Nov. 28, 2003

The Game:
Fourth-ranked Grand Valley State (11-1) will hit the road for an NCAA DII Football playoff game at #1 Saginaw Valley State (12-0) Saturday (Nov. 29). Kickoff is set for 12 noon. GVSU is making its third straight NCAA DII playoff appearance and eighth overall in the school's history. GVSU is 8-6 overall in 14 playoff games. The Lakers claimed the 2002 NCAA DII Football National Championship, while finishing runner-up in 2001. GVSU claimed its first-ever playoff road win last week at Bentley.

Radio:
The game will be broadcast live on the radio by WMFN AM 640 beginning at 11:45 am. Dick Nelson will do the play-by-play, while former Laker Dan McLean handles the color. The Brian Kelly Radio Show can be heard on WMFN AM 640 every Friday night at 6 p.m., with a replay on Saturday one hour prior to kickoff.

The Series:
Grand Valley State leads the all-time series by a 21-9 margin. SVSU defeated GVSU earlier this seasson by a 34-20 margin. Prior to that meeting, the Lakers had won three straight meetings. GVSU won both meetings between the teams in 2001. The Lakers won the regular season matchup by a 38-7 margin, then claimed a 33-30 win in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals. GVSU then claimed a 23-18 victory in the only meeting in 2002. This will mark the second time in three years that GVSU and SVSU have met in the playoffs. The home team is 11-4 in the last 15 games, with three of the four road victories coming from the Lakers (1993, 1998 and 2002). Nine of the last 14 meetings have been decided by seven points or less. Saginaw Valley State snapped Grand Valley State school-record winning streaks that included 29 straight GLIAC wins, 20 straight wins overall, 32 straight regular season wins, and 25 consecutive wins at Lubbers Stadium.

The Coaches:
Grand Valley State * Brian Kelly (Assumption, 1983) * 115-35-2/.762 (13th year). Kelly is 103-22-2 (.819) in GLIAC action...Kelly is third among active coaches in DII with 10 plus years experience in terms of winning percentage (115-35-2/.762).

Saginaw Valley State * Randy Awrey (Northern Michigan, 1978); 45-14/.762 (5th season)

GVSU Playoff History:
Grand Valley State is making its eighth NCAA Division II playoff appearance. The Lakers are 8-6 all-time in the DII Playoffs and 1-1 in the NAIA playoffs. GVSU has scored 31 points or more in eight of its last nine playoff games, including five games of 42 points or more. GVSU captured its first-ever road victory in playoff action last Saturday at Bentley (65-36). The 65 points scored by the Lakers were a DII single-game playoff record.

NAIA Division I Playoff
1978 - at GVSU 24, at UW-LaCrosse 14;
at Elon (NC) 14, GVSU 7
NCAA DII Playoffs
1989 - Indiana (Pa.) 34, at GVSU 24
1990 - East Texas State 20, at GVSU 14
1991 - at East Texas State 36, GVSU 15
1994 - at Indiana (Pa.) 35, GVSU 27
1998 - at Slippery Rock 37, GVSU 14
2001 - at GVSU 42, Bloomsburg 14
2001 - at GVSU 33, Saginaw Valley 30
2001 - at GVSU 34, Catawba 16
2001 - North Dakota 17, GVSU 14
(National Championship Game)
2002 - at GVSU 63, C.W. Post 13
2002 - at GVSU 62, Indiana (Pa.) 21
2002 - at GVSU 44, N. Colorado 7
2002 - GVSU 31, Valdosta State 24
(National Championship Game)
2003 - GVSU 65, at Bentley 36

* GVSU has lost just twice in its last 46 games (44-2). The common denominator in both losses were turnovers. The Lakers turned the ball over four times in a 17-14 loss to North Dakota in the 2001 National Championship game and then turned it over six times in its 34-20 loss to Saginaw Valley State earlier this season.

* Grand Valley State continued its winning ways on the road last Saturday at Bentley with a 65-36 victory. The Lakers have won 17 consecutive road games and 44-of-46 games overall.

* Grand Valley State is one of the most successful programs in college football over the last 12 years. In the 1990's, GVSU was 80-31-2 (.717). GVSU has the fourth best record by percentage in DII since 2000 with a 45-6 mark (.888) and GVSU's 45 wins since 2000 rank as the second most in DII football. In the last five years GVSU is 59-14 (.805). GVSU is 237-111-3 in 32 years of playing football. 65-36 victory. The Lakers have won 17 consecutive road games and 44-of-46 games overall.

