The penultimate week of the 2024 GLIAC football regular season season has arrived and there are some key games on the schedule.
No. 2-ranked Ferris State (8-1, 5-0 GLIAC) will host Saginaw Valley State (7-2, 4-1 GLIAC) in one of the biggest matchups of the weekend. The Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 1 in Super Region Three, have won eight-consecutive games. The Cardinals are receiving votes in the most recent AFCA poll and are regionally ranked eighth.
No. 5 Grand Valley State (8-1, 4-1 GLIAC) is on the road, visiting the UP for a clash with Michigan Tech (6-3, 3-2 GLIAC) at Kearly Stadium. The Lakers are ranked second in Super Region Three while the Huskies have won two straight.
Davenport (6-3, 3-2 GLIAC) is home on Saturday, entertaining Northern Michigan (0-9, 0-5 GLIAC) in a noon contest at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex.
The Wayne State (0-9, 0-5 GLIAC) and Roosevelt (1-7, 1-4 GLIAC) football programs will meet for the first time at Tom Adams Field in Detroit. Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
WEEK 10 SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Northern Michigan vs Davenport
SERIES HISTORY AND NOTES
● Davenport is riding a four-game winning streak against Northern Michigan into Saturday’s contest. The Panthers are also a perfect 4-0 at home against the Wildcats including last year’s 28-12 victory. These contests have been rather low scoring over the years with the most combined points coming in 2018 (31-30 OT) and the average margin of victory in the entire series is 8.1 points. The last two wins for Davenport have been by double digits with last year and the 2022 contest (31-21). Myren Harris ran for 141 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown in last year’s game. Caleef Jenkins also rushed for 57 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown. Michael Love for the Wildcats hauled in three passes for 57 yards and a score. Justin Peake led the defense with 15 tackles. Jax Hertel also contributed 10 tackles. Austin Alward had four tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss for DU. Jaremey McQueen also had two tackles for loss.
Northern Michigan Notes
The Northern Michigan University football team has two games left in the season and will travel to the Grand Rapids metropolitan area this weekend to take on the Davenport Panthers on their Senior Day on Saturday, November 9 at noon.
The Wildcats (0-9, 0-5) have two more cracks at picking up a victory this season while the Panthers (6-3, 3-2) are looking to bounce back after falling at Saginaw Valley State last weekend.
Last Time Out
In the final home game of the season, Northern Michigan fell to the No. 2 Ferris State Bulldogs, 55-9.
For the Green and Gold, the day was highlighted by one of the final plays of the day, a 78-yard touchdown connection between seniors Jake Bilitz and Michael Love, the longest score in each of their careers.
NMU’s other scoring came via a safety, the first in six years for Northern. Vince Martin broke through the middle and got his hand on a punt that ricocheted through the back of the endzone for the two-point score late in the first half.
Cat Nips
- The Green and Gold field one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 42 of 96 (43.8%) of the roster consisting of first-year players. Underclassmen makeup 68 of the 96 (70.8%) roster spots.
- Freshman Jahi Wood (476) is 4th in the conference in rushing while Elizin Rouse (236), Nico Lukkarinen (232), and Vince Martin (227) rank 19th-21st respectively. Lukkarinen’s 3 TD runs rank 12th in the conference. The Wildcats have the 4th best rushing attack in the league at 148.9 yards/game.
- Michael Love is 3rd in the conference with 5 TD catches this season and 5th with 443 receiving yards. His 78-yard TD reception last week vs. Ferris State is the 4th longest offensive touchdown in the GLIAC. Love’s two touchdown catches against UW-La Crosse earlier this season marked the first time a Wildcat receiver found the endzone twice in a game since September 24, 2022 when Wyatt Davis went for two scores on Homecoming in a 42-14 win over Post.
- The 78-yard reception between Jake Bilitz and Michael Love last week vs. Ferris State was the longest since Tyshon King’s 90-yard catch on October 29, 2022, also vs. Ferris State.
- Adam Saleh has vaulted up the GLIAC tackles leaderboard, as his 56 tackles this season currently rank 5th, while his 40 solo tackles are 2nd. He has recorded at least five total tackles in each game he has played this season.
- NMU is tied for 2nd in the conference with eight forced fumbles.
