GVSU Football Gamenotes

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#2 Grand Valley State will hit the road for a GLIAC matchup in the Battle of the Valley's versus #23 Saginaw Valley State. The Lakers (6-0) are coming off a 49-17 victory over Northern Michigan, while the Cardinals, who have won four consecutive games, claimed a 27-14 road win at Roosevelt. 
 
THE SERIES
• Grand Valley State leads the all-time series with Saginaw Valley State by a 41-11 margin, having won 11 consecutive and 19-of-the-last-20 games in the series. GVSU claimed a 55-14 victory over the Cardinals a year ago in University Center. The Lakers sport a record of 24-2 at Lubbers Stadium versus the Cardinals and a 17-9 mark at Wickes Stadium. From 2001 - 2009, Grand Valley State was ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in 10-of-the-11 meetings with the Cardinals. SVSU was ranked higher than GVSU on two occasions, 2013 GV was unranked and claimed a 49-34 victory over #21 SVSU, and  in the 2003 playoffs SVSU was ranked #1 and GVSU was #4. GVSU claimed a 10-3 win at Saginaw Valley State and eventually went on to win the National Championship. GVSU is 21-3 versus SVSU as a ranked team since 2001 and 26-3 overall versus the Cardinals in that span. 

• The Lakers have won 18 consecutive GLIAC games. The two-time defending GLIAC champions' last GLIAC loss was 10-16-21.  In addition, the Lakers have won 15 consecutive regular season games. 

• Last Week - #2 Grand Valley State claimed a 49-17 victory over Northern Michigan in four quarters of rain. The Lakers led 14-0 1:48 into the game. WR Kellen Reed returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a TD and following a turnover QB Avery Moore raced 29 yards for a TD. GVSU led 28-3 at the half and 35-3 early in the third quarter. The Laker defense forced three turnovers and LB Isaiah Johnson returned a fumble 23 yards for a touchdown. The Lakers rushed for five touchdowns, led by Moore who rushed six times for 92 yards and a TD. Khalil Eichelberger toted the ball 10 times for 58 yards and a TD, while Syone Usma-Harper chipped in 36 yards and a TD on four carries. The Laker defense did not allow a pass completion for the first time in Laker football history as the Wildcats were 0-5 in the passing game. Kobe Hayward led the defense with seven tackles and 2.5 TFL (-6), while Ian Kennelly also added seven stops. 

• GVSU is 36-19 versus ranked teams since 2009 and 228-38 versus all teams as a ranked team since 2001. 

• Run Offense - Run Defense...
- The Laker rush offense ranks third in the country, rushing for 1,821 yards (303.5 ypg/6.1 ypc) and 21 TDs in six games.
 
- The GVSU rush defense ranks seventh nationally and has limited five opponents to 568 yards and three rushing TD on 192 carries (94.7 ypg/3.0 ypc).

• GVSU has outscored its opponents 66-0 in the first quarter and 64-24 in the second for a first half combined scoring of 130-24.

• The Money Down - The GVSU offense ranks sixth nationally in third down conversions (41-for-78/52.5%). The Lakers are 23-38 in the first half (.605). 
 
13-for-18 in the first quarter
10-for-20 in the second quarter
11-for-22 in the third
 7-for-18 in the fourth 

• Money Down Defense - GVSU ranks 11th defensively in third down defense, holding opponents to .267 third down conversion rate (20-75)
8-for-23 in the first quarter
2-for-17 in the second quarter
1-for-15 in the third quarter
9-for-20 in the fourth quarter

• The Laker starting defense has yielded 1,211 yards on 289 plays and 44 points in six games. In addition, opponents have rushed for 421 yards and one TD on 156 carries in six games.
7.3 points per game - 44 points
201.8 total yards per game - 1,211
70.2 rushing yards per game - 421 rushing yards
131.6 passing yards per game - 790 passing yard  

• The Lakers rank 12 nationally in time of possession, averaging 33:14 in time of possession, while opponents are 26:47.

• The Laker defense has dominated possession football this season.
3 and out: 28
5 plays or less: 38
10 yds or less: 33
3 min. or less: 51

• The Laker offensive possession football.
3 and out: 10
7 plays or more: 33
20 yards or more: 50
3 min. or more: 30

• The GVSU defense ranks 7th nationally in scoring defense (10.8 ppg), while the Laker offense is 24th  in scoring offense (34.3 ppg). 

