GVSU Postgame Interviews


#2 Grand Valley State needed all three phases of the game Saturday afternoon at #23 Saginaw Valley State to claim a 16-9 GLIAC road win. The Lakers have now won 19 consecutive GLIAC games and 16 consecutive regular season games. In addition, GVSU has won 20-of-the-last-21 games in the Battle of the Valley's on the gridiron. The Lakers will host #5-ranked Ferris State next Saturday (Oct. 26) at Lubbers Stadium. 
 
The game certainly did not start the way the Lakers wanted offensively. Following a Saginaw Valley State punt senior QB Avery Moore was sacked in the endzone for a safety and the Cardinals had a 2-0 lead. The GVSU defense was able to get a stop, and the offense started to move the ball. Moore hit senior WR Kyle Nott with back-to-back completions that covered 38 and 11 yards to move inside the Cardinal 10-yard line. Following a GVSU penalty that negated a touchdown RS freshman place-kicker Mathew Bacik booted a 33-yard field goal to give the Lakers a 3-2 lead. 
 
Saginaw Valley State put together a 6-play, 65-yard drive, aided by a two GVSU penalties, for a touchdown early in the second quarter and to take a 9-3 lead into the lockerroom at the half. The GVSU defense came up big in the second quarter to keep GVSU within six points. 
 
Laker special teams was able to flip the field and following a short SVSU punt that went out at the 50-yard line, the Laker offense was able to get some momentum. GVSU drove 50 yards in 11 plays, picking up three key third downs and sophomore RB Derrick Woods scored from 1-yard out and Bacik added the PAT for a 10-9 GVSU lead. Sophomore WR Kellen Reed hauled in a huge third down pass to keep the drive alive. 
 
The GVSU defense was able to get another stop and turned the ball over the GVSU offense the Lakers' 10-yard line. Moore opened the drive with a completion to Nott that covered 18 yards, followed by a completion to senior WR Cody Tierney for nine yards. Woods picked up a first down with a 2-yard run and Moore then hit Lynn Wyche-El with a 7-yard completion. Sophomore WR Donovan Johnson hauled in a 5-yard pass and Moore rambled 17 yards for a first down at the SVSU 32-yard line. Following a penalty on the Cardinals that moved the ball to the 22-yard line the Lakers used a bit of trickery. Moore hit senior tight end Gavin Cossou from 22 yards out after a reverse pitch back to Moore. Cossou used his 6-6 frame to pull the ball in for the touchdown. GVSU was denied on the 2-point attempt. 
 
The GVSU defense was able to get two fourth down stops in the fourth quarter and limited SVSU to just 132 yards and six first downs in the second half.
 
Freshman punter Even Sunderman was key in the victory, averaging 45.6 yards on seven punts, including two inside the 10-yard line. 
 
Moore completed 13-of-22 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 28 yards. Nott hauled in three receptions for 67 yards, while Reed caught three passes for 46 yards. Cossou hauled in his touchdown pass and senior WR Darrell Johnson caught a key 15-yard pass to pick up a first down midway through the fourth quarter. 
 
Junior LB Anthony Cardamone led the defense with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss (-9) and a QB sack (-7). Senior safety Ian Kennelly added eight tackles, LB Damonte McCurdy seven, Devin Pringle six and Kobe Hayward six. CB Terez Reid recorded two tackles and two pass breakups.