GVSU Football Highlights

GVSU Postgame Press Conference

#3 Grand Valley State claimed a 48-36 non-conference home victory over Black Hills State Saturday night at Lubbers Stadium before a crowd of 13,836. The Lakers improve to 2-0 and will hit the road for a non-conference game at Pittsburg State Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET. 

Black Hills State jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before the Laker offense was able to get on track. QB Andrew Schuster hit WR Lynn Wyche-El with a 37-yard scoring pass to complete a 5-play, 65-yard drive and Mathew Bacik kicked the first of his six PATs. Schuster was 4-for-4 for 63 yards on the drive. The Laker defense was able to get a three-and-out and GVSU struck quick. Schuster hit Wyche-El with a 12 yard completion and then hit WR Sean Byrd with a 55-yard touchdown pass and the Lakers had a lead (14-10) they would never relinquish. The GVSU defense forced another three-and-out and Bacik converted field goals of 39 and 46-yards to give the Lakers a 20-10 halftime lead. 

Grand Valley State was forced to punt after its opening possession of the second half and the Yellowjackets blocked the kick and scored on a third down pass to pull within 20-17 with nearly twelve minutes left in the first quarter. However, it took just three plays for the GVSU offense to answer. Schuster hit Wyche-El with a 45-yard completion, RB Syone Usma-Harper rushed for three yards and RB Paschal Jolman concluded the drive with a 27-yard touchdown run. The Laker special team unit proved a touchdown when WR Griffin Shinrock blocked a punt that RB Derrick Woods returned 13 yards for a touchdown to up the Laker lead to 34-17. Black Hills State answered with a touchdown, but GVSU needed only five plays to go 56 yards and Schuster hit WR Donovan Johnson 14 yard touchdown pass. The Yellowjackets returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to keep the contest close. The Laker offense went 65 yards in three plays as Schuster hit WR Kellen Reed with a short pass that he took 33 yards for a touchdown and a 48-29 lead. Black Hills State scored the final touchdown with 12:11 left in the game to pull within 48-36. The Lakers and Yellowjackets both had time consuming drives that ended on downs to close the game. 

The GVSU offense produced seven scoring drives that consumed less that 2:39 off the clock. Schuster, who completed passes to 11 different receivers, was 22-for-32 for 391 yards and four touchdowns. Wyche-El hauled in three receptions for a career-high 99 yards and a touchdown, while Byrd hauled in two receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. Reed tallied 49 yards and one TD on four catches and Donovan Johnson pulled down two catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. 

The GVSU defense tallied 11.0 tackles for loss (-53) by 13 different players and 4.0 QB sacks. Safety Josh Anderson tallied eight tackles, while LB Anthony Cardamone notched eight stops, 2.0 TFL and a QB sack.