 • The Lakers are seventh nationally in total offense, averaging 466.2 yards per game (303.5 rushing - 163.17 passing). GVSU is eighth in total defense, yielding 229.7 yards per game. 

• Taking What The Defense Gives - 
Game 1 - 546 rush/121 pass = 667
Game 2 - 249 rush/155 pass = 404
Game 3 - 153 rush/245 pass = 398
Game 4 - 312 rush/124 pass = 436
Game 5 - 273 rush/240 pass = 513
Game 6 - 288 rush/94 pass   = 382 (Monsoon)

• Dominatng Defensively
Game 1 - 60 Rush/35 Pass = 95
Game 2 - 69 Rush/310 Pass = 379
Game 3 - 35 Rush/269 Pass = 304
Game 4 - 19 Rush/102 Pass = 121
Game 5 - 179 Rush/95 Pass = 274
Game 6 - 206 Rush/0 Pass = 206

• The Lakers have 41 plays of 20 yards or more, eight of which have gone for touchdowns. Kyle Nott leads the way with seven plays of 20 yards or more, followed by Khalil Eichelberger (6), and Avery Moore (6), Kellen Reed (4), Darrell Johnson (3), Derrick Woods (3), Kenneth Jones (3).   

• GVSU has 55 tackles for loss (-196) and 19 QB sacks (-121). In addition, the Lakers have 37 QB hurries and 19 pass break ups. 

• The Laker run defense held the first four opponents to 183 rushing yards (60, 69, 35, 19) and 0 rushing TDs.

• GVSU is 21-for-27 in redzone scores (77.8%), scoring 18 TDs and kicking three field goals. Laker opponents are 7-for-12 (58.3%) in the redzone.

• GVSU ranks seventh nationally in QB sacks (19) and ninth in tackles for loss (55).  

• Grand Valley State has won 10 or more games 19 times in the 52-year history of the program, including 17 times since 2001.

• 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.

Team Game Notes....

• The GVSU defense did not allow Northern Michigan to complete one pass last Saturday (Oct. 12). It marked the first time in Laker football history that an opponent did not complete a pass. 

• GVSU rushed for five touchdowns versus Northern Michigan.

• The GVSU defense recorded eight QB sacks (-43) and 15 tackles for loss (-55) vs. West Florida. The eight QB sacks ranks third in a single game. 

• The 58 points scored tied the program record for points scored in a season-opening game (58-16 at St. Joseph's College in 1990) and the 58-point margin broke the previous record of 56 (56-0 vs. Minnesota Crookston in 2001) for margin of victory in a season-opening game.

• Grand Valley State shutout Central State in the season-opening game (58-0), marking the first time in Laker football history that GVSU has shutout opponents in back-to-back games regular season games at Lubbers Stadium (Davenport 30-0, 2023). 
 
• GVSU rushed for 546 yards in the season-opening game, three yards shy of the single-game, school record (549/1974 Findlay).

• The Lakers rushed for seven touchdowns vs. Central State, the most since rushing for seven vs. Notre Dame College in 2012.  

• Three running backs eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in the same game (Central State) for the first time in school history. The previous record was two that reached the 100-yard rushing mark in 2014 (Chris Robinson 126/Terrel Dorsey 109) vs. Tiffin. 

Khalil Eichelberger - 18-119, 2 TD
Kenneth Jones - 11-116, 1 TD
Derrick Woods - 4 - 108, 2 TD 

• GVSU tallied 667 yards of total offense (546 rushing-121 passing) vs. Central State, the eighth-best, single-game total all-time. The Lakers notched 668 yards of total offense in 2023 vs. Kentucky State.  

• The Laker defense limited Central State to 60 rushing yards, 35 passing yards, 95 total yards and six first downs. 

• GVSU recorded 12 TFL and two QB sacks vs. Central State. 

• GVSU tallied 15.0 TFL and 8.0 QB sacks vs. West Florida. The 8.0 QB sacks ranks third all-time. 

Individual Game Notes...

• Sophomore WR Kellen Reed was named the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week after returning the opening kickoff 92 for a TD vs. Northern Michigan. Reed added another KO return for a TD that was called back due to a penalty and he was credidted with 32 yards. 

• Sophomore running back Khalil Eichelberger was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 129 yards and two TDs on 15 carries vs. #20 West Florida.

• Junior punter Trace Hrgich was named the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at CSU-Pueblo. Hrgich averaged 46.5 yards on eight punts, dropping four inside the 20 yard line and two inside the 10 yard line. Hrgich ranks eighth in the country.

