Score: Saginaw Valley 42, Alderson Broaddus 24
Records: SVSU (1-0) | AB (0-1)
Location: Multi-Sport Performance Stadium - Philippi, W.Va.

PHILIPPI, W.Va. - The SVSU Cardinal Football team traveled to Alderson Broaddus on Saturday (Sep. 2) for a non-conference matchup with the Battlers to begin the 2017 season. The Cardinals overcame an early deficit to hold a 21-14 halftime lead, not looking back in claiming a 42-24 season-opening victory. 

The home team wasted no time getting on the board, scoring on their opening drive via a 60-yard screen pass at the 12:58 marker for the 7-0 lead.

Saginaw Valley responded on the next drive, going four plays and 20 yards for a score after Nate Moore set the Cardinals up with a nice 72-yard kickoff return to the Alderson Broaddus 20 yardline. The scoring play play a two-yard rush from Tommy Scott Jr. to knot the score at 7-7.  

The Cardinals were the next to score, as Scott struck again with a 56-yard pass play from Ryan Conklin for the 14-7 lead at the 12:59 point of the second quarter. Alex Kenrick's second PAT followed the touchdown. 

A-B tied the score at 14-14 on a five yard pass play that capped-off a 10 play, 76 yard drive with 7:47 to play in the opening half. 

SVSU would once again respond and take the lead over Alderson Broaddus with another touchdown at the 5:24 mark of the second quarter. Conklin connected with Marcus Edmondson for a 50-yard touchdown, which was the first catch of Edmondson's collegiate career. 

That's where the score remained, with the Cards maintaining the seven point edge as time expired in the opening half. 

The Battlers opened the second half scoring with a 39-yard field goal, cutting the SVSU lead to 21-17 with 11:41 showing in the third quarter. 

Saginaw Valley got the next two scores, as another pair of Cardinals scored their first career touchdowns in the third frame. Chad Gailliard reeled-in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Conklin to push the lead to 28-17 at the 9:30 mark. Moore then added a 33-yard scamper with 5:21 showing on the clock to make the SV lead 35-17.

Alderson Broaddus scored with 13:29 showing on the clock in the fourth quarter, making the score 35-24 in the Cardinals' favor.

It was until the 3:58 mark when Saginaw Valley got on the board again, as Scott capped-off his huge offensive performance with a 63-yard touchdown run with just 3:58 to play in the contest. Kenrick's sixth extra point of the game finished the game's scoring to make it the final score of 42-24. 

Inside the Boxscore

• The victory was the first on the season opener for SVSU since 2012, when the Cardinals defeated eventual national champion Valdosta State.
• Scott totaled 210 yards with three scores. He toted the ball 24 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns. He added three catches for 78 yards and two scores. He was named the Meijer Player of the Game after the performance. 
• Moore added 79 yards on nine carries with his first career touchdown.
• Edmondson had two catches, including his 50-yard touchdown grab.
• Gailliard's only catch was his 34-yard touchdown reception.
• Conklin was 10-of-14 through the air with 183 yards with three touchdowns.
• SVSU held the edge in total offense by a 386-364 margin. The Cardinals posted a huge 203-8 advantage in rushing yards. 
• Kenrick hit on all six of his PAT attempts.
• Bryan Jones led the defensive effort, totaling a game-high 10 tackles.
• Myles Collier notched nine stops for the SVSU defense. 
• Ryan Gruska had 1.5 sacks, while Heath Williams (1), Jack Jennings (1) and Zack Hadorn (0.5) each had sacks as well. Williams and Gruszka each forced a fumble as well, with Williams falling on his to recover it. 
• Donnell Alexander and Michael Alexander each chipped-in with six tackles. 

From Head Coach Jim Collins

"Great all around team win. I am really proud of the way everyone played today. We played with great effort and consistency. It's never easy when you play on the road but we handled it very well. I really like the fact that it was a mixture of veterans and young guys on that field today making plays. What we do now is keep working hard and stay focused on getting better."

Up Next...

The Cardinals head home to play at Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium for their final non-conference game of the regular season. SVSU hosts Walsh University for a 3:00 p.m. matchup. The Cavaliers dropped a 28-9 decision to Wayne State University on Saturday afternoon. 

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