- NMU’s 269 yards on the ground at UW-La Crosse earlier this year marked its best ground effort since the 2018 season.
- Michael Karlen is a perfect 7-7 on FG’s and 14-15 on PAT’s this season.
A Look at Davenport
After winning three straight in conference play, the Panthers are coming off of their second league blemish last weekend, a 24-14 defeat at Saginaw Valley State. Davenport did not score until the final quarter and were led by freshman QB Mac VandenHout who ran for a score and threw for another.
The Panthers offense is led by RB Myren Harris, whose 716 yards lead the conference while his four TD runs are also in the top-10. The defense has racked up 26 sacks, led by Geemontae Peck with 4.5, Deeb Alawan with 4, and Austin Alward and Reed Snitker each at 3.5.
Davenport has made its biggest impression on special teams, as its 30.3 kickoff return average is the best mark in the country. Antjuan Collins has been the driving factor with 14 returns for 464 yards and two house calls.
Davenport Notes
LARGE SENIOR CLASS SUITS UP ONE MORE TIME AT THE FARM
● The Panthers will host Northern Michigan in the final home game of the 2024 season as the program will honor this year’s senior class and salute our armed forces on military appreciation day. The Panthers are coming off a 24-14 defeat at Saginaw Valley State snapping a two-game win streak over the Cardinals. The Wildcats faced No. 2 Ferris State in the Superior Dome and fell 55-9. NMU is looking to snap a 20-game losing streak, while Davenport has already posted their third-straight winning season and hope to maintain fourth place in the GLIAC standings. ● Davenport had beaten SVSU in two close games recently, but the Cardinal defense was as good as advertised in the 24-14 setback in University Center. Davenport was held to a season low in rushing yards (52), total yards (172) and third-down conversion rate (2-of16). The Panthers were unable to get on the board until the fourth quarter down 17-0. Mac VandenHout saw his first significant game action at quarterback and the Rockford product ran for an eight-yard touchdown and threw for an 18-yard touchdown to Preston Smith in the fourth quarter. He finished 13-of-26 for 95 yards. Christian Jones had a great game on defense with seven tackles (six solo), a fumble recovery, and the second-longest interception return in school history of 65 yards. ● The Wildcats have been building towards the future and have a potential star in freshman running back Jahi Wood (Lansing Waverly). Wood is currently fourth in the GLIAC with 476 rushing yards and has the third-most carries in the league (122). The passing game has seen four different quarterbacks in an attempt this season and as a group complete just 37.7 percent (52-of-138) with six interceptions and five touchdowns. Michael Love has caught all five of those touchdowns this season with a total of 22 catches for 443 yards.
INSIDE THE HUDDLE
● This year’s senior class will be greatly missed and have been a big reason why the Panthers currently sit at 6-3 overall and have had the kind of success they have had over the past three seasons. In terms of offense, 87 percent of the current rushing yards and 90 percent of the current receiving yards have been accumulated by the 2024 seniors. In terms of defense, 60 percent of the team’s total tackles and seven of the top 10 leading tacklers will move on next year. On special teams, DU must replace the school’s leading point scorer in Brandon Gielow and terrific kick return specialist Antjuan Collins. ● The Panthers have been able to cut down on their penalties over the last five games which was a point of emphasis for the coaching staff. Through the first four games, DU committed 44 penalties for an average of 104.25 yards per game. Since that point, DU has committed 29 infractions for an average of 50.6 yards per game.
Grand Valley State vs Michigan Tech
THE SERIES
Grand Valley State leads the all-time series by a 32-4 margin. The Lakers claimed 44-13 victory over the Huskies a year ago in Allendale, and a 42-7 victory over the Huskies in Houghton in 2022. The Lakers have won eight consecutive in the series and are 27-2 versus MTU since 1985. The Lakers have scored 40 or more points 13 times in the last 20 games and 20 times overall versus the Huskies.
Grand Valley State Notes
• #4 Grand Valley State will hit the road for a GLIAC matchup at Michigan Tech. The Lakers enter the road trip 8-1 overall and 4-1 in GLIAC action, while the Huskies are 6-3 and 3-2 in GLIAC action.