• RS Freshman PK Mathew Bacik converted a career-long and the second-longest field goal in Laker football history, 53-yard field goal vs. West Florida. 

• Sophomore running back Khalil Eichelberger rushed for 119 yards and two TDs on 18 carries vs. Central State (9/5).

• RS freshman running back Kenneth Jones tallied a career-high 116 rushing yards and one TD on 11 carries vs. Central State (9/5).

• Sophomore running back Derrick Woods rushed for a career-high 109 yards and two TDs on four carries vs. Central State (9/5). 

• RS freshman Paschal Jolman toted the ball four times for a career-high 84 yards and a TD vs. Central State (9/5). 

• Place kicker Mathew Bacik set a freshman record with his 46 yard field goal, a freshman record. Bacik was 7-for-8 in PATs vs. Central State (9/5).

 QB Avery Moore (Sr.) - 
2024: Completed 48-of-79 passes for 610 yards and four TDs, while rushing for 327 yards and three TD on 63 carries.

Completed 8-of-12 passes for 109 yards and one TD vs. Central State (9/5), while rushing nine times for 54 yards...Completed 13-of-21 passes for 155 yards and one TD, while rushing for 66 yards and one TD at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Completed 6-of-13 passes for 106 yards, while rushing for 84 yards and two TDs on 15 carries vs. West Florida (9/28)...Completed 19-o-28 passes for 240 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 31 yards at Davenport (10/5)...Rushed for 92 yards and a TD vs. Northern Michigan (10/12). 

Career: All-GLIAC...Rushed 175 times for 951 yards and 16 TDs...Completed 68-of-117 passes for 860 yards and nine TDs.

RB Khalil Eichelberger (So.) - 
2024/Career: Rushed 83 times for 545 yards and six TDs...Hauled in seven passes for 41 yards and two TDs...Leads the GLIAC in rushing yards (545), rushing yards per game (90.8) and yards per carry.

Rushed 18 times for 119 yards and two TDs vs. Central State (9/5)...Hauled in one pass for four yards...Toted the ball 14 times for 94 yards at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Toted the ball 13 times for 41 yards and one TD vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing  15 times for 129 yards and two TDs vs. West Florida (9/28)...Rushed for 104 yards on 13 carries and caught five passes for 33 yards and two TDs at Davenport (10/5)...Toted the ball 10 times for 58 yards and a TD vs. NMU (10/12).

RB Kenneth Jones (RSFr.) - 
2024: Rushed 59 times for 321 yards and five TDs.

Toted the ball 11 times for 116 yards and one TD vs. Central State (9/5)...Rushed 10 times for 37 yards and a TD at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Tallied 53 rushing yards and one TD on 12 carries vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Rushed for 87 yards and one TD on 13 carries at Davenport (10/5)...Rushed for 25 yards and a TD on nine carries.

Career: Toted the ball 66 times for 416 yards and six TDs.

RB David Holloman (Jr.) - 
2024/Career: Rushed for 102 yards and one TD on 18 carries.

Rushed for 27 yards and one TD on three carries vs. Central State (9/5)...Rushed for 49 yards on seven carries at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Rushed seven times for 23 yards vs. West Florida (9/28).  

RB Derrick Woods (So.) - 
2024/Career: Toted the ball 13 times for 173 yards and three TDs.

Rushed for 108 yards and two TDs on four carries vs. Central State (9/5). Scored on runs of 64 and 44 yards...Rushed for times for 18 yards vs. West Florida (9/28)...One carry for 31 yards at Davenport (10/5)...Rushed for 14 yards on three carries. 

WR Kyle Nott (Sr.) - 
2024: Hauled in 11 passes for 247 yards...Rushed four times for 32 yards. 

Caught one pass for 30 yards vs. Central State (9/5)...Hauled in one pass for 26 yards at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Caught two passes for 60 yads and toted the ball two times for 21 yards vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Caught three passes for 75 yards vs. West Florida (9/28)...Caught three passes for 49 yards and rushed one time for 10 yards at Davenport (10/5)...Caught one pass for seven yards vs. NMU (10/12). 

Career: All-GLIAC performer...Hauled in 47 receptions for 766 yards and five TDs...Rushed for 535 yards and six TDs...Notched 1,562 all-purpose yards and 12 TDs.

WR Cody Tierney (Sr.) - 
2024: Hauled in four receptions for 54 yards.

