Carter finishes fifth in Harlon Hill Award voting

Grand Valley State football’s Martayveus Carter finished fifth in the Harlon Hill Award for player of the year in Division II. Carter was the only non-senior among the finalists for the award.

Colorado School of Mines senior quarterback Justin Dvorak won the award with 185 total points. Dvorak’s 185 finished 72 points ahead of second place finisher Kyle Zimmerman of Northwest Missouri State. North Alabama’s Jacob Tucker finished in third and Augustana’s Trey Heid finished in fourth, two points ahead of Carter.

Carter rushed for a GVSU single-season record 1,908 yards and 20 touchdowns. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry, the best in the nation for running backs with 250 carries or more. Carter recorded 10 100-yard rushing games and four 200-yard rushing games.

Carter led the Lakers to an undefeated regular season and a trip to the NCAA DII Quarterfinals. The Lakers were bested by GLIAC rival Ferris State in the playoffs.

Football announces 2017 schedule and non-conference opponents through 2019

The Grand Valley State football team announced its 2017 schedule and non-conference opponents through 2019. The 2017 season will include nine games against GLIAC opponents and two non-conference games.

The Lakers will host Indianapolis in the first game of the 2017 regular season along with another non-conference battle at Truman State. GVSU will play Indianapolis again in 2018, along with non-conference opponent Delta State in 2018 and 2019.

GVSU has had success against both Indianapolis and Delta State. The Lakers are 20-2 against Indianapolis and have one win in the lone game against Delta State in 2006.

“We are excited to get Indianapolis and Delta State on our schedule as non-conference opponents through 2019,” said GVSU coach Matt Mitchell. “Indianapolis and Delta State have great traditions of competing in the NCAA playoffs and on the national stage.”

GVSU is following up an undefeated regular season in 2016 in which the Lakers claimed the GLIAC title and earned a playoff spot for the 13^th time since 2001.

GVSU leads Directors’ Cup standings

After the conclusion of fall athletics, Grand Valley State leads the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings with 350 points. The Lakers are followed by Colorado Mines (324), Long Island University Post (257), Alaska Anchorage (235) and Shippensburg (233.5).

GVSU is an 11-time winner of the Directors’ Cup and are on its way to adding to that total. The Lakers finished with four top-five finishes in the five sports that competed. The women’s cross country team won the 2016 National Championship (100 points), and the men’s cross country team and women’s soccer team both finished second for 90 points each. The football team added 70 points with a fifth place finish.

The Lakers earned a NCAA National Championship, four GLIAC titles and three NCAA Regional titles. Twenty athletes earned All-American honors during the fall.