• Last Week – #6 Grand Valley State built a 37-0 halftime lead and led 44-0 early in the third quarter en rout to a 51-28 victory. QB Vinnie Meschi hit WR Kyle Nott with a 76-yard TD pass and LB Damonte McCurdy returned a blocked punt for a TD. RB Syone Usma-Harper scored on a 10-yard TD run, TE Harrison Unger hauled in his first collegiate TD pass and PK Mathew Bacik kicked three first-half field goals. WR Cody Tierney caught a 19-yard TD pass and Derrick Woods closed the scoring with a 7-yard TD run. Meschi was 8-14 for 200 yards and two TDs, while Woods rushed for 56 yards and one TD on nine carries. Nine completions went to nine different players. Luke McLean recorded a team-best 10 tackles.
• GVSU is 37-20 versus ranked teams since 2009 and 229-39 versus all teams as a ranked team since 2001. • Run Offense – The Laker rush offense ranks sixth in the country and leads the GLIAC, rushing for 2,260 yards (250.0 ypg/5.4 ypc) and 25 TDs in eight games. – The GVSU rush defense has yielded 1,099 rushing yards in nine games (122.1 ypg/3.7 ypc). • GVSU has outscored its opponents 86-5 in the first quarter and 84-41 in the second for a first half combined scoring of 170-46. • The Money Down – The GVSU offense ranks 12th nationally in third down conversions (55-for115/47.8%). The Lakers are 29-56 in the first half (.517). • Money Down Defense – GVSU ranks 12th defensively in third down defense, holding opponents to .280 third down conversion rate (33- 118)
NATIONS LEADING WINNING %
• Grand Valley State is the winningest FBS, FCS and Division II program in the country, boasting a record of 449-152-3 (.744) in 52 years of playing football. In addition, GVSU is also the winningest GLIAC program all-time with a 319-78-3 mark (.800).
NCAA ATTENDANCE LEADERS
• GVSU leads the nation in attendance after two home games with a total of 73,731 (12,289). The Lakers led the nation in total attendance (100,882) and average per game (12,610) in eight home dates in 2023. GVSU has led the nation for 12 consecutive years.
10 WIN SEASONS
• Grand Valley State has won 10 or more games 19 times in the 52-year history of the program, including 17 times since 2001.
Michigan Tech Notes
THE GOAL LINE
• It’s the 102nd year of Michigan Tech Football • Dan Mettlach returns for his second season at the helm of the Huskies > All home and conference games will be broadcast on Flofootball. • The Huskies were tabbed to finish fifth in the GLIAC Coaches’ Poll. • It’s the 50th year reunion of the undefeated 1974 team. • Michigan Tech welcome backs Jace Daniels as the Tight Ends coach. • Head coach Dan Mettlach has named Alex Fries, Hunter Buechel, Marc Sippel and Brandon DeVries as the captains for the 2024 season • The Huskies All-time reception leader Darius Willis has broken the career reception yards record, and the reception touchdowns record this season. • Quarterback Alex Fries broke the school record for single game passing yards (471) and five touchdowns in the 4OT 52- 50 win vs. South Dakota Mines on Thursday Night. He was also named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. > Darius is atop the conference in receiving touchdowns (8) and receiving yards (673). • Senior quarterback Alex Fries sits second the league in passing touchdowns (19), passing yards (1,976) and passing yards per game (219.6). He earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for Week 1 • Punter Brenden Lach, a 2023 Don Hansen Division II Honorable Mention All-American, recorded six punts for 273 yards on Saturday, surpassing the program record for punting yards for a season, surpassing the record of 2,277 punting yards set by Tony Bourdow in 1979.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS
Grand Valley State travels to the U.P. with an overall record of 8-1 and a 4-1 standing in league play. The Lakers are ranked No. 5 nationally and No. 2 in Super Region 3, following last week’s Homecoming victory, 51-28 over Wayne State. Sophomore quarterback Vincenzo Meschi has stepped in to lead the Lakers’ offense, tossing for 287 yards, completing 12-of-27 passes with two interceptions and two touchdowns in five games played. Second-year quarterback Alex Thole also contributed to Saturday’s win with a 19-yard touchdown pass, completing one of four passes while throwing a pick. Meschi earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors following his first career start in the win over Wayne State. Sophomore running back Khalil Eichelberger paces the run game for GVSU with a team-leading six touchdowns and 629 rushing yards on 109 carries. Kenneth Jones (338 rushing yards) and Derrick Woods (243 rushing yards) have added five touchdowns for the Lakers. Wide receiver Kyle Nott has 390 receiving yards and one touchdown as the team’s top receiver. The Lakers are atop the GLIAC, averaging 250 rushing yards per outing, which ranks sixth nationally. Defensively, senior defensive backs Ian Kennelly and Terez Reid have recorded a team-leading three interceptions apiece. Kennelly has also recorded 50 total tackles, with Kobe Hayward amassing a team-high 53 tackles, five breakups and an interception. The Lakers are holding opponents to 15.1 points and under 260 total yards of offense. GVSU ranks eighth nationally and second in the league with 136.4 passing yards allowed per game.
