Grand Valley State University scored a late touchdown to stave off Northwest Missouri State 13-8 Saturday afternoon in Allendale.
The Lakers, 12-0 and ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II, will host fifth-ranked Ferris State in the regional round Dec. 3 at a time to be determined. The Bulldogs defeated Pittsburg State 17-14 Saturday in Big Rapids.
No. 10 Northwest Missouri (10-3) took an 8-7 lead on Cole Lammel’s 25-yard field goal with 3:49 to go in regulation. However, Grand Valley marched 72 yards in five plays and pulled back ahead for good on Tariq Reid’s 7-yard touchdown run with 1:54 left in the game.
Here are six takeaways from Grand Valley’s win.
1) Reid scored both of Grand Valley’s touchdowns, with his first one coming on a 4-yard run with 4:01 to go in the first quarter that put the Lakers up 7-0. The Bearcats were kept out of the end zone but fought back in the third quarter on Lammel’s 34-yard field goal and a safety to cut the deficit to 7-5. The Bearcats took their only lead on Lammel’s second field goal in the fourth.
2) Nyzier Fourqurean recorded three interceptions for the Lakers. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back from Mentor, Ohio, picked off his third pass after the Lakers pulled ahead 13-8 to seal the win. Fourqurean has four picks on the season.
3) Not only did the Lakers record three interceptions, but the Grand Valley defense sacked Bearcats quarterbacks five times. Northwest Missouri entered the game averaging 30.3 points per game. The Lakers held a 394-302 edge in total offense. The Bearcats finished with 53 yards rushing and 249 passing. Abe Swanson led the Lakers defense with 11 tackles and Damonte McCurdy seven.
4) The 13 points was the fewest for Grand Valley since Northwest Missouri beat the Lakers 27-13 in the 2013 national semifinal game. Lakers quarterback Cade Peterson was 9-of-23 for 173 yards, with Jahdae Walker recording three catches for 87 yards. Reid finished with 99 yards rushing on 15 attempts, with Peterson adding 98 yards on 13 carries.
5) Saturday’s game, which was played before 4,049 fans, marked the seventh time the Lakers and Bearcats have met, all coming in the playoffs. The Bearcats, who hold a 4-3 edge, had beaten the Lakers the past four meetings.
6) Next weekend’s game against Ferris will be a rematch of the Oct. 15 game that saw the Lakers beat the Lakers Ferris 22-21. The defending Division II national champion Bulldogs are 11-1 overall. The winner will advance to the national semifinals.
Ad Choices