Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University’s football team, ranked seventh nationally, is set to host Saginaw Valley State University in the annual “Battle of the Valleys” on Saturday, October 18 at 2 p.m. Both teams enter the game with a 2-0 record in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.

The rivalry between Grand Valley State (GVSU) and Saginaw Valley State (SVSU) has been dominated by GVSU, which leads the all-time series 42-11. The Lakers have won the last 12 meetings and 20 of the last 21 games. Last season, GVSU secured a 16-9 victory over SVSU at University Center. At Lubbers Stadium, GVSU holds a 24-2 record against the Cardinals.

Under head coach Scott Wooster, now in his third year, GVSU has compiled a 26-5 record, including two NCAA Division II playoff appearances and a GLIAC championship in his first two seasons.

The Lakers’ defense has shown strong performance recently, holding opponents to a combined 211 passing yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions over the last two games against Davenport and Northern Michigan. The defense is ranked fourth nationally in redzone defense, with opponents scoring on just 53.3% of their opportunities.

On offense, sophomore quarterback Brady Drogosh has contributed 111 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the last two games. Redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Schuster surpassed 1,000 passing yards in his fifth career game and was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 391 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Black Hills State.

Special teams have also excelled, with senior punter Trace Hrgich leading the nation with an average of 47.6 yards per punt.

Senior linebacker Anthony Cardamone has recorded 225 career tackles, including 31.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. Junior linebacker Jimmy Downs reached the 100-tackle milestone for his career.

Kellen Reed recently surpassed 2,000 all-purpose yards, including over 1,200 kickoff return yards.

The Lakers have averaged more than 13,000 fans per game through their first two home contests this season, continuing a streak of leading NCAA Division II in total attendance for 13 consecutive years.

Grand Valley State is recognized as the winningest program across all NCAA divisions in terms of winning percentage, with a record of 458-154-3 (.748) over 53 years. The team has recorded 10 or more wins in a season 20 times, including each of the last four seasons.

The upcoming matchup will test both teams’ undefeated conference records and continue one of Division II’s most enduring rivalries.