Number 1 Lakers Show Chargers their Ranking is Deserved

Please let me begin by apologizing for the late update. We had to go up North and deal with some unpleasantries. Now, as I finally get back to my Mac, I get to tell you all about some more unpleasantries.

You never want to play a really good team after it has just been in a dogfight with a winless, and you really, really don't want to play a really good team when people all across the nation who follow D2 follow start questioning whether their number 1 ranking is all hype. The Grand Valley State Lakers left little doubt in the minds of the Hillsdale Chargers last night as they steamrolled their way to a 38-10 victory.

Grand Valley tallied 597 yards of total offense in the game and raced out to a 31-0 lead before Matt Menchinger could get Hillsdale on the board with 7 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.

Hillsdale opened the game with another first drive turnover, as Brandon Carr picked off a Mark Nicolet pass leading to a quick 19 yard Laker field goal. Hillsdale would punt and miss two field goals on their next 3 touches. GVSU racked up a short Brandon Langston touchdown catch from Cullin Finnerty, a 54 yard touchdown run from Astin Martin, and a 30 yard touchdown run out of Finnerty to lead 24-0 at half.

Even when the Chargers got to face Grand Valley back-up Jeff Dock, big plays continued. Terry Mitchell hauled in Dock's first pass of the game for 57 yards and another touchdown.

The Chargers' Brett Neller finally found the endzone for Hillsdale with 4:43 left to play.

Grand Valley recorded 6 sacks on Nicolet and Jesse Hoskins who finished the game at quarterback. Nicolet was 11 of 23 for 85 yards and 1 pick. Hoskins went 5 of 8 for 45 yards. Phil Martin added 82 yards on 21 carries.

Steve Balone had 13 stops for the Charger defense while Nick Sutherland had 11, including 10 solos. Chad Gurica kept at least 6 more Grand Valley points off of the board with a beautiful interception in the endzone.

The Chargers remain at home this coming Saturday for a 2:30 Parents Weekend (ie. Milk mom and dad for big grocery store run) affair. See you there.