Roosevelt vs Wayne State
SERIES HISTORY:
This will yet another first-time opponent for Roosevelt as it hits the final two weeks of the season. The Lakers are 11-13 against foes from Michigan in their program history.
Roosevelt Notes
SETTING THE SCENE:
Roosevelt hits the road for the final time this season as it searches for a second win this year. The Lakers were boosted by the return of head coach Jared Williamson to the sidelines last week, and the veteran coach will again be in charge this week against Wayne State. The Lakers held Michigan Tech scoreless in the second half of last week’s setback and are hoping to build off that momentum this week.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS:
After winning three games last season, Wayne State is still searching for a first win this year. Much like Roosevelt, the Warriors have had some close calls this season, losing by 13 at home against new No. 1 Ferris State and leading at halftime against Davenport. Last week, Wayne State fell behind 44-0 to Grand Valley State before scoring 28 straight points in a 51-28 loss. The Warriors are relying on backup quarterback Rob Brazziel to lead the offense. The Chicago native has completed less than half of his passes in three games so far and has thrown four touchdowns and three interceptions. Wayne State’s rushing attack is averaging 125.3 yards per game, but injured quarterback Champion Edwards was the leading rusher. Wayne State has the worst rushing defense in the GLIAC, allowing more than 200 yards per game. The Warriors are slightly better at sixth in the league against the pass but rank seventh in both points and yards allowed per game. The Warriors defense is led by Carl Ware, who has a team-best 61 tackles, including three sacks.
Wayne State Notes
Game notes not available.
Saginaw Valley State vs Ferris State
The Series
This is the 49th meeting between Saginaw Valley State and Ferris State. The Cardinals trail 19-28-1 in the all-time series. The Bulldogs have won the last nine meetings with two of the last three being by a combined margin of seven points. Last season’s meeting was a 38-17 Bulldog win in Big Rapids. The Cardinals rallied from a 14-0 deficit to tie the game late in the second quarter, but a late touchdown before the half gave Ferris the lead before pulling away in the second half with 17 more points.
Saginaw Valley State Notes
Kick-Off
The Saginaw Valley State University Football team travels to Big Rapids this weekend for a matchup against No. 1/2 ranked Ferris State. The 24th-ranked Cardinals (7-2, 4-1 GLIAC) face the Bulldogs (8-1, 5-0 GLIAC) for a share of first in the GLIAC standings with only two games remaining in the regular season. SVSU defeated Davenport (6-3, 3-2 GLIAC) 24-14 at home last Saturday. The Cardinals held a 17-0 lead at the half with touchdowns from Terrence Brown, Jr., Brady Devereaux, and Mason McKenzie in the victory. Ferris State won its eighth-straight game with a 55-9 win at Northern Michigan last week. The Bulldogs compiled 325 yards on the ground to improve to 5-0 in conference play.
