ALLENDALE, Mich. – In a battle of top-15 powers, the 13th-ranked UIndy football team (0-1) opened the 2018 season with a 30-7 loss at No. 10 Grand Valley State Thursday night. The host Lakers (1-0) surrendered the game's first points but held the Greyhounds scoreless in the entire second half on the way to victory.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams battled to a scoreless tie until the Hounds finally broke through with a scoring drive early in the second quarter. UIndy needed just 2:25 to cover 74 yards, including an eight-yard scoring rush by
Al McKeller.
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The Lakers kept the Hounds off the board for rest of the half and into the fourth quarter, however, building a 23-7 lead early in the final period.
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Facing a two-score deficit with 11 minutes to go, the Hounds found some life after quarterback
Jake Purichia found McKeller streaking downfield for a 38-yard gain to move into Laker territory. But later, some timely defensive pressure helped create a Greyhound turnover, as the Lakers picked off their second pass of the night at their own three-yard line, ending the Hounds' last best scoring chance.
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After rushing for 326 yards in last year's meeting, the Greyhounds were limited to 106 yards on 28 carries Thursday.
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Defensively, three Greyhounds finished with double-digit tackle totals, led by 13 from safety
Connor Steeb.
Alex Parsons and
Cole Sigmund each added 10 stops apiece
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Thursday's result snapped UIndy's streak of 15 consecutive regular season wins dating back to 2016.
- Parson and Steeb each made their first career start.
- Sophomore
Alec Patch recorded his first collegiate sack, while veterans
Lucas Rice and
Jacob Schmatz were each responsible for a half-sack.
- Cornerback
Mitch Dewitt was credited with four pass break-ups.
- Grand Valley's Chawntez Moss, a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, finished with a game-high 135 rushing yards and a touchdown.
- The game's official attendance was listed at 13,068.
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UP NEXT
The Greyhounds face a second straight GLIAC foe when they host Wayne State Saturday, Sept. 8 for the 2018 home opener. Kickoff from Key Stadium is set for 6 p.m. ET.
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