The Grand Valley State football team (4-0) continued its winning ways in their first road game of the season, a 38-0 shutout over the Walsh Cavaliers Saturday, Sept. 24.

The defense posted their first shutout of the year, and held the vaunted Walsh offense to just 229 total yards. None of the Cavalier running backs had more than 16 yards rushing individually. As a team, Walsh only totaled 15 net rushing yards.

It was the first shutout since a 28-0 win over Tiffin in 2012.

“Great job by our defense,” said GVSU coach Matt Mitchell. “I don’t care who you’re playing, to get a shut out is hard. (We) got put into some tough spots. (Walsh) faked a punt on fourth down that was successful, then we had a couple turnovers.

“Got the shutout, I think overall we’re happy to get a road win, but at the same time I think there’s some things we can continue to get better at.”

GVSU quarterback Bart Williams threw his first two interceptions of the season against the Cavaliers. Mitchell said the first was a “circus-act” catch that was tipped by several players. The second was a deep ball intercepted by the Cavaliers’ Joshua Hall. Williams was 13-of-26 passing for 201 yards with three touchdowns.

Those were the lone blemishes of an otherwise solid performance for GVSU. Martayveus Carter led the Laker rushing attack with 98 yards and a 6.5 yard-per-carry average, his lowest totals since the season opener over Tiffin. Relief running back Terrell Dorsey had 37 yards with two touchdowns.

The Lakers’ Nick Dodson led all receivers with five catches for 99 yards and a touchdown—a 50-yard reception early in the third quarter.

The day belonged to the defense, though. The Lakers sacked Cavalier quarterback Mitchell Ault four times, two of which came from Laker reserve defensive end Cody Moore in the fourth quarter. The Lakers’ starters only played one series in the fourth quarter.

Senior defensive end Alton Voss, who had a sack of his own, said it was nice to see Moore get in on the action.

“The coaches tell us we need to support our guys,” Voss said. “We’re all on the sidelines cheering those next guys on. For Cody to get out there and get two sacks, we were all pumped, yelling his name and congratulating him when he got off the field.”

The Lakers held Ault to 27-of-36 passing for 195 yards and an interception. Ault averaged 7.2 yards per completion.

Starting cornerback Tre Walton was out with an injury, and redshirt freshman Kalen Dunham started in his place. Dunham recorded an interception, a tackle for loss and was an essential part of the unit that shut down the Cavalier offense.

“Honestly, it was great to be out there,” Dunham said. “I’ve been waiting for a year, coming off my redshirt, it was really fun to be out there. It feels natural.

“I’m happy the way we all played today, it was a good team win.”

The Lakers will hit the road again their next game against the Ohio Dominican Panthers Saturday, Oct. 1 in Columbus, Ohio.