Despite a loss in the fund raising effort of the annual Battle of the Valleys, the Grand Valley State University football team did get a win on the football field over rival No. 25 Saginaw Valley State University, 49-24.

Led by the play of redshirt freshman tailback Chris Robinson, the Lakers (8-3, 7-3 GLIAC) fended off the Cardinals (7-3, 7-3 GLIAC) in front of 10,663 fans on Senior Day.

Robinson’s 175 rushing yards were a career-high, as were his three touchdowns. As a team, GVSU rolled up 317 yards on the ground, and to accompany Robinson’s big day, fellow redshirt freshman Michael Ratay ran for 56 yards and a touchdown while sophomore Hersey Jackson ran for 26 and a score.

The battle between the nation’s most efficient quarterbacks, was a side note. Sophomore Heath Parling managed the game for the Lakers, throwing for only 224 yards and a touchdown, while his Saginaw Valley counterpart Jonathon Jennings threw for only 172 and a pair of score.

Despite the low yardage numbers for Parling, GVSU’s receivers did set milestones on Saturday. Junior Charles Johnson’s five receptions for 53 yards put him over 1,000 yards receiving for the season, while senior Jovonne Augustus caught three passes for 34 yards and went over the 1,000 yard mark for his career.

Saginaw Valley moved the ball at times against the Lakers’ defense in the second half, but all four of their turnovers came in the half, helped GVSU to score 28 second-half points.
Despite the victory over the Cardinals, the Lakers still sit in a precarious position. Sitting on the outside of the playoffs before Saturday, the win over Saginaw Valley and losses by Wayne State University and the University of Indianapolis have put the Lakers on the playoff bubble.

A formal announcement on the playoffs will be made at 5 p.m. on Sunday.