1ST-AND-10
• The Cardinals sit in a tie for second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) standings with Grand Valley State. The Cardinals and Lakers are 4-1 in league play while SVSU is 7-2 overall and GVSU is 8-1. • SVSU is currently ranked 24th on the D2Football.com Top 25 poll and is receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 poll. Ferris State is ranked 1st by D2Football.com and 2nd by the AFCA. The Bulldogs sit atop the Super Region Three top 10; the Cardinals are eighth in the region. • Senior All-American linebacker Micah Cretsinger was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 and the D2 Elite 100 watch lists. Junior linebacker Brandon Rawls joined Cretsinger on the D2 Elite 100 list. • Saginaw Valley faces three ranked opponents this season: at (#15) Indianapolis (W, 28-24), (#2) Grand Valley State (L, 16-9), and at (#2) Ferris State on November 9. • Freshman quarterback Mason McKenzie is 120-of-213 (56.3%) for 1,599 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air. McKenzie leads the Cardinals in passing and rushing with 92 carries for 564 yards and five scores on the ground. He currently ranks third in the GLIAC in both rushing and passing yards. • Redshirt freshman Joseph Walker is the team’s leading receiver with 25 receptions for 383 yards and two scores. Junior Eric Craft has 22 catches for 357 yards and two touchdowns. RJ Manning is the third receiver on the team with two touchdown catches. He scored them both in the 63-14 win at Northern Michigan in week five. • Terrence Brown, Jr. leads with three touchdown receptions. Brown has made 16 catches for 220 yards and is second on the team in rushing with 108 carries for 486 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns. He is the team’s leading scorer with 60 points on 10 total touchdowns and has a team-high 877 all-purpose yards. • Micah Cretsinger is the team’s leading tackler with 58 stops this season. The 2023 All-American linebacker has 8.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one recovery, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and three pass breakups on his stat line. Cretsinger had eight tackles, a sack-fumble, and an interception in the win over Davenport last week. • Alfred Dailey, Jr. and Eli Gordon have 52 tackles. Gordon leads the team in interceptions with four this season. Leonard Henry IV has 10.5 sacks to lead the Cardinal pass rush along with 43 tackles (5th-most on the team). Henry currently leads the nation in sacks per game with a mark of 1.17.
Ferris State Notes
This Week’s Action
The Ferris State University Bulldogs square off against the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals in a GLIAC First-Place showdown on Saturday at Top Taggart Field. FSU, which beat Northern Michigan 55-9 last week in Marquette, has now outscored the opposition 405-69 since a season-opening setback at Pittsburg State. The Bulldogs have made a nation-leading nine consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, including back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. FSU is currently first in the Super Region Three rankings.
The Matchup
SVSU is a game behind FSU in the league standings with a 7-2 overall record and a 4-1 conference mark under former Bulldog assistant coach Ryan Brady. The Cardinals are coming off a hard-fought 24-14 win over Davenport last week and are ranked 24th nationally in the D2Football.com poll along with eighth in the Super Region Three rankings.
National & Regional Rankings
Ferris State moved up to #1 nationally in the D2Football.com national poll this week and is second in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) rankings. This week, the Bulldogs are also listed first in the NCAA D2 Super Region Three rankings, which help determine the playoff field at the end of the year. The top team in the region at the conclusion of the regular-season earns a first-round playoff bye.
Saturday’s Matchup
Ferris State and Saginaw Valley State will meet for the 49th consecutive time dating back to 1975 as the two schools have faced either other every season without interruption since the series’ originally began not counting the cancelled 2020 season. The all-time series’ is currently 28-19-1 in the Bulldogs’ favor in the record books, counting two forfeit victories for FSU over the Cardinals. Last year, FSU recorded a 38-17 home win in Big Rapids. The Bulldogs pulled out a 33-28 road win over the Cardinals in 2022. In 2021, the Bulldogs notched a memorable 47-45 overtime victory at home after registering a 34-14 home win in Big Rapids in 2019. FSU has now won the last nine games in the series with the Cardinals’ most recent win coming 31-28 in Big Rapids in 2013. Overall, 32 of 48 meetings between the two teams have been determined by 15 points or less.
The Bulldogs have had several memorable wins in the series against ranked SVSU teams in Big Rapids. Ferris State defeated then 16th-ranked SVSU in 2010 (9/11/10) as linebacker Tayo Moss came up with a game-saving interception in the final minute to preserve a 21-17 victory. The Bulldogs also faced a ranked SVSU team at home in 2006 and Ferris upset the then fifth-ranked Cardinals 26-23 (9/16/06). Former FSU All-America defensive tackle Jake Visser recovered a Saginaw Valley State fumble at FSU’s two-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game to preserve the Bulldogs’ upset home victory.
