GVSU Football Highlights

Head Coach Scott Wooster Postgame

#8 Grand Valley State claimed a 35-7 GLIAC road win at Northern Michigan Saturday night in the Superior Dome. The Lakers improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in GLIAC action heading into the Saginaw Valley State game and the Battle of the Valley's contest set for next week at Lubbers Stadium. Kickoff for Kids Day is set for 2 p.m.

The first half was sluggish for a Laker offense that couldn't find any rhythm. GVSU started several possessions on the plus side of Wildcat territory, but couldn't put points on the board. Midway through the second quarter Grand Valley State started a drive at its own 21-yard line that ended in points. QB Andrew Schuster connected with WR Kellen Reed on a 38-yard completion and then on fourth five at the NMU 20 Schuster hit Reed with a 20-yard touchdown pass to give GVSU a 7-0 lead with 5:43 left in the first half. Mathew Bacik hit the first of his five PATs.
Northern Michigan tied the game with 30 seconds left in the first half to build energy heading into the second half on a fourth down TD run. 

The second half was all GVSU from the onset. QB Brady Drogosh rushed three times for 40 yards and fellow QB Zak Olejniczak hit WR Lynn Wyche-El with a 24-yard touchdown pass on his first play of the drive to complete a 5-play, 68-yard scoring drive. The touchdown pass was the first of Olenjniczak's career. The GVSU defense forced a three-and-out the offense embarked on a 7-play, 45-yard scoring drive that RB Paschal Jolman concluded with a 14-yard run to up the lead to 21-7.  Senior linebacker Tommy Barnett picked off a pass on the Wildcat's next possession and Schuster hit WR Kenyon Owens with a perfectly thrown 7-yard TD pass to complete the 4-play, 20-yard drive. Defensive tackle Tyus Jackson recovered a fumble deep inside Northern Michigan territory and RB Kenneth Jones scored from four yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter to up the Laker lead to 35-7 with 14:54 left. 

Schuster completed 13-of-22 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns, while Olejniczak was 2-for-3 for 44 yards and a TD. Drogosh toted the ball three times for 40 yards, while RB Derrick Woods added 31 yards on eight carries. Wyche-El hauled in four receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown, while Reed caught three passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Owens caught a career-high three passes for 34 yards and a TD. 

The Laker defense limited NMU to 140 rushing yards on 47 carries and allowed just eight completions for 88 yards, 44 of which came on one play. LB Elijah Baker led the way with seven tackles, while CB Deonte Pippen notched six stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. LB Jimmy Downs chipped in six tackles and 2.0 TFL.