The Basics
#2 Grand Valley State 62, Saginaw Valley State 56
GVSU (10-0, 9-0 GLIAC) | SVSU (5-4, 5-4 GLIAC)
Wickes Memorial Stadium - University Center, Mich.
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University football team fell at home in a double overtime thriller to the No. 2 nationally-ranked GVSU Lakers by the count of 62-56.
The Lakers had an early turnover which was an interception by the Cardinals' Matt McKoy, which would lead to a 7-0 SVSU lead at the 10:28 point of the first quarter after a one yard TD run from Tommy Scott Jr.
GVSU would respond with a scoring drive to knot the contest at 7-7 amd the visitors would add another pair of scoring dries to push the lead to 21-7 after the first quarter of play.
SV responded with a 12 play, 76 yard drive that resulted in a Ryan Conklin pass TD to Will Farr for a 17 yard score. The Alex Kenrick PAT made the score 21-14 with 10:25 left in the opening half.
After a GVSU punt, the Cardinals moved the ball once more and would cut the deficit to 21-17 after Kenrick drillled a 49 yard field goal with 4:25 left to play in the opening half.
Another Kenrick field goal from 24 out after the Cards capitalized on a GVSU fumble on the goal line would make the score 21-20 in the Lakers' favor as time expired for the opening 30 minutes.
After a Dillon Dixon interception that was returned to the Lakers' 34, SVSU used four plays and just 1:39 off the clock when Scott found paydirt from 23 yards out and gave SV a 27-21 lead after a Kenrick PAT.
Another Laker punt would ensue, but GV got a pick-six from Marquez Gollman for 34 yards to give the visitors a 28-27 edge.
That would not last long, as Marvin White brought back an interception 46 yards to the house for a 34-28 SV edge with 6:22 left in the third.
The teams would trade scores until the score was knotted at 42-42 with 12:25 showing in the contest.
After the Lakers used up 8:37 of the clock on their final drive of regulation to take the 49-42 edge, the Cardinals drove back down the field with just 1:39 left and knotted the score with six ticks on the clock at 49-49 after a fine passing score from Ryan Conlkin to Marq Johnson in the back left corner of the endzone.
That would force overtime and the Lakers would be on offense first, scoring on a Terrell Dorsey run to make the count 56-49 after a successful PAT.
The Cardinals responded on their second play of the first OT session when Conklin connected with Alfonso Vultaggio on a 24 yard score to tie the game at 56-56.
After SVSU failed to convert on third and fourth downs with a yard remaining in the second OT session, the Lakers eventually would put the ball in the endzone to finish the game with a 62-56 count after a Marty Carter two yard TD run.
Inside the Boxscore
- The 62-56 final score marks the most points ever in the series between the Cardinals and Lakers. SV won 55-52 in the 2012 matchup at Wickes Stadium.
- SVSU had 420 yards of total offense and GV had 584 yards.
- The Cardinals intercepted four passes and recovered one fumble for their turnovers.
- Conklin was 20-of-36 or 235 yards with three TD's and a pick while standing tough in the pocket all afternoon.
- Scott had his second straight 100-plus yard performance, toting the ball 31 times for 134 yards and three scores.
- Marq Johnson had seven grabs for 94 yards and a TD while Vultaggio and Farr each added scores via the pass as well.
- Kenrick connected on both field goal attempts and Tyler Marcus had fivepunts for an average of 39.6 yards.
- Bryan Jones led the defensive attack with a career-best 20 tackles and a sack.
- Dixon added 12 stops with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
- Domonique Walker and Austin Egler each added eight stops in the game.
Postgame Press Conference
Up Next...
The Cardinals round-out the 2016 campaign at Ferris State University on Saturday (Nov. 12) in a 1:00 p.m. contest in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Bulldogs (8-2, 8-2 GLIAC) are coming off a 41-20 victory at Hillsdale on Saturday afternoon.
@svsu_football | #svsufball
