Box score

INDIANAPOLIS- The nation's top-ranked team, Grand Valley State, had to scratch and claw to earn a 26-10 win over host Indianapolis in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday night at Key Stadium.   UIndy more than held its own against the juggernaut Lakers, but could not generate enough points to garner the upset and GV extended its regular-season winning streak to 44 straight.

Grand Valley State (2-0, 1-0 GLIAC) got on the board quickly, driving the field in eight plays after receiving the opening kickoff.  Preseason All-America quarterback Brad Iciek found Andrew Lorman wide open from nine yards out for a score, but Justin Trumble's point-after attempt failed and GV led 6-0. 

On the ensuing drive, UIndy (1-1, 0-1) faced a third down and six when Rob Doyle hit Halston Love over the blitzing defense and the junior sprinted into the secondary and was off to the races for a 74-yard TD.

The UIndy defense snuffed-out a potential Laker score early in the second quarter when P.T. Gates was stopped short of the first-down marker deep in Greyhound territory.  It was the second turnover on downs for the UIndy defense, but the offense was pinned deep in its own territory, giving GVSU the field position it needed for a 22-yard field goal to retake the lead at 9-7.

The Lakers needed just five plays to cover 42 yards for their second TD of the evening, an 8-yard scoring run by P.T. Gates gave the Lakers a 16-7 margin with just over two minutes in the half.  A quick three-and-out gave the ball right back to the potent GV offense where Iciek and Mike Koster hooked-up for three straight pass receptions, the final a 5-yard strike for a 23-7 lead.

The teams traded punts through the 3rd quarter with neither team denting the scoreboard, making it a 16-point Laker lead heading into the final quarter.  On the first play of the final period, Trumble split the uprights from 30-yards out for a 26-7 Grand Valley advantage.

The Hounds offense had its best possession of the second half on the ensuing drive.  Doyle worked methodically, dumping passes to his receivers.  Mar'Quone Edmonds had a couple big catches in the series and Joe Leach had a fourth-down reception that saw him shake-off several would-be tacklers and stretch for the first at the GV 17.  UIndy would have to settle for a field goal, however, with Jace Morrison converting from 20 to make the score 26-10.

The Greyhounds got a fourth-down stop to get the ball back with 5:48 left but were unable to get a first down offensively and GV was effectively able to run down the clock.

Doyle finished the night with a career-best 262 yards passing, completing 25-of-36 throws with one TD and no interceptions.  The UIndy rushing attack could only muster 11 net yards with Willis Brucker gaining 23 on his two carries.

Craig Ray was one of four Greyhound defenders to amass double-digit tackle totals, garnering 12 total stops.  Collin Coffer had 11 while Max Davis and Alex Byrnes each registered 10.

UIndy completes its season-opening homestand when Wayne State visits Key Stadium next Saturday.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Notes:  GVSU's regular-season winning streak dates back to the 2004 season ... The Lakers were held to 1-for-5 on fourth-down conversions ...  UIndy led 7-6 in the first quarter, its first lead against GV since Oct. 14, 2000 (7-0) ... The Hounds only win in the series was in 1999 in Allendale, Mich.