Caught one pass for 19 yards vs. Central State (9/5)...Hauled in one pass for 25 yards at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Caught one pass for five yards vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21).  

Career: All-GLIAC performer...Hauled in 107 passes for 1,616 yards and 12 TDs...Rushed for 166 yards and two TDs...Tallied 1,757 all-purpose yards and 14 TDs.

WR Darrell Johnson (Sr.) - 
2024: Hauled in eight receptions for 83 yards.

Hauled in one pass for 14 yards vs. Central State (9/5)...Caught one pass for 12 yards at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Hauled in five passes for 51 yards vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21). 

Career: All-GLIAC honoree...Hauled in 66 receptions for 816 yards and three TDs...Returned 58 punts for 635 yards and two TDs...Returned 21 kickoffs for 442 yards...Tallied 1,967 all-purpose yards.

WR Jordan Johnson (Jr.) - 
2024: Hauled in five passes for 87 yards and one TD.

Caught one pass for 13 yards and a touchdown vs. Central State (9/5)...Caught one pass for five yards at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Hauled in two passes for 24 yards vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Hauled in one pass for 45 yards at Davenport (10/5).

Career: Caught 25 passes for 453 yards and three TDs. 

TE Gavin Cossou (Sr.) - 
2024: Hauled in six receptions for 74 yards.

Hauled in one pass for eight yards vs. Central State (9/5)...Caught two passes for 12 yards at CSU-Pueblo (9/21)...Caught two passes for 29 yards vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Caught one pass for 25 yards at Davenport (10/5).

Career: All-GLIAC honoree...Hauled in 34 receptions for 441 yards and four TDs.

TE Drew Peterson (Sr.) - 
2024: Caught five pass for 50 yards.

Caught one pass for 15 yards vs. Central State (9/5)...Hauled in two passes for 11 yards at Davenport (10/5).

Career: All-GLIAC honoree...Caught 26 passes for 213 yards and two TDs.

DE Niles King (Jr.) - 
2024: Recorded 21 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss (-33), 5.5 QB sacks (-28), six QB hurries, two BPU and one forced fumble.

Tallied one tackle, 1.0 TFL (-2) and a QB hurry vs. Central State (9/5)...Recorded six tackles, 3.5 TFL (-14) and 2.5 QB sacks (-13) at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Tallied six tackles, 2.5 TFL (-9) and 1.0 QB sacks...Recorded three tackles at Davenport (10/5)...Recorded two stops vs. NMU (10/12).

Career: All-GLIAC performer...56 career tackles, 24.0 TFL and 17.0 QB sacks. 

Jack Gilchrist (Sr.) - 
2024: Tallied 19 tackles, 4.5 TFL and 2.5 QB sacks.

Recorded one tackle and a QB hurry vs. Central State (9/5)...Recorded three tackles at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Tallied six tackles, 2.5 TFL (-11) and 1.5 QB sacks (-9)...Notched four tackles, 2.0 TFL (-11) and 1.0 QB sacks (-9) at Davenport (10/5)...Tallied five stops vs. NMU (10/12).

Career: All-GLIAC performer...Recorded 100 tackles, 20.5 TFL and 13.5 QB sacks.

Thomas Jolly (Jr.) - 
2024: Tallied 15 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 QB sacks, and three QB hurries.

Notched one tackle and a QB hurry vs. Central State (9/5)...Recorded three tackles and two QB hurries at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Notched 1.0 TFL and 1.0 QB sack vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Notched four tackles,1.5 TFL (-8) and 1.0 QB sacks (-2) vs. West Florida (9/28)...Tallied six tackles vs. NMU (10/12).  

Career: Recorded 35 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 3.0 QB sacks.

Jake Urban (Sr.) - 
2024: Tallied 14 tackles, 1.5 TFL and 1.0 QB sacks.

Recorded two tackles, 1.5 TFL and 1.0 QB sacks vs. Central State (9/5)...Notched one tackle at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Tallied four tackles vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Recorded two tackles at Davenport (10/5)...Notched four tackles vs. NMU (10/12).  
  
Career: Notched 29 tackles, 5.0 TFL and 2.0 QB sacks. 

Anthony Cardamone (Jr.) - 
2024: Tallied 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss (-13), 2.0 QB sacks (-10), five QB hurries, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and has one pass breakup. 

