GV-CSP Gamenotes

Football Gameday Information

THE GAME
#4 Grand Valley State will host #20 Colorado State-Pueblo in the Lakers' 2023 home opener. The Lakers dropped a 31-28 decision at #2-ranked Colorado Mines last week, while the Thunderwolves claimed a 37-8 season-opening victory at home over Midwestern State. GVSU's opening three games all come versus teams ranked in the national polls.

FloSports - Watch GVSU Athletics

WXSP-TV (Channel 15 over-the-air locally, but the channel could vary depending on cable or satellite systems)
    
    Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Colorado State-Pueblo
    Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Kentucky State
    Saturday, Oct. 14 vs. Ferris State

Steve Lloyd-Jones is the radio voice of Laker football and will handle play-by-play duties, while Tim Nott will give a color commentary. GVSU football can be heard on 97 WLAV-FM (Grand Rapids) 106.1 FM The Ticket (Grand Rapids), WJRW-AM 1340 (Grand Rapids), and WLCS-FM 98.3 (Muskegon)

Grand Valley State athletics will have a dedicated Spanish language broadcast for all home football games during the 2023 season, including the home-opener set for this Saturday (Sept. 9) at Lubbers Stadium. This is the first known dedicated Spanish speaking broadcast for a NCAA Division II football program. Elio Benitez and Miguel Esparza will handle the call which can be heard on four stations across the state of Michigan, La Poderosa 93.3 FM and 810 AM in Grand Rapids along with 103.1 FM and 1080 AM Midland/Lansing.

THE COACHES
For the second consecutive week it will be a matchup of first-year head coaches. GVSU head coach Scott Wooster is the eighth leader of Laker football in 52-year history of the program, while Colorado State-Pueblo head coach Phil Vigil claimed his first head coaching for the Thunderwolves a week ago. 

THE SERIES
GVSU leads the all-time series with Colorado State-Pueblo by a 4-0 margin. The Lakers claimed a 35-10 victory a year ago in Pueblo and won the only meeting between the schools in Allendale by a 34-14 score in 2021. 
 
HOME OPENERS
The Lakers are 37-12 in home openers at Lubbers Stadium, including an 20-1 mark since 2001.

Last Week
Grand Valley State dropped a 31-28 decision at #2 Colorado Mines a week ago in Golden, Colorado. GVSU scored first on a 9-yard run by junior WR Kyle Nott, but Mines reeled off 28 consecutive points to take a 28-7 lead into the fourth quarter. GVSU scored 21 fourth quarter points to tie the game at 28-28. Senior QB Cade Peterson hit junior WR Cody Tierney with a 31-yard reception for a score and then found RS freshman Lynn Wyche-El with a 5-yard TD pass to pull the Lakers within seven points. Nott recovered a perfectly executed on side kick and Peterson scored on a 20-yard scramble to tie the game at 28. Mines kicked a 41-yard field goal with two seconds left in the game for the win. 

NATIONS LEADING WINNING %
Grand Valley State is the winningest FBS, FCS and Division II program in the country in winning percentage for schools that have played over 500 games, boasting a record of 431-150-3 (.741) in 51 years of playing football. In addition, GVSU is also the winningest team in GLIAC history with a 310-77-3 mark (.795).

LAKER NOTES

• The Lakers are 36-12 in home openers at Lubbers Stadium, including an 19-1 mark since 2001. 

•  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 431-150-3 (.741).  In addition, GVSU is also the winningest team in GLIAC history with a 310-77-3 mark (.795).  

GVSU is 7-1 all-time versus programs from the State of Colorado. 4-0 vs. Colorado State-Pueblo, 2-1 vs. Colorado School of Mines and 1-0 vs. Northern Colorado.   

• 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.

• Grand Valley State has always played one of the most challenging non-conference schedules and 2023 is no different. Three of the Lakers' four non-conference opponts are ranked in a poll following week one.
 
Colorado Mines - 2 (AFCA/D2football)
Colorado State-Pueblo - 20 (AFCA)
Assumption - 23 (AFCA) 

• The Lakers' last two opponents have been the two teams that played for the 2022 National Championship and GVSU dropped both contests on a field goal in the final seconds of the game.

2022 NCAA Quarterfinal - 
Ferris State 24, at GVSU 21

2023 Season Opener - 
at Colorado Mines 31, GVSU 28

• 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.


2022 Laker Notes...

• GVSU opponents averaged 14.0 first downs per game, with four squads (Lincoln-9; WSU-9; NMU-7; MTU-8) being held under 10. The Lakers are averaging 22.6 first downs per game.

• The Laker defense ranked 3rd nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (69.9), while the rushing offense ranked 10th nationally (228.7). 

• GVSU ended the regular season ranked first in the nation in scoring defense (11.2) , while ranking 10th  nationally in scoring offense (37.9). 

• The Lakers ranked 12th nationally in both total offense (449.8) and total defense (266.7).   

• 18 different receivers caught a pass for GVSU, while 16 different players tallied at least one rush.

• The Laker defense ranked 6th nationally in third-down conversion defense (.253).

• The Laker secondary has 12 interceptions and 63 pass breakups.

• The GVSU defensive tallied 76 QB hurries, 92.0 tackles for loss (-388) and 42 QB sacks (-251) in 2022.  

