ALLENDALE, Mich. – The #16 ranked Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) football team fell to #1 Grand Valley State University (GVSU) 38-7 before a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and GVSU record crowd of 16,467 in the ninth annual “Battle of the Valleys” game.

The Cardinals struggled to get any offensive flow going in the first half, going three and out on their first two positions. Saginaw Valley would finally find pay dirt when quarterback Chuck Dowdell (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Indiana State) found Galen Stone (Grand Blanc, Mich. /Swartz Creek HS) on a 12 yard pass across the middle to help the Cardinals cut the Grand Valley lead to 24-7. Dowdell ended the day 18 for 36 for 200 yards and a touchdown, he also had 14 carries for 48 yards. Stone would end the day with five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. The Lakers would respond with another touchdown to push the lead back to 24 points before the half. The Cardinals would be unable to find the endzone in the second half as Grand Valley extended their lead to the final score 38-7 late in the third quarter.

The Cardinals defense was led by John Jacobs (Prudenville, Mich. / Midland Dow HS) who racked up nine tackles. Matt Peterson (Freeland, Mich.) and Mike LeVand (Grandville, Mich.) both added eight tackles, and Ja’Vae Ingraham (Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson HS) added six tackles and a fumble recovery.

With the loss the Cardinals fall to 2-1 overall on the season and 1-1 in the GLIAC, while Lakers move to 3-0 overall on the season and 2-0 in the GLIAC. Saginaw Valley will open their home schedule next weekend when they host Northwood University in the 36th Annual Axe Bowl at noon.