Tallied three tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a QB sack vs. Central State (9/5)...Recorded five tackles and two QB hurries vs. CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Notched five tackles...Recorded three tackles 1.0 TFL and 1.0 QB sacks vs. West Florida (9/28)...Recorded four tackles at Davenport (10/5)...Notched five tackles, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble vs. NMU (10/12).
  
Career: All-GLIAC honoree...Recorded 135 tackles, 23.5 TFL, 13.0 QB sacks and picked off three passes.

Jack Grice (Sr.) -  
2024: Recorded 14 tackles and 2.0 TFL (-5) and four QB hurries. 

Recorded three tackles and a TFL vs. Central State (9/5)...Tallied two tacklesat CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Notched four tackles and three QB hurries vs. West Florida (9/28)...Tallied two tackles at Davenport (10/5)...Tallied two tackles and a TFL (-2) vs. NMU (10/12). 

Career: Notched 53 tackles, 5.0 TFL and 2.5 QB sacks.

Jake Archbold (Sr.) - 
2024: Recorded 18 tackles and and 2.0 TFL. 

Tallied one tackle vs. Central State (9/5)...Recorded six tackles and 1.0 TFL (1) vs. CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Notched eight tackles and 1.0 TFL at Davenport (10/5)...Recorded two tackles vs. NMU (10/12). 
 
Career: Recorded 69 tackles, 6.0 TFL and 2.5 QB sacks.  

Ian Kennelly (Sr.) - 
2024: Recorded 33 tackles, picked off three pass and has three PBUs.

Recorded three tackles and picked off a pass vs. Central State (9/5)...Notched three tackles at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Tallied eight tackles and picked off a pass vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Tallied five tackles and picked off a pass vs. West Florida (9/28)...Recorded seven tackles at Davenport (10/50...Tallied seven tackles vs. NMU (10/12). 

Career: All-GLIAC performer...Tallied 143 tackles, picked off eight passes, recovered three fumbles and notched 19 pass breakups.

Kobe Hayward (Sr.) - 
2024: Tallied 34.0 total tackles and 4.5 TFL (-5)...Picked off one pass.

Tallied three tackles vs. Central State (9/5)...Recorded a team-high eight tackles at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Notched seven tackles and 1.5 TFL vs. UW-La Crosse...Recorded five 
tackles, 1.0 TFL and a pass breakup vs. West Florida (9/28)...Tallied four tackles and picked off a pass at davenport (10/5)...Recorded seven tackles, 2.5 TFL (-6) vs. NMU (10/12).  
 
Career: Tallied 108 total tackles, 13 pass breakups and recovered a fumble.

Jimmy Downs (So.) - 
2024: Tallied 21 tackles, 4.5 TFL (-11), 1.0 QB sacks (-5) and six QB hurries.

Recorded eight tackles at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Tallied seven tackles and 1.5 TFL vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Recorded six tackles, 3.5 TFL and 2.0 QB sacks vs. West Florida (9/28)...Notched three tackles at Davenport (10/5)...Tallied four tackles and .5 TFL (-2) vs. NMU (10/12). 

Career: Recorded 43 tackles, 7.5 TFL and 3.0 QB sacks.

Damonte McCurdy (Sr.) -
2024: Recorded 19.0 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 QB sacks (-16).

Notched three tackles at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Recorded four tackles, 2.0 TFL (-15) and 1.0 QB sacks vs. UW-La Crosse (9/28)...Tallied four tackles, 1.0 TFL and 1.5 QB sacks vs. West Florida (9/28)...Notched three tackles at Davenport (10/5)...Recorded five tackles vs. NMU (10/12). 

Career: Recorded 156 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 3.0 QB sacks...Picked off two passes and tallied 12 PBU. 

Devin Pringle (Jr.) - 
2024: Recorded 20 tackles and four PBU...1.5 Tackles for loss. 

Tallied three tackles, 1.0 TFL and two PBU vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Recorded four tackles and two PBU vs. West Florida (9/28)...Notched seven tackles at Davenport (10/5)...Recorded three tackles vs. NMU (10/12).
 
Career: Recorded 66 tackles, two interceptions and 16 PBU. 

Terez Reid (Jr.) - 
2024: Tallied seven tackles and picked off two passes. 

Recorded three tackles and picked off a pass at CSU-Pueblo (9/14)...Recorded three tackles vs. UW-La Crosse (9/21)...Picked off a pass at Davenport (10/5).

Career: Recorded 83 tackles, three interceptions and 14 PBU.