. 

• Senior QB Cade Peterson ranks 4th nationally and leads the GLIAC in yards per completion (16.9), 10th nationally and first in the GLIAC in yards per attempt (9.5) and is first in the GLIAC in pass efficiency rating (152.5).

• Junior WR Cody Tierney ranks 2nd in the GLIAC in receiving yards (322) and receiving yards per game (80.5) and 5th in receptions (17). 

• Senior RB Tariq Reid leads the GLIAC in rushing TDs with six and is third in scoring (7.5 ppg).

• Senior DE Christian McCarroll leads the GLIAC and ranks ninth nationally in tackles for loss (6.5), while leading the GLIAC and ranking 11th nationally in QB  sacks (4.5).

• Junior Darrell Johnson has 1,237 all-purpose yards (479 receiving-375 punt returns-314 kickoff returns).

• Kyle Nott's 87-yard run for a TD at Saginaw Valley State was the 6th longest rushing touchdown in program history...Nott has five rushing TDs in 26 carries for an average of a TD every 5.2 carries...In addition, he has 273 rushing yards and 286 receiving yards. 

• Grand Valley State first-year head coach is the eighth head coach in the history of Laker football. The previous seven head coaches tallied an overall mark of 434-150-3 through 51 years.

Robert Collins (1971-72) - 0-13
Jim Harkema (1973-82) - 68-29-1
Bob Geisey (1983-84) - 4-16
Tom Beck (1985-90) - 50-18
Brian Kelly (1991-03) - 118-35-2
Chuck Martin (2004-09) - 74-7
Matt Mitchell (2010-22) - 117-31
Scott Wooster (2023) - 3-1