Colorado Mines booted a 41-yard field goal with two seconds left to help the Orediggers claim a 31-28 decision in the season-opener. The Lakers tied the game at 28-28 with a 21-point fourth quarter, but Mines drove 51 yards in seven plays for the game-winning field goal. A key play was a reception that took the ball inside the GVSU 20 yard line with 10 seconds left, but a replay showed the foot was on the line. However, replay ruled the view was inconclusive and the play stood as originally called. 

GVSU got on the board first with a 6-play, 99-yard drive that finished with a 9-yard TD run by wide receiver Kyle Nott. Senior QB Cade Peterson hit junior wide receiver Cody Tierney with a 56-yard completion on the drive. Mines answered with a touchdown midway through the first quarter and another with just 1:27 left in the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead into the half.

Mines added two third quarter scores to push the lead to 28-7 before a valiant comeback by the Lakers. Peterson hit Tierney with a 31-yard touchdown reception with 11:20 left in the fourth quarter to pull within a 28-14 score. The Lakers once again drove deep inside Mines territory but failed on a fourth down attempt. The Lakers drove 90 yards in 10 plays late in the fourth quarter for a TD. Peterson hit Nott with two big passes and Lynn Wyche-El hauled in the first reception of his career to for a touchdown that covered five yards with :36 seconds left. Nott recovered a perfectly executed onside kick at the Mines 35 yard line to put GVSU in position to tie the game. Peterson completed two passes and scored on a 20-yard run on fourth and six to pull the Lakers within one. Senior PK Josh Gorball converted hit fourth point after to tie the game. 

Peterson completed 17-of-34 passes for 294 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 64 yards and one TD. Tierney hauled in a career-best seven catches for a career-high 146 yards and one TD, while Nott hauled in three catches for 59 yards, rushed for 18 yards and a TD and recovered an onside kick. Senior defensive end Christian McCarroll led the defense with nine tackles, two QB sacks and three tackles for loss (-18).  Terez Reid and Ian Kennelly each chipped in six stops.