Lakers tackle Ferris State
Saturday, September 20th, 2008The #2 nationally ranked Lakers took on the #24 nationally ranked Ferris State Bulldogs in a GLIAC conference match-up and came out with a victory. The Lakers got on the board first with a 3-yard TD pass to Greg Gay from Brad Iciek to make it 7-0.
A quick 3 and out by the Bulldogs gave the Lakers the ball back on their own 41. A balanced passing and running attack helped the Lakers move the ball down the field which made it 14-0 via a 10-yard TD pass to Blake Smolen from Brad Iciek.
The Bulldogs kept this game close with a 13-play, 83-yard drive which resulted in a Bulldog touchdown. This brought the Bulldogs a bit closer and the score was now 14-7 Grand Valley.
On the ensuing drive the Lakers went 3 and out giving the Bulldogs the ball and the chance to tie it up. Ferris State almost made good on this promise, driving to the Laker 7-yard line. They missed a 24-yard field goal and gave the Lakers the ball back. The Lakers then needed just 5 plays to get into the endzone with a 39-yard TD pass to Blake Smolen from Brad Iciek to make it 21-7. At the half the score remained 21-7 Grand Valley.
In the second half Ferris cut into the Lakers lead with a 6 play 44-yard drive which ended in a touchdown but a blocked extra point made the score 21-13.
The Lakers would add another touchdown with a 15-yard run by Blake Smolen to make it 28-13. A late interception by the Laker’s Jacob McGuckin was returned to the Bulldog 1-yard line. The Lakers managed a field goal to make the score, the final score, 31-13.
Blake Smolen had 3 touchdowns on the day - 2 passing and 1 running. Ferris State had more offensive yards than Grand Valley: 360 to GVs 332. The difference was the in the red zone where the Lakers converted on 4 of 5 chances but Ferris was just 2 of 4.
Notes: This was a record crowd of 14,612 at Lubbers Stadium. Grand Valley has now won 35 straight regular season games. This was the first game since 1995 where both teams were nationally ranked.