Grand Valley State University put together its longest drive of the season the first time the team touched the ball Saturday afternoon against Ferris State University and had no trouble continuing that success throughout the game.

Senior quarterback Kyle McMahon’s four-yard touchdown scramble ended a 13-play, 95-yard drive to give the No. 1 Lakers a lead they would not relinquish Saturday, as the team trampled over the Bulldogs 41-0 in front of 3,256 fans at Ferris State’s Top Taggart Field.

“Glad to get this on our belt,” said GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell. “This was a big one. Ferris always plays us really tough and it was a big game for the conference. I thought our kids were extremely focused all week in practice … Our best game to date when you take into account all three phases of the football.”

GVSU remained unbeaten with the victory (8-0, 7-0 GLIAC) and defeated Ferris State for the 10th meeting in a row. It was the first time the Lakers shutout an opponent since blanking Tiffin University midway through the 2008 season and GVSU’s first time holding Ferris State scoreless since 1989.

The Lakers scored early and often while the defense had little trouble stopping Ferris State’s spread offense. The Bulldogs did not cross into GVSU territory until there was 1:16 to play in the first half and lost their starting quarterback Tom Schneider to a head injury on the next play.

In the third quarter, the Lakers forced Ferris State to a seven-yard loss on offense. Overall, the Bulldogs managed only 118 yards of total offense, the team’s lowest offensive output of the season.

“I got to give Grand Valley the credit that they came in and they revved it up and they played very well,” said Ferris State coach Jeff Pierce. “We didn’t. We didn’t execute the way the way that we needed to execute and we came up short.”

Senior linebacker Justin Victor paced the GVSU defense with nine tackles, while sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Allen tallied 2.5 sacks. The Lakers had six sacks as a team, the sixth-highest total in school history.

“All the credit goes to the coaches,” said Allen. “They put us in perfect plays to make plays. It’s just our job to wrap up and make tackles when the opportunity presents itself. It feels good because the coaches have been on us, especially the d-line, to be dynamic and to have somebody that is making plays. It’s good to get the shutout.”

Eleven different receivers caught passes for GVSU as the Lakers put up 503 yards of total offense. McMahon completed 11-of-15 passes for 182 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he also led the team in rushing with 64 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts.

Through the third quarter, the GVSU offense failed to convert on third down only twice. Both times the Lakers received field goals by redshirt freshman kicker Ryan Stokes. Stokes connected from 25 yards with 1:38 left in the first quarter and from 23 yards with 2:30 to play in the third quarter.

“I was extremely excited today when I saw both of those kicks go through the uprights,” said McMahon. “It does take a lot of pressure off of us.”

Norman Shuford scored on a one-yard run with 7:03 to play in the first half and finished with 46 yards rushing on six carries.

Following an interception by redshirt freshman cornerback Michael Hatcher, McMahon hit Jovonne Augustus with a beautiful 55-yard touchdown pass with 2:13 left in the second quarter. It was Augustus’ lone catch of the game.

McMahon tacked on a 6-yard run for his second score of the afternoon at the beginning of the third quarter.

Redshirt freshman backup quarterback Heath Parling scored on a 2-yard run with 5:15 to play in the game.

With his 14-yard run with 11:45 to play in the first quarter, senior running back Justin Sherrod moved into 20th place on GVSU’s all-time rushing list, surpassing Ryan Hukill.

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SCORING SUMMARY

Grand Valley State University 41, Ferris State University 0

GVSU 10 14 10 7 – 41
FSU 0 0 0 0 – 0

First Quarter
7:02 GVSU – Kyle McMahon 4 yd run (Ryan Stokes kick)
1:38 GVSU – Stokes 25 yd field goal
Second Quarter
7:03 GVSU – Norman Shuford 1 yd run (Stokes kick)
2:13 GVSU – Jovonne Augustus 55 yd pass from McMahon (Stokes kick)
Third Quarter
9:31 GVSU – McMahon 6 yd run (Stokes kick)
2:30 GVSU – Stokes 23 yd field goal
Fourth Quarter
5:15 GVSU – Heath Parling 2 yd run (Stokes kick)