April 17, 2010

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State held its annual spring game Saturday (April 17) afternoon at a windy, but sunny Lubbers Stadium before a crowd of over 2,000 fans. In a modified scoring format where the offense and defense can both earn points, the GVSU offense claimed a 107-65 victory over the defense. The 107 points scored by the offense were the most in GVSU spring game history. The contest also marked the beginning of the Matt Mitchell era as the Lakers seventh head coach. The Lakers will host West Texas A&M on Thursday, Sept. 2 in the season opener at Lubbers Stadium.

Freshman running back Hersey Jackson (Allendale, Mich.) opened the offensive scoring for the Lakers in the first quarter with a 52-yard touchdown run, while fellow running back Norman Shuford (Farmington Hills, Mich./Akron) added a 1-yard scoring run. Freshman cornerback Donavan Wilson (Detroit, Mich./Southeastern) tallied the first of his two interceptions early in the second quarter to thwart a potential scoring drive for the offense. Sophomore receiver Chris Crawford (Muskegon, Mich.), who moved from cornerback in the beginning of spring drills, hauled in a 12-yard touchdown reception from freshman quarterback Heath Parling (Plymouth, Mich./Salem). Freshman running back Anthony Mullins (Plymouth, Mich./Salem) added a 1-yard TD run, while another freshman running back, Michael Ratay (Geneva, Ill.), scored on a 15-yard touchdown run to give the offense a 77-37 halftime lead.

Freshman receiver Darryl Pitts (Detroit, Mich./Southeastern) hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Parling early in the third quarter, but sophomore cornerback Myron Puryear (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Canton) picked off a pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Isiah Grimes (South Haven, Mich.) scored on 4-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to conclude the scoring.

Playing in just the first quarter, Jackson toted the ball six times for 91 yards and a TD, while Shuford carried the ball five times for 31 yards. Shuford also caught two passes for 19 yards. Ratay carried the ball eight times for 55 yards, and freshman Billy Seiler (Alsip, Ill./Marist) added 44 yards on 10 carries. Mullins chipped in 25 yards rushing and Larry Harris (Cassopolis, Mich.) added 12 yards via the ground. Parling completed 16-of-24 passes for 190 yards and two TDs, while Grimes was 6-for-17 for 100 yards and a rushing TD. Freshman Taylor Copacia (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower) was 5-for-18 for 56 yards. Eleven different receivers caught a pass for the Laker offense, led by Pitts' three receptions for 67 yards.

Defensively, Donavan Wilson picked off two passes and recorded six tackles, while sophomore defenseive back Vince Beachem (Addison, Ill./Addison Trail) recorded 12 tackles. Freshman linebacker Zach Galloway (Tecumseh, Mich) chipped in 10 stops, while Puryear tallied seven tackles and three pass deflections. Freshman linebacker Daniel Wanshon (Dearborn, Mich.) notched eight stops and fellow freshman Brogan Bibler added seven tackles.

"I was pleased with our effort and I liked what I saw on both sides of the ball," said Mitchell. "We held out over 30 players from participating in the spring game because I know what they can do on the field, but it was nice to see our freshman, redshirt freshman and sophomores compete for playing time in the fall."