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Northern Michigan Falls To #17 Grand Valley, 45-17
 MARQUETTE---The Grand Valley State University Lakers rolled up 587 yards of total offense Saturday and beat the Northern Michigan Wildcats, 45-17, at the Superior Dome. It was the sixth straight loss for NMU after a season-opening win over McKendree. Grand Valley quarterback Cole Kotopka completed 18 of 25 passes for 402 yards and five touchdowns, and he did it to five different receivers.  John'te Crawford added a 27-yard touchdown run on the ground for GVSU (6-1). Grand Valley State jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before the Wildcats climbed back in the game with their best offensive drive of the contest. NMU Quarterback Ryan Johnson hooked up with Ben Loutsis for a 26-yard grab along the GVSU sideline, then connected on a 16-yard pass to Connor Brunius deep into the red zone. Running back Tyshon King took it in from four yards out to put NMU on the board. The Lakers needed just four plays to respond, however, on the long TD play to Slager. GVSU led, 35-7, and looked to be going in for another touchdown when Brady Hanson intercepted a Kotopka pass at the NMU five yard-line.  The Wildcats capitalized on a 28-yard Daniel Riser field goal as time expired, closing the gap to 35-10 at halftime. Northern had one more nice drive in the fourth quarter, but the 'Cats couldn't punch it in from the Grand Valley two yard-line as Johnson's pass to Ravon Johnson was incomplete. The NMU defense picked up the offense, however, when linebacker James Brown blitzed up the middle and sacked backup quarterback Cade Peterson. Peterson fumbled the ball, and Jack Reiger picked it up for a scoop 'n score touchdown with 3:12 left in the game. The Wildcats tried an on-side kick, but Grand Valley recovered and ran out the clock from there. Johnson completed 15 of 24 passes for 124 yards and one interception for NMU. Loutsis caught six of the passes for 44 yards and Brunius had four grabs  Receiver Cully Heimburger stepped up to carry ten times for 28 yards, and Sebastian Toland had 13 carries for 20 net yards. Defensively, Isaac Darkangelo led the way with 11 tackles, ten of which happened in the first half, including a tackle on a 4th-and-1 play that gave the Wildcats the ball in the first quarter. Hanson had six tackles to go along with his interception. NMU will be off next week before traveling downstate to face Northwood on Nov. 2. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos, and hear post-game comments from Assistant Coach Dan Fodrocy. Also click the AUDIO buttons to hear halftime interviews with Kwiecinski and Riser.  |
