Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is set to host West Florida in a highly anticipated non-conference football matchup. This will be the first meeting between the two programs, with GVSU entering the game undefeated at 3-0 and West Florida holding a 1-1 record.

West Florida, a member of the Gulf South Conference, has established itself as one of the top programs in Division II football since starting its program in 2016. The Argonauts have made five consecutive playoff appearances and won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2019.

Last week, GVSU secured a hard-fought 20-13 victory over Wisconsin-La Crosse. Quarterback Ike Udengwu completed 11-of-18 passes for 104 yards and rushed for an additional 40 yards on five carries. Running back Kenneth Jones contributed with 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while Khalil Eichelberger added another touchdown with his 41 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Wide receiver Darrell Johnson caught five passes for 51 yards, Donovan Johnson had four receptions for 68 yards, and Kyle Nott caught two passes totaling 60 yards. Placekicker Mathew Basic made field goals from distances of 37 and 29 yards. On defense, free safety Ian Kennelly led with eight tackles and an interception, while strong safety Kobe Hayward recorded seven tackles. Defensive end Niles King tallied three tackles, including two sacks.

GVSU has demonstrated strong performance against ranked teams with a record of 35-19 since 2009. They are also dominant in regular-season non-conference games with a record of 22-2 since 2016.

The Lakers' rush offense ranks third nationally, accumulating an average of over 300 rushing yards per game across their first three matches this season. Their rush defense has been equally impressive, limiting opponents to just over fifty rushing yards per game without allowing any rushing touchdowns.

On third downs, GVSU's offense ranks fifth nationally in conversion rate at nearly fifty-six percent success rate while their defense holds opponents to just over twenty percent conversion rate on third downs.

The Lakers' offensive output averages nearly five hundred total yards per game split between rushing and passing efforts. They have also shown effective time management by averaging nearly thirty-five minutes of possession per game compared to their opponents' twenty-six minutes.

Senior wide receiver Darrell Johnson enters the upcoming game with almost two thousand all-purpose yards throughout his career at GVSU. Junior defensive end Niles King is among national leaders in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks this season.

GVSU boasts an overall winning percentage that leads FBS, FCS, and Division II programs nationwide along with being the winningest program historically within their conference (GLIAC).

In terms of attendance figures after two home games this season so far they lead nationally drawing close to thirty thousand fans collectively which continues their streak as national leaders in attendance spanning twelve consecutive years previously culminating last year where they averaged over twelve thousand attendees per home game across eight dates last season alone

Grand Valley State has maintained consistent high-level performance having won ten or more games nineteen times within its fifty-two-year history including seventeen instances since early millennium years (2001 onwards). Historically they have claimed four national championships during early-mid millennium era alongside multiple NCAA championship appearances spanning those years too reflecting long-standing tradition excellence both regionally nationally alike especially noteworthy given limited duration existence relatively speaking compared other longer-established programs elsewhere