BIG RAPIDS – In one of the most anticipated games in rivalry history, No. 2 Grand Valley State came back in the fourth quarter to beat No. 1 Ferris State 22-21 on Saturday afternoon.
The Lakers victory brings the Anchor-Bone trophy back to Allendale for the first time since 2016, snapping their six-game losing streak in this rivalry. It also snaps the Bulldogs 19-game winning streak overall and 43-game regular season winning streak.
The game was played before a record crowd of 12,661 fans at Top Taggart Field.
Grand Valley State scored on its opening drive when Cade Peterson hit a wide open Jack Provencher in the end zone.
Two touchdowns by Ferris State’s Marcus Taylor, one receiving and one rushing, gave the Bulldogs a 14-10 edge at halftime.
The Bulldogs took a 21-10 lead late in the third quarter when defensive back Sidney McCloud came up with an interception in Laker territory and quarterback Carson Gulker punched it in on the ensuing drive.
But Grand Valley State came storming back in the fourth quarter. A touchdown from Johnt’e Crawford pulled GVSU within five and then Provencher put the Lakers on top with a 10-yard rushing touchdown with 3:36 to go.
Ferris State had two chances to march down and reclaim the lead in the final three minutes. But the Bulldogs fumbled on the first possession and failed to convert a 4th and 10 on their second possession.
After the game, the Bulldogs gave credit to the Lakers for an outstanding game and reflected on what those now-snapped winning streaks meant to the program.
“They celebrated on our field and deservingly so. That’s just the way it is, you know?” said Ferris State head coach Tony Annese. “You’ve got to accept that. They were ready. They played well. Nothing I can say about the way they played would be negative today.”
“The biggest thing for me about this -winning 19 games ore whatever the streak was, 43. It was just representing the ones before you. That’s what I was huge on, not letting the ones that came before me down. But by the same venture it’s the real world and we’ve got to move on here and get ready to attack our next opponent.”
The next opponent for the Bulldogs will be Michigan Tech. The Huskies and Bulldogs are now tied for third place in the GLIAC with one conference loss. Grand Valley State and Davenport are tied for first with unbeaten records.
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