Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University’s football team, ranked 18th nationally, is set to face top-ranked Ferris State in a key Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) matchup. The game will take place at Top Taggart Field with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

The two teams have a long-standing rivalry, with Grand Valley State leading the all-time series against Ferris State by a margin of 32-24-1. The Lakers hold a slight edge both at home and on the road, including a 16-11-1 record at Top Taggart Field. Since 2015, the teams have met twice in a season six times, and Saturday’s contest marks their eighth meeting since 2021. In their last matchup in Big Rapids in 2022, Grand Valley State secured a narrow 22-21 victory when Ferris State was ranked number one.

This upcoming game will be the fourteenth consecutive meeting where both teams are nationally ranked. In seven of the last eight matchups, both teams were among the top six in national rankings. Since 2001, Grand Valley State has won 14 out of 25 games when either or both teams were ranked. The Lakers have been ranked number one eight times during these meetings and hold a 6-2 record in those contests. Ferris State has been ranked number one four times during meetings with GVSU; the Lakers have won three of those games.

Scott Wooster is leading Grand Valley State as head coach for his third year. Under his leadership, the team has achieved a record of 26 wins and six losses, made two NCAA Division II playoff appearances, and captured a GLIAC title within his first two seasons.

In recent games against Davenport, Northern Michigan, and Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), GVSU opponents completed just 25 passes out of 63 attempts for only one touchdown while throwing five interceptions over three games. Redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Schuster reached the milestone of passing for over 1,000 yards within five career games and currently holds totals of 96 completions from 154 attempts for 1,337 yards and thirteen touchdowns.

Defensively, Grand Valley ranks third nationally in red zone defense by allowing scores on only half of opponents’ trips inside the red zone this season. Offensively, they are second in the GLIAC for red zone efficiency—scoring on more than eighty percent of opportunities.

Senior punter Trace Hrgich leads all players nationwide with an average punt distance of 46.6 yards per attempt this season.

At quarterback, Schuster is joined by Brady Drogosh—who has rushed for four touchdowns—and Zak Olejniczak who has contributed both rushing and passing touchdowns across three appearances.

The Laker defense limited Davenport and Northern Michigan to no points and just over twelve drives combined during second halves recently. They also rank tenth nationally in tackles for loss as well as first down defense through six games played so far this season.

Placekicker Mathew Bacik has converted twenty-five out of twenty-six point-after-touchdown attempts this year.

Senior linebacker Anthony Cardamone’s career totals include over two hundred tackles along with thirty-two tackles for loss and seventeen sacks; junior linebacker Jimmy Downs recently surpassed one hundred career tackles as well.

Kellen Reed exceeded two thousand all-purpose yards thanks to contributions on kick returns (over twelve hundred yards), receiving (six hundred seventy-two yards), and rushing (one hundred sixty-seven yards).

In their most recent win against Black Hills State University—which saw Schuster named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week—the Lakers amassed nearly four hundred ninety-one passing yards along with multiple explosive plays exceeding thirty yards each drive. Ten different receivers caught passes that day led by Sean Byrd’s forty-eight receiving yards plus a touchdown reception.

On special teams and defense alike there have been standout performances: Riley Simpson set a school record with his ninety-six yard fumble return touchdown at Pitt State; several defenders posted career highs in tackles or sacks throughout early-season contests; overall defensive efforts included multiple forced turnovers and limiting opponent scoring opportunities significantly during key stretches this fall.

Grand Valley State continues to lead NCAA Division II programs nationwide in total home attendance—a streak lasting thirteen years—with more than forty-one thousand fans attending its first two home games this season.