November 23rd, 2024 3:35pm
Survive and advance is what postseason football is all about and the #4 Grand Valley State Lakers did just that Saturday afternoon with a 24-7 victory over #14 Indianapolis at Lubbers Stadium.
The Lakers will now host defending National Champion and #5 Harding Saturday, Nov. 30 at Lubbers Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The 25th meeting between GVSU and Indianapolis was a defensive battle as the two teams combine for 19 punts and 13 drives that were three-and-out. The Laker punt team set up the first touchdown as junior punter Trace Hrgich dropped a punt inside the Greyhound 10 yard line. The Laker defense forced a three-and-out and junior quarterback Ike Udengwu hit sophomore wide receiver Kellen Reed with a 37-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive. RS freshman Mathew Bacik converted the PAT for a 7-0. The Lakers and Greyhounds exchanged turnovers and eight punts the remainder of the opening half.
Indianapolis gained momentum with a 5-play, 79-yard drive early in the third quarter as QB Gavn Sukup raced 36 yards for a touchdown. However, after trading punts the Laker offense exploded again with a 1-play, 68-yard scoring drive. Udengwu hit junior wide receiver Jordan Johnson with a 68-yard scoring pass and Bacik added the PAT for a 14-7 lead. Hrgich once again pinned Indianapolis inside its 20-yard line and Laker defense forced a three-and-out. Following a 37-yard Greyhound punt to the GVSU 48 yard line, the Laker offense used four runs and three passes to drive 52 yards in seven plays for a TD. Udengwu hit senior TE Gavin Cossou with a 22-yard completion and sophomore running back Syone Usma-Harper finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Lakers a two-score lead.
The GVSU defense got a fourth-down stop and then used a 30-yard run by linebacker Jimmy Downs on a fake punt to pick up a first down that led to three more points. Bacik ended the drive with a 25-yard field goal to give the Lakers a 24-7 lead.