Grand Valley State University’s football team hosted Detroit Christian Community College in an exhibition game Sunday, Sept. 28. In a game where the Lakers mostly played backups, the team demolished the Lions by a whopping 64-18 score.

The Lakers got off to a fast start, as they forced a three-and-out on the game’s first defensive drive. Immediately after, GVSU freshman quarterback Ethan Plumb connected on a deep ball with sophomore receiver Alex McLean for a 33-yard touchdown. GVSU continued its dominant defensive performance, forcing another three-and-out. The Lions had multiple drops, which allowed a fourth-down stop from the Lakers, who were able to shut down their next possession, as the Lions failed to convert a fourth-down pass.

A punt return from freshman receiver Abram Larner gave GVSU the ball inside the Lions’ territory. The Lakers took advantage, with Plumb throwing his second touchdown of the quarter to redshirt freshman running back ArJon Thompson for a seven-yard touchdown catch. The Lakers missed the extra point, putting the game at 13-0. 

Just when it seemed the Lions were finding some momentum offensively, GVSU forced a fumble, which freshman defensive back Dreshaun Johnson was able to recover. The Lakers capitalized on the turnover as a 21-yard bubble-screen catch by freshman receiver Amonte Cook got them inside the five-yard line. This led to redshirt freshman kicker Jay Cady nailing a 27-yard field goal, giving the Lakers a 16-0 lead. 

In the second quarter, the Lions crossed the 50-yard line for the first time, using this momentum to score their first points of the game. After a 23-yard touchdown pass for the Lions, freshman defensive back Chris Little had a one-handed interception on the two-point conversion attempt, keeping the score at 16-6. 

Following a stop and a 43-yard field goal from Cady, the Lakers’ defense forced another three-and-out, leading to a 50-yard pass play, in which freshman quarterback Noah Oury passed to sophomore receiver Bwana Miller. Two plays later, Thompson scored his second touchdown of the game with a three-yard rush. A failed two-point conversion kept the game at 25-6. 

The Lions responded with a 56-yard pass to get inside the Lakers’ 10-yard line, and scored a touchdown the following play on a six-yard pass play. After another failed conversion from the Lions, the halftime score was 25-12. 

GVSU came out of halftime motivated as they converted multiple third downs, resulting in a Laker touchdown. Plumb found McLean for a 14-yard touchdown on third and seven, resulting in the Lakers’ lead getting boosted to 32-12. GVSU added to this lead after redshirt freshman running back Kellen Russell-Dixon blocked a punt into the end zone, which led to a safety, 34-12. 

Following the safety, the Lakers drove down the field but were forced to kick a field goal, where Cady made a 26-yard field goal. A few minutes later, sophomore linebacker Brody Osborne made a play on the ball, getting an interception, and returning it for 24 yards. An eight-yard rush from Thompson extended the Lakers’ lead to 43-12 after a missed extra point.

The Lions responded with a touchdown after GVSU committed a pass-interference penalty on fourth down, which led to a 50-yard touchdown pass. GVSU stuffed the two-point conversion attempt, and the score remained 43-18. Plumb continued to impress on the next offensive drive as he threw a 23-yard touchdown to Larner, extending the lead to 32 points. 

Late in the fourth quarter, Oury connected with Miller again on a 31-yard pass, which gave the Lakers their seventh touchdown, and the score went up 57-18. Freshman running back Khylan Osbey then broke loose for an 86-yard touchdown run. In a dominant second half, the Lakers won 64-18. 

Head coach Scott Wooster reflected on the exhibition game, stating he wanted his players to make the most of the opportunity. 

“I wanted them to take advantage of an opportunity, and we had trouble getting a full schedule,” explained Wooster. “We wanted to take this (exhibition game) to our advantage and make that a positive, so tonight was a phenomenal job.”

Wooster said it was important to have younger players see the field, especially in the current state of college football.

“The fluidity of college football with the transfer portal and NIL (means) we’ve been blessed to play our juniors and seniors in years prior, but now some of those guys get better opportunities elsewhere, so we’re playing younger guys,” Wooster said. “For them (younger players) to get a game week, prep and a game plan, they are so far ahead in their progression compared to where they’d typically be.”