GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Scoring 12 unanswered points in the fourth quarter led to the upset win for #2 Grand Valley State University over #1 Ferris State University in front of over 12,000 in Big Rapids. GVSU ends Ferris State’s 19-game winning streak, 43-game regular season winning streak, and 32-game GLIAC winning streak.

The game was the most anticipated game in NCAA Division II in a decade and was the second time in program history that GVSU defeated FSU when they were ranked first in the nation. The last time that happened came in 1996.

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It came down to the fourth quarter when GVSU had back-to-back scoring drives to take the lead. The defense the forced a three-and-out and recovered a fumble stopping the FSU momentum from the third quarter.

“We ran the ball really effectively on fourth down and got the stops when we needed them,” said head coach Mitch Mitchell. “We had guys make some plays and I am really proud of this team and coaches. We were down two scores and we found a way to win. At the end of the day our defense made a fourth down stop and made the stop when we had to because we were scrambling in the first two quarters.”

GVSU took the opening kickoff and drove 63-yards for the quick 7-0 lead. Cade Peterson hit a sideline pass to Jack Provencher for 18-yards just three minutes into the game. It was on the second possession for Ferris State that they tied the game up in the first quarter at seven. They went 59-yards on just four plays as Mylik Mitchell connected on a 31-yard pass to Marcus Taylor with 5:54 left. The Lakers took the ensuing possession and moved it to the FSU 16-yard line as the first quarter ended.

Three plays into the second quarter, FSU stopped the Lakers at the 18-yard line as GVSU settled for a 35-yard field goal by Josh Gorball for the 10-7 lead. Four plays later, FSU took the lead for the first time, 14-10, as Taylor rushed 31-yards up the middle for the score. Two drives later, GVSU was threatening to score moving down to the FSU three-yard line. On fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line with 1:31 left in the half, FSU forced an incomplete pass stopping the Lakers threat and keeping the four-point lead, 14-10.

The third quarter was a defensive battle as both teams couldn’t get any rhythm in their first possession. With 9:09 left, FSU took over on their own 20-yard line. Four passes and a rush later, FSU was on the GVSU 25-yard line. GVSU collected a sack and an incomplete pass along with just a rush to set up a 39-yard FSU field goal attempt. That attempt with 3:51 left in the third was wide right as GVSU stayed within four, 14-10. After taking over, FSU stopped GVSU’s momentum with an interception at the Lakers 36-yard line. Five plays later a new FSU quarterback Carson Gulker rushed in from seven-yards out to extend the Bulldog lead to 11 points, 21-10, with just 1:12 left in the quarter.

It was the fourth quarter that became the difference in the game as GVSU shutout the FSU offense coming away with 12 points for the win. It started stopping FSU after giving the ball back to them forcing a three-and-out on a negative five-yard possession. The Lakers took the ball back and went 65 yards on 10 plays. Pounding the ball in the drive with six rushes, Johnt’E Crawford finished it off with a one-yard rush to the left side to pull within five, 21-16. The two-point conversion failed as the Lakers tried to pull within three.

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GVSU’s defense forced another three-and-out on FSU’s next possession which kept the momentum on their side. It was this drive that became the difference in the game. With 5:58 left in the game and the ball on their own 17-yard line, GVSU went 83 yards for the game winning touchdown. It was only five plays that took 2:22 off the clock as Provencher rushed in from 10-yards out. All five plays were rushes from Avery Moore, Tariq Reid, Cade Peterson, and Provencher. Trying to put the lead at three, the second two-point attempt of the day was denied as GVSU kept the one-point lead, 22-21.

“Our guys upfront did an amazing job upfront for our back,” said quarterback Cade Peterson. “Our running backs worked hard for this moment. Those guys earned it and you could tell it meant a lot to them. I am really happy for them.”

The defense continued their strong stand forcing a FSU fumble two plays into the Bulldog’s drive recovered by Abe Swanson at the GVSU 41-yard line. Taking over with 3:20 left in the game, GVSU gave it back to FSU on a fumble two players later.

FSU had life left with 2:42 left in the game taking over at the GVSU 43-yard line. An incomplete pass followed by a three-yard rush put them at the GVSU 40-yard line. A penalty after a complete pass set up a fourth-and-10 from the 43-yard line. Mitchell’s deep pass fell incomplete with 1:46 left as the GVSU defense came up with another stop to secure the win. GVSU then ran out the clock taking back the trophy.

GVSU finished with 425 yards of total offense as 202 was in the air. Peterson passed for one touchdown and Reid was the leading rusher with 90 yards. Darrell Johnson caught two passes for 68 yards.

GVSU most likely will now move the number one position in NCAA Division II and will host Northern Michigan University next Saturday at 3:00 p.m.