Oct. 24, 2008

GVSU-Ashland Gamenotes

Allendale, Mich. - #1 Grand Valley State will host #23 Ashland in a key GLIAC matchup Saturday, Oct. 25 at Lubbers Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Grand Valley State enters the contest 7-0 both overall and in GLIAC action, while Ashland enters 6-2 overall and 6-1 in GLIAC action. Ashland has won six straight contests after dropping its first two decisions in 2008.

For Complete GVSU Gamenotes click on the PDF above.

The Coaches

Grand Valley State • Chuck Martin (Millikin, 1990) • 57-4 (5th year) Ashland • Lee Owens (Bluffton, 1977) • 32-18 (5th year) Martin is 3-0 vs. Ashland Owens is 0-3 vs. GVSU

Grand Valley State leads the all-time series with Ashland by a 13-2 margin. GVSU has won 11 straight games in the series dating back to the 1994 season. Ashland's last win was a 29-14 victory over the Lakers in 1993. The 2007 meeting was cancelled due to lightning.

• Sophomore running back James Berezik was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance at Findlay. Berezik rushed for a career-high 188 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries, while catching four passes for 104 yards and a TD. Berezik's 292 all-purpose yards was a career-high and his TDs were a 38-yard rush and a 77-yard reception. Berezik joined Michael Tennessee as the only two Lakers to rush for more than 100 yards and have over 100 receiving yards in the same game. Tennessee accomplished the feat in 2003 versus Michigan Tech. Berezik ranks second in the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (119.9), second in scoring (8.6 ppg) and fourth in all-purpose yards per game (160.3). Berezik, who has rushed 91 times for 839 yards and eight TDs, leads the nation in yards per carry (9.2).

• Senior defensive lineman Dan Skuta moved into second on the all-time GVSU sacks list with 30, trailing only Mike McFadden (31). Skuta also moved into the seventh spot all-time in DII in career QB sacks. Skuta also has 51.5 (14th) career tackles for loss and trails only Anthony Adams (57.5-8th) and Mike McFadden (55.5-10th) on the all-time DII list.

• Grand Valley State has outscored its first six opponents 122-14 in the first quarter this season and 212-21 in the first half. The average score seven games into the season at the half has been 30.2-3.0.

• Junior QB Brad Iciek has completed 82-of-132 passes for 1,293 yards and 21 TDs this season. Iciek ranks third nationally in pass efficiency rating (192.36).

• The GVSU defense has recorded 61 tackles for loss (-244) and 24 QB sacks (-148). DL Danny Richard leads the way with 11 TFL, while Dan Skuta has 10.0. Twenty Laker defenders have recorded a TFL this season.

• The Laker kicking game has been solid this season. Senior PK Todd Carter has converted 38-of-39 PATs and 6-of-8 field goals, along with notching 14 touchbacks. Punter Justin Trumble is averaging is averaging 40.2 yards per punt this season and dropped all five punts a week ago at Findlay inside the Oiler 15-yard line.

• GVSU is 94-6 in its last 100 games with four National Championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006). The Lakers are 104-10 since the start 2000.

• The 2008 GVSU senior class is 47-1 with three two National Championships and three GLIAC titles. In addition, the 2008 senior class has never lost a regular season game (39-0) and is undefeated (37-0) in GLIAC action.

• Grand Valley State has won 39 consecutive regular season games. Since 2001, the Lakers are 56-3 at home, 40-3 in their last 43 road games and 44-4 in all games away from Lubbers Stadium in their last 48.

• Grand Valley State leads the nation in scoring defense (8.5 ppg), while ranking third in net punting (38.7) and pass efficiency rating (190.5), eighth in rushing offense (228.1), scoring offense (41.7), and pass defense (150.7), and 10th in sacks (3.43) and sacks allowed (1.0).

• Grand Valley State is 70-3 in its last 73 GLIAC games. The Lakers have won a GLIAC record 37 straight GLIAC games dating back to the 2004 season. GVSU also held the previous record of 29 from 2001 - 2003. The Lakers' last GLIAC loss was a 35-14 decision to Northwood on 10/23/04 at Lubbers Stadium.

GVSU has been ranked in the AFCA top 25 in 104 straight polls.

• Grand Valley State has been ranked number one in the country in 69-of-the-last-91 polls since the opening game of the 2002 season...GVSU has finished the year ranked in the top 10 (2001-2, 2002-1, 2003-1, 2004-9, 2005 -1, 2006-1) in seven straight postseason polls.

Ashland - Ashland enters this week's game riding a six-game winning streak. The Eagles dropped their first two games of the season (Bloomsburg/Ferris State), but have regrouped to win six straight. Ashland is led by one of the top quarterbacks in the country in Billy Cundiff. Cundiff has completed 168-of-246 passes for 2,468 yards and 23 TDs. In addition, Cundiff is the second leading rusher on the squad with 201 yards. Ashland also has an outstanding core of receivers, evidenced by fielding three of the top four receivers in the GLIAC in terms of receiving yards. Nick Bellanco leads to GLIAC in receptions (46-775), while Johnny Long (38-661) and Joe Horn (32-570) both rank in the top four. Ashland will look to a pair of young running backs, D'Marris McCoy and Carlin Isles, to handle the running game. Dawon Harvey, the GLIAC leader in all-purpose yards, was injured last week vs. Saginaw Valley State and will not play tonight. Defensively, LB Tom Brenner leads the team in tackles (78) and tackles for loss (11.5). The Eagles are yielding 25.5 points and 408.4 yards per game. Ashland also comes in last in the GLIAC in rushing yards allowed per game (195.5).