Holland Reporter

Saturday afternoon, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) secured a 31-7 victory over West Florida in front of a sellout crowd of 10,458. This game marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs. GVSU now holds a 4-0 record and will begin GLIAC play next Saturday at Davenport.

The Lakers' defense set the tone early by forcing a punt on West Florida's opening possession. GVSU then executed a 7-play, 85-yard drive, culminating in a 7-yard touchdown run by Khalil Eichelberger. Eichelberger carried the ball five times for 52 yards during this drive.

Throughout the game, GVSU's defense was dominant, limiting West Florida to eight drives that lasted five plays or more and seven drives of 12 yards or less.

Both teams went through nine consecutive possessions ending in punts until West Florida returned a fumble for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with just over two minutes left in the half.

GVSU responded with an efficient 8-play, 74-yard drive that took only 1:27 off the clock. Avery Moore completed passes of 15 yards to Kellen Reed and 30 yards to Kyle Nott while benefiting from two defensive pass interference penalties. Moore finished the drive with a two-yard run, followed by Mathew Bacik's second PAT for a halftime lead of 14-7.

In the third quarter, GVSU extended their lead with an impressive offensive display, producing 163 yards while holding West Florida to just 21 yards on offense. The Lakers opened the second half with another scoring drive capped by Moore’s seven-yard touchdown run.

West Florida failed on a fourth-down attempt inside GVSU territory, leading to another successful Laker drive that ended with Bacik’s career-long field goal from 53 yards out.

GVSU closed out the third quarter with another scoring drive as Eichelberger ran for a final touchdown after an earlier completion from Moore to Reed converted on third down.

Defensively, GVSU limited West Florida to just 121 total offensive yards and recorded eight quarterback sacks and fifteen tackles for loss. Marcus Stokes of West Florida completed only ten out of twenty-seven passes and was intercepted twice.

Niles King contributed six tackles along with multiple tackles for loss and sacks. Jimmy Downs also added six stops including several tackles for loss and sacks. Jack Gilchrist tallied six tackles as well as multiple tackles for loss and sacks while Ian Kennelly recorded his third interception of the season alongside five tackles.

Eichelberger led GVSU’s rushing attack with two touchdowns on fifteen carries totaling one hundred twenty-nine yards. Moore completed six out of thirteen passes adding eighty-four rushing yards along with two touchdowns himself.

Kyle Nott led receivers catching three passes totaling seventy-five yards while Kellen Reed caught two passes adding twenty-six receiving yards each; Drew Peterson caught one pass totaling eighteen receiving yardage followed by Cody Tierney catching one pass gaining five receiving yardage respectively.

Punter Evan Sundermann averaged forty-two yardages per punt dropping four punts inside twenty-yards line including twice within ten-yards line mark.