• GVSU ranked 7th nationally in offensive first downs (288) and 35th in defensive first downs allowed (169). 

• The Lakers' redzone offense ranked 24th nationally with a .869 conversion rate, while the defensive redzone efficiency ranked 5th nationally (.600)

• The GVSU offense was 55-for-63 in red zone scores, 50 of which resulted in a touchdown. Laker opponents tallied 16-for-24 in redzone opportunities with 10 TDs and five made field goals.  

• Balanced Attack - The Laker offense  averaged 228.7 yards per game rushing and 221.2 yards per game passing for a total offensive output of (449.8 ypg). 

• The GVSU defensive line (12 players) combined for 192 tackles, 52.5 tackles for loss (-219) and 29.0 QB sacks (-172) and 72 QB hurries through 13 games.

• The GVSU offense converted 32-of-67 (.477) third down opportunities in the second and third quarters this season. GVSU is 17-for-37 in the second quarter and 15-for-32 in the third quarter. 

• 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 431-149-3 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


#5 CODY TIERNEY, WR
2023 - Tallied career-highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (151) in opener at Mines...Averaged 18.8 ypr...Tierney has 76 career catches for 1,044 yards and seven TDs ...Became the 41st player in Laker football history to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark.

#8 KYLE NOTT, WR
2023 - Recorded career-highs in receptions (3) and receiving yards (59) at Mines in the opener...Rushed five times for 18 yards and a TD...Tallied 15 catches for 236 yards and 2 TDs, while rushing 24 times for 186 yards and four TDs in his career.

#13 CADE PETERSON, QB
2023 - Completed 18-of-35 passes for 295 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 64 yards and one TD on 14 carries at Mines in the opener...Completed 372-of-630 passes for 5,410 yards and 49 TDs in his career…Rushed for 1,325 yards and 16 TDs on 248 carries…Became the fourth GVSU QB to reach the 1,000-yard rushing and 4,000-yard passing mark...Accounted for 6,671 yards of total offense 64 TDs in his career.

#2 TARIQ REID, RB
2022 All-American...Ranks 14th among active RB in career rushing yards with 2,172 yards and 28 TDs on 357 carries in his career…Hauled in 11 receptions for 107 yards and two TDs...Rushed for 1,027 yards and 19 TDs in 2022.

#4 DARRELL JOHNSON, WR
2023 - Caught three passes for 28 yards at Mines in the opener.

Played in 25 career games....28 career receptions for 349 yards...26 punt returns for 245 yards and one TD.

#9 CHRISTIAN MCCARROLL, DE
2023 - Recorded career-highs in tackles (9), tackles for loss (3/-18) and quarterback sacks (2/-16) at Mines in the 2023 season-opener.

#15 AVERY MOORE, QB
2023 - Rushed eight times for 44 yards at Colorado Mines...Completed only pass attempt for 14 yars.  

Rushed 61 times for 349 yards and five TDs in 2022....Completed 4-of-9 passes for 29 yards and two TDs.

#44 DREW PETERSON, TE
Did not play at Mines.

Played in 25 career games...15 catches for 125 yards and one TD. 

#88 GAVIN COSSOU, TE
2023 - Caught two passes for 43 yards at Mines.

Played in 25 career games...Seven  catches for 114 yards and one TD.

#41 ABE SWANSON, LB
2023 - Tallied three tackles at Mines.

Top LB in country...Consensus All-American...GLIAC Linebacker of the Year...Played in 36 career games...221 tackles (75 solo/146 assisted)...20.5 tackles for loss (-87) and eight QB sacks (-41)...Eight pass deflections and three interceptions.

#2 TEREZ REID, DB
2023 - Tallied six tackles at Mines.

All-GLIAC honoree...Recorded 41 career tackles and four pass deflections...Notched 3.5 tackles for loss (-7).

#3 damonte mccurdy, db
2023 - Did not play at Mines.

Played in 25 career games...All-GLIAC performer...113 tackles (57 solo/56 assisted)...4.5 tackles for loss (-8)...One QB sack (-3)...Nine pass breakups and two career interceptions.

#7 JAY'VIAR SUGGS, DT
2023 - Tallied three tackles, .5 TFL (-3) and .5 QB sack (-3). 

Recorded 21 total tackles (11 solo/10 assisted...Tallied seven tackles for loss (-23) and three QB sacks (17)... Notched five pass deflections.

#20 Ian kennelly, fs
2023 - Recorded seven tackle at Mines, played every snap on defense.

Played in 24 career games...59 tackles ...Eight pass breakups and two interceptions.

#55 colton hyble, DE
2023 - Tallied five tackles and a pass deflection at Mines.

Played in 26 career games...All-GLIAC performer...Recorded 71 tackles...
Notched 13.0 tackles for loss (-62) and five QB sacks (-45).

#92 jack gilchrist, DT
2023 - Recorded three tackles.

Played in 26 career games...All-GLIAC honoree...67 career tackles...10.5 tackles for loss (-42) and 6.0 QB sacks (-36).

#98 Seth Hoonhorst, DT
Played in 27 career games...All-GLIAC honoree...58 career tackles (13 solo/45 assisted)...9.0 tackles for loss (-26) and 3.0 QB sacks (-16).