Just two passes into Saturday’s game at Tiffin University, Grand Valley State University junior quarterback Heath Parling’s season came to a sudden end.

The preseason All-American left the field limping early in the second quarter after tearing his ACL, giving way to backup Isiah Grimes at quarterback. Grimes, a sophomore, finished the game 10-for-15 with a pair of touchdowns to go with 143 yards and an interception.

GVSU feared the worst after the game, with head coach Matt Mitchell speculating that once MRI results came back the prognosis would be a season-ending ACL tear — and he was right, as MLive confirmed earlier this evening.

The average recovery time for a torn ACL ranges from nine to 12 months, effectively putting Parling on the sideline until mid-summer at the earliest.

GVSU defeated Tiffin 28-0 on Saturday, but will be forced to go forward into this weekend’s home game against Ohio Dominican University with Grimes at the helm.

Running the ball has been a point of emphasis in this early season, and that shouldn’t change as the Lakers move on with inexperience at quarterback.

Parling’s injury now leaves the GVSU offense without three of its top weapons from 2011 with junior tailback Hersey Jackson week-to-week with an undisclosed injury and senior tailback Norman Shuford redshirting this season after tearing his ACL late last season.

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