Offense and defense usually receive the most attention, but it was special teams unit that proved to be the difference in the 2013 Battle of the Valleys competition.

The Grand Valley State University football team benefited from a kickoff return touchdown and a blocked punt to blow open the game and secure its first playoff berth since 2010 in a 49-34 win over rival Saginaw Valley State University.

After GVSU opened the second half with a touchdown-scoring drive, SVSU responded with its own touchdown drive, which set the stage for GVSU senior safety Erik Thompson to make his mark on the game.

Thompson caught the kickoff at his own 24, found a seam, and outran the Cardinals’ coverage team on his way to a 76-yard touchdown return.

On the next possession of the game, GVSU’s defense forced SVSU to punt—a play that never did work out for the Cardinals. Sophomore Alton Voss came free, blocked the punt, and recovered the ball for GVSU.

“The two special teams plays were huge,” GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell said. “The kickoff return for a touchdown—we didn’t have to get out there on offense, and then blocking the punt, we had something we saw on tape and we got aggressive and Alton Voss recovered that one.”

Sophomore running back Kirk Spencer (broken hand) returned for the first time since Oct. 12 and touched the ball one time in the game. It was only one touch, but he made the most of it.

On the ensuing play after the punt, junior quarterback Heath Parling pitched the ball out to his right to Spencer, who scampered 24 yards for the touchdown, which gave GVSU a 42-27 lead.

“Kirk still has that broken hand, and he still has a cast on it,” Mitchell said. “He can take a handoff in one direction, but not the other. We know in a certain way he can take a sweep in one direction. We had that planned, but that’s the only way he can go. He couldn’t go the other way.”

SVSU’s quarterback Jonathon Jennings came in as one of the GLIAC’s top quarterbacks statistically, and he had another strong game as he completed 26 of 46 passes for 306 yards passing and an interception through the air. He also ran for 121 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns on the ground.

“Jonathon Jennings is a really good football player,” Mitchell said. “He hurt us with his feet a lot in the first half. Obviously we gave up 34 points, but I still feel like our defense won the game for us in the second half.”

As good as Jennings was, it was Parling and sophomore tight end Jamie Potts who shined the brightest on an overcast day.

Parling completed 14 of 26 passes for 274 yards passing, four touchdowns and an interception. Five of Parling’s completions went to Potts, who had 112 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

“Potts is getting better and better every week,” Parling said. “We thought he could be a good go-to receiver for us, and he’s turning into that, and thankfully he is cause we needed him today.”

Whether it was a jump ball in the end zone or a one-handed grab on the sideline, Potts’ 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame proved to be too much for the undersized SVSU cornerbacks.

“I thought I had the easy part because Heath was putting it on me where I needed it to be,” Potts said. “I had a little bit of a size advantage, so you know, it wasn’t too hard. It was a good job between us.”

Five guys tallied double-digit tackles for GVSU—including sophomore Jordan Kaufman, who led the Lakers with 16 stops, which is a game-high by a Laker this season. Matt Mosley (14), Deonte’ Hurst (13), Luther Ware (11) and Isiah Dunning (11) were the other leading tacklers for GVSU.

“Our kids kept playing on both sides of the ball and special teams,” Mitchell said. “It feels good. Our coaching staff enjoys coaching this group. We got a great group of kids that have high character. They’re competitive kids that I’ve not had any problems with, so I’m glad that we get to extend our season and keep coaching them, because I think they deserve it.”

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