GVSU, which experienced growing pains during the first three games of the season with new players at several positions, finally broke loose and proved deserving of its No. 1 ranking in Division II with the team’s 35-7 drubbing of the Oilers Saturday.

The Lakers (4-0, 3-0 GLIAC) took a 28-0 lead by halftime and cruised to an easy victory to remain unbeaten.

For all of the mistakes that occurred during the first three games, GVSU could do little wrong in its match up against Findlay.

“It felt good to get to 28-0 going into the locker room at halftime,” said GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell. “I give us credit for the way we came out. I thought the whole trip, from getting on the bus to how we handled things, our kids had a great approach, and I think that showed up in the first half.”

The much-maligned special teams rebounded to provide the Lakers with great field position and a scoring spark. Sophomore kicking specialist Jay Jandasek put four punts inside Findlay’s 20-yard line and converted all five extra point attempts, while senior kicker Luke Briggs boomed kickoffs to the goal line. GVSU also scored on a blocked punt with less than 30 seconds to play in the first half.

“I hit three posts already (this season), which I guarantee you is leading the nation,” said Jandasek, who missed an extra point in each of GVSU’s previous two games. “It’s just not how I’ve been kicking in practice, so I was not happy with that. But, I made an adjustment.”

GVSU’s defense stymied the Oilers offense as the starters yielded only 130 yards of total offense. The Lakers recorded five sacks and two interceptions, and the team held Findlay running back Monterae Williams, last year’s GLIAC Freshman of the Year, in check for most of the game.

“We knew they had a very good run game, and we focused all week on making sure we stopped the run,” said senior defensive end Nick Lawrence. “Everything else, the pass rush, would come after and take care of itself if we stopped the run. We didn’t miss any assignments.”

The offense marched down the field at will despite 12 penalties. The starters notched three scores before halftime, and the second-string offense entered the game midway through the third quarter and tacked on another score, a seven-yard run by senior quarterback Marquel Neasman.

“It was good to get in and work with those guys,” Neasman said. “We’ve got a fairly young team, so I like to see the progression from everybody.”

Redshirt freshman Hersey Jackson paced GVSU’s second-team offense. He rushed for 57 yards on 11 carries, breaking several tackles in the process.

“I thought our second offense, at times, was hanging in there and doing a good job,” Mitchell said. “Even when we took out our first (offensive line) and put in our second (offensive line), we were able to run the ball.”

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