Grand Valley State knocks off Ferris State in battle of top two teams in Division II
Jack Provencher's 10-yard touchdown run with less than four minutes remaining lifted Grand Valley State to a 22-21 win over defending Division II champion Ferris State in the Anchor-Bone Classic on Saturday in Big Rapids in a matchup of the top two teams in the country.
The No. 2 Lakers' rushing attack proved to be the difference. GVSU outrushed Ferris, 223-81, a year after losing twice to the Bulldogs, including 54-20 in the Division II playoffs.
It's the first win for Grand Valley State (7-0, 2-0 GLIAC) in the west Michigan rivalry since 2016, ending a five-game skid.
The loss snaps No. 1 Ferris State's 19-game winning streak, the longest in college football regardless of division. The Bulldogs had won 43 straight in the regular season, dating back to Sept. 23, 2017.
Grand Valley State forced a punt with just under six minutes to play, trailing by five points. The Lakers then marched down the field for a five-play, 83-yard drive, all on runs, thanks to three 20-plus-yard carries. Provencher scored on a first-and-goal run from the 10 to give the Lakers the lead with 3:36 to play. Provencher got the call again on the 2-point try but was unsuccessful.
On their ensuing possession, the Bulldogs' Mylik Mitchell hit C.J. Jefferson for a first-down pass on the second play of the drive, but safety Stephen Roncelli forced the ball out and Abe Swanson recovered at GVSU's 41-yard line.
But the Bulldogs created another chance when, on the second play of the Lakers' drive, Konnor Near recovered a fumble, setting up Ferris at the GVSU 43.
The Lakers' defense then came up big, forcing an incomplete pass, a short run and an even shorter pass. After Ferris State's false start, it was left with a fourth-and-10 and Mitchell's pass fell incomplete, ending the Bulldogs' hopes.
Provencher had eight carries for 76 yards, supplementing Tariq Reed's 15 carries for 90 yards.
Mitchell was 19-for-27 for 235 yards and a touchdown for Ferris (5-1, 1-1).
More GLIAC
Davenport 47, Wayne State 43: Jason Whittaker's 13-yard touchdown pass to Alonzell Henderson with nine seconds remaining lifted the host Cardinals (6-0, 4-0). Whittaker had 348 yards passing, six TDs, three to Preston Smith (112 yards receiving) and two interceptions. Kendall Williams had 136 yards rushing and a touchdowns for Wayne State (1-6, 0-3), which overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take a three-point lead late.
Michigan Tech 21, Northern Michigan 7: Darius Willis had six catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns for the host Huskies (3-4, 2-1), who held the Wildcats (3-4, 1-3) to 1-for-11 on third downs. Tyshon King had a rushing TD for NMU.
Saginaw Valley State 38, Indianapolis 14: Andrew Britto had 181 yards passing and three touchdowns for the host Cardinals (5-2, 2-0), who scored 31 straight points after the game was tied, 7-7, in the first quarter. Derrick Hinton Jr. had two TD catches.
MAC
Central Michigan 28, Akron 21: Thomas Incoom scooped up a loose ball and went 63 yards unimpeded to score the winning touchdown with 1:50 to play for the visiting Chippewas (2-5, 1-2 MAC). Marion Lukes had 26 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns and also a 37-yard touchdown catch. Akron fell to 1-6 (0-3).
Northern Illinois 39, Eastern Michigan 10: Taylor Powell threw for 197 yards, one touchdown and an interception for the host Eagles (4-3, 1-2). Harrison Waylee rushed for 158 yards and a TD for the Huskies (2-5, 1-2), who held EMU to 29 yards rushing. Former Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi had 115 yards passing.
Ohio 33, Western Michigan 14: Jack Salopek was 17-for-31 for 249 yards, a touchdown and five interceptions for the host Broncos (2-5, 1-2). WMU also had a lost fumble. Sieh Bangura had 77 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the Bobcats (4-3, 2-1).
MIAA
Trine 39, Olivet 37 (3 OT): The Thunder (6-1) ended the Comets’ hope of an undefeated season with a pair of 60-plus yard drives in the final seven minutes of regulation. Quarterback Alex Price threw a 41-yard TD to Rodney Johnson to make it 24-21 Olivet with 3:49 remaining, then moved the Thunder 62 yards on nine plays in 85 seconds before Colton Wampler hit a 32-yard field goal with two seconds left to force OT. The squads traded TDs in each of the first two overtimes, forcing triple-OT and mandatory 2-point conversion tries from the 3. The host Comets (5-1) were up first, but Nyassinu Crowell Jr. couldn’t get in on the ground. That left it up to Price again, and he found Kale Lawson for the winning score. Price finished with 391 yards, three TDs and an interception on 23-for-30 passing, while the Comets were led by Crowell, who rushed 20 times for 94 yards and a TD.
Alma 28, Hope 26: Carter St. John passed for two long TDs, both in the third quarter as the host Scots (6-0) held off a fourth-quarter rally by the Flying Dutchmen (3-4). Carter was 14-for-26 for 232 yards, but 96 of those yards came on TD throws to Ty Lotterman (60 yards) and Eddie Williams (36).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Division II: No. 2 Grand Valley State beats No. 1 Ferris State