* Grand Valley State concluded the regular season ranked fourth in the AFCA Coaches poll. Prior to Lakers' loss to Saginaw Valley State, GVSU had been ranked number one in the AFCA rankings for 22 straight weeks. The Lakers' 22-week stint atop the rankings was the second-longest tenure ever on top of DII football. 65-36 victory. The Lakers have won 17 consecutive road games and 44-of-46 games overall.

* The Grand Valley State senior class is 45-6 over its four years of playing in the program. The 45 wins (11.2 per year) are the most for any four-year period in Laker annals. In addition, GVSU is 34-4 in GLIAC action the last four years. 65-36 victory. The Lakers have won 17 consecutive road games and 44-of-46 games overall.

* Did You Know? Grand Valley State is one of two teams (Pitt St.) ranked in the top 7 in both total offense (7th/474.9) and total defense (6th/254.9). In addition, GVSU is one of two teams ranked in the top 14 in DII in rushing offense (14th/225.3) and rushing defense (5th/72.1) 65-36 victory. The Lakers have won 17 consecutive road games and 44-of-46 games overall.

* Grand Valley State has been ranked in the AFCA top 25 for 40 consecutive weeks. The Lakers entered the top 25 on Sept. 2, 2001 at number 25 and have been ranked ever since. GVSU held the top spot for 22 consecutive weeks.

* Grand Valley State place kicker David Hendrix continued to build on his GVSU single-season record for field goals with three at Bentley to give him a total of 22 in 25 attempts this season. Hendrix, who was 16-18 in GLIAC play, has converted 32-of-35 in the last two years. David is seventh on the single-season scoring list with 101 points and eighth on the all-time scoring list with 213 points.

* Grand Valley State All-American safety Scott Mackey is one interception shy of the school record. Mackey has 15 career picks, while former Laker Paul Siembida tallied 16 interceptions during his career (1993-96). Mackey leads the team this season with four picks. Mackey also leads the team in punt returns with 32 for 294 yards and one TD. Mackey returned his second-ever punt for a TD (70 yards) last Saturday at Findlay. In his career, returned two punts for TDs, one INT for a TD and a fumble for a TD.

Lakers In NCAA Stats
Team
Total Off. 8th 466.5
Rushing Off. 15th 227.3
Pass Off. 36th 239.5
Total Def 8th 257.4
Scoring Off. 9th 39.5
Scoring Def. 6th 14.1
Rush Def. 4th 75.5
Pass Efic. Def. 17th 97.2
TO Margin 15th +10
GVSU is the only team in the country to rank in the top 17 of the above categories, excluding pass offense which ranks 36th.

Individual
Cullen Finnerty
Total Offense 26th 256.9
Pass Effic. 12th 152.8
David Hendrix
FG Per Game 3rd 1.7 (19)
Scoring 21st 9.2
Michael Tennessee
Scoring 33st 8.2
Rushing 16th 117.7
All-Purpose 14th 161.1
Brandon Langston
KO Returns 27th 26.1

* The Laker defense has held 8 of 12 opponents this season and 19 of its last 40 opponents to 100 yards rushing or less in a game...The Lakers have yielded 816 net yards rushing (68.0 ypg). Conversely, the Laker rushing game has produced 2,718rushing yards.

* Grand Valley State has picked off 68 passes in its last 40 games...In addition, the Lakers have returned 13 of those interceptions for TDs.

* Laker running back Michael Tennessee, a 2003 Harlon Hill nominee, is second on the single-season GVSU rushing list with 1,374 yards...Tennessee leads the GLIAC in rushing yards (1,374) and ranks ninth in receptions (53)...Tennessee leads the Lakers in receptions (53), all-purpose yards (1,886) and rushing TDs (13), while ranking second in receiving yards (512)...Tennessee totaled 200 or more all-purpose yards in five of 12 games...Broke the 100-yard rushing mark six times in the last nine games...Caught six or more passes five times...Rushed for 123 yards on 25 carries and caught seven passes for 105 yards vs. Michigan Tech...Michael is 7th on the GVSU career rushing list with 2,492 yards. Tennessee is 9th on the GVSU single-season scoring list with 96 points.

* Balanced Attack - GVSU is averaging 226.5 yards per game rushing and 245.8 yards per game passing...The Laker defense is forcing teams to pass the ball, evidenced by the GVSU rushing defense yielding just 68.0 yards per game via the ground (816 total). The Lakers are yielding just 271.9 yards of total offense per game.

* Grand Valley State is 11-0 when rushing the ball 41 times or more and attempting 41 or fewer passes. GVSU rushed the ball just 34 times, while attempting 52 passes in its only loss to Saginaw Valley State

* Stingy D - GVSU has held its last four regular season opponents to 7.5 points and 230.2 yards of total offense per game (921). GVSU has yielded 316 yards rushing (79.0 pg) and 605 yards passing (151.2.0 pg). In the last four games GVSU has yielded 30 total points (4 TDs-1 FG).

