Dec. 6, 2003

Kingsville, Texas - Grand Valley State will be able to defend its title as the Lakers claimed its third straight 2003 NCAA DII playoff road win with a 31-3 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday (Dec. 6) in Kingsville, Tex. GVSU will now play North Dakota in a rematch of the 2001 NCAA Championship game next Saturday (Dec. 13) in Florence, Ala. GVSU is making its third straight appearance in the title game and won the 2002 title 31-24 over Valdosta State.

Michael Tennessee rushed 37 times for 155 yards and two TDs to lead the Lakers to victory. The Grand Valley State defense limited Texas A&M-Kingsville to just 130 yards of total offense in the game.

GVSU turned the ball over on a fumbe in its opening possession and Kingsville took the lead with a Richard Hammond 37-yard field goal. However, that was the last time Kingsville came close to scoring on the Laker defense. Finnerty put the Lakers up 7-3 with a 20-yard TD run with 7:29 left in the first quarter. GVSU then took a 14-3 lead late in the first half when Michael Tennessee scored from 30 yards on a four and one play with 1:01 left in the second quarter. David Hendrix put GVSU up 17-3 early in the third quarter with a 23-yard field goal after TAMUK turned the ball over on a fumble. Finnerty scored from three yards out early in the fourth and Tennessee iced the game with a 15-yard run with 6:18 left in the game.

The Grand Valley State defense picked off three passes and recovered two fumbles, while limiting the Javelinas to just 130 yards of total offfense. TAMUK rushed for 46 yards on 27 carries and threw for just 84 yards. William Gray led the defense with nine tackles, while Dustin Cole added seven. Marcus Spencer, Dion Charity and Kirk Carruth all recorded interceptoins, while Lucius Hawkins and Scott Mackey recovered fumbles.

Tennessee rushed for 155 yards on 37 carries, while Finnerty rushed for 117 yards on 15 carries. Finnerty completed 8-of-17 for 54 yards.