* GVSU's opponents have converted just 57 of 188 third down opportunities (30.0%), while the GVSU offense has converted 87 of 191 (46.0%) third down opportunities.

* QB Cullen Finnerty, who was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season in the GLIAC, has completed 191-of-292 passes for 2,365 yards and 22 TDs. In addition, Finnerty ranks second on the team in rushing yards (613) and second in rushing TDs (7)...Finnerty has set freshman records for passing yards (2,365), completions (191) and TD passes (22) and total offense (2,978). Finnerty set a GLIAC and GVSU single-game record versus Indianapolis when he completed .900 percent (18-of-20) passes...Finnerty has a 22-5 TD Passes-Interceptions ratio on the year and has a 58-1 pass attempts-interception ratio...Finnerty's completion percentag (65.4) is the second-best, single-season mark in GVSU annals.

* Sophomore QB Jeff Dock turned in a strong performance when he started for the injured Cullen Finnerty. Dock completed 18-27 passes for 200 yards and five TDs, while rushing for 22 yards and another TD. Dock was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. Dock completed 7-of-8 passes for 54 yards and a TD.

* Freshman WR Micah Staley ranks second on the team in receptions with 43 for a team-high 643 yards. Staley also leads the team in TD catches with 12...Staley has caught a TD pass in eight-of-his-last-nine games and averages a TD every 3.3 receptions.

* Senior WR Mario Locricchio ranks third among the receivers in yards (421), while ranking fourth in catches (27). Locricchio tallied a career-high 10 receptions for 139 and one TD vs. Saginaw Valley State. Locricchio's 10 catches was the second-highest single-game total in Laker annals...Mario returned a blocked punt 34 yards for a TD at Bentley last Saturday.

* Balanced Crew - The GVSU receiving crew is balanced, with four wideouts having between 27 and 43 catches. Freshman Micah Staley is second with 43, while sophomore Brandon Langston is third (42), Freshman Mark Catlin (28) and senior Mario Locricchio (27) rank fourth and fifth. Running back Michael Tennessee leads the way with 53 receptions.

* GVSU has scored 40 or more points in 29 of its last 40 games and 50 or more points in 20 of 40 games.

* The Laker defense set a GLIAC record for interception return average versus Ferris State. GVSU returned three interceptions for 148 yards and a 49.3 yards per return average. The previous record of 39.4 ypr was held by Indianapolis versus Mercyhurst in 2000....GVSU also tied a GLIAC record with two interception returns for TDs.

* The GVSU defense has 52 pass deflections on the year, including a team-high 11 by CB Derrick Phillips...GVSU has recorded 32 QB sacks (-229) and 90 tackles for loss (-390). 20 different players have recorded a tackle for loss.

* The Grand Valley State defense has forced its 12 opponents into 62 drives that have consisted of three plays and a punt. Conversely, the Lakers have had 24 such drives that have resulted in three plays and a punt.

* Big Plays - The GVSU offense has produced 60 offensive plays (45 pass/25 rush) that have gone for 20 yards or more, including 11 plays of 50 yards or more. GVSU tallied a season-high 10 offensive plays of 20 yards or more (5 rush-5 pass).

* Punter Matt Regnery is averaging 39.7 yards per punt on the season, with a long of 70 yards. Regnery has dropped 14 inside the opponent 20.

* DB Dion Charity and LB Dustin Cole each returned an interception 46 yards for a TD versus Ferris State...FS Marvis Bryant returned an interception 56 yards with under a minute in the first half to set up David Hendrix's career-long 48 yard field goal. The Lakers have 244 interception return yards on 15 picks.

* Grand Valley State set a GLIAC single-game and a West Michigan sporting event attendance record versus Saginaw Valley State. The game drew 12,832 fans, eclipsing the previous sporting event record was 12,696 at the Floyd Mayweather fight on 2/12/99. The previous stadium record of 12,627 versus Ferris State on sept. 13. In addition, GVSU set a GLIAC single-season record for attendance in five home games. The Lakers have drew 52,225 for an average figure of 10,445. The following are the top six events in the greater Grand Rapids area.

13,200 - Neil Diamond (10/10/96) VA
12,832 - GVSU-SVSU (10/18/03)
12,696 - Floyd Mayweather bout (2/12/99) VA
12,657 - Creed (11/11/02) VA
12,634 - Elton John (3/9/99) VA
12,627 - GVSU-FSU (9/13/03)