>> Welcome back to an all-new episode of the Grand Valley State Sports report hearing Wgu.

I'm your host Steve Lloyd-Jones.

Here's what we've got coming up for you tonight.

PBS.

You continues their quest for a national championship with a gritty win in the playoffs.

GBS you cross country heads the Division 2 national championships this week Laker women's basketball moves to 5 and O with another win in our future.

This week highlights and key players on the Laker football defensive line Lockett in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.

Well, Saturday and Allendale, it was a clash of the Titans in division 2 football as Grand Valley hosted northwest Missouri State.

2 of the best defenses in the country limited this court as the Lakers prevailed 13 to 8 and earn a spot in the regional championship next week.

Joining me now is head coach Matt Mitchell to tell us more.

It's good to see you.

Thanks.

As we've said many times, you doesn't, you know, doesn't matter how you win.

Just one move on how satisfying as the storm mean, the pause and just acknowledge what what you guys have accomplished here up to northwest Missouri state in the playoffs and avert a chance to get into the regional championship.

>> Yeah, I mean, it's a really proud of our players and our coaches might was the theme all week.

We're one of 16.

We've got to try to find a way to fight, scratch and claw be one of 8.

Now we do is going to be tough are Super region is extremely low to that was no easy.

And it was going to be difficult on tape.

You know, they're number one rushing defense in America.

We knew was going to be just one of those games.

I was going to be really a defensive battle won.

Let's give our kids so much credit because it really was no fracture.

We certainly didn't play the best.

But we found a way when it mattered the most.

Like when we play cause school of mines like we found Ferris in the 4th quarter to do the things we need to do on offense, defense special teams to get the win at the end of the day, like we have to take away from some confidence from at that, even when things are not going well, that we can find a way to still find a way to get a victory like this.

That's all really happy to be one of 8 left standing in again like to be in a regional championship in 12 feet of 12.

And oh, I'd be a lot of credit to the coaches and players.

>> Yeah, this is the type of teams are playing like northwest Missouri state here.

This would be like a national semifinal matchup except for this region.

So yeah, I know you love buys in the regular season.

You earn the bye well for your regular season play besides the rest.

How did that help you?

>> Well, I think it helped for this from a standpoint we played fast like that.

I think that we really tried to work on slot of stuff with some speed and strength conditioning.

And we were very physical at the point of attack.

And we take a look at the fact that's number one rushing defense in America rush for over 200 yards.

Yeah, and limited them to, you know, that really low rushing output for them.

And then we also made some plays, you know, we're still explosive in the pass game and made some explosive runs down the stretch.

And I think that we were able to keep some things go on in regards to just speed and strength conditioning and playing the game at a very, very high level and very fast level.

You know, I think on on the defensive side, the ball and give our secondary so much credit, any place that neighbor right there, everything was contested.

Our defense played really, really fast and physical.

And I think that's typically what you may see coming off a bye week in your defense is little bit more about chaos about disruption, an offense in a little bit.

Special teams to especially return units have got to be an offense.

Has got to be about that timing execution in to be transparent with the special teams a little bit on offense, especially the red zone.

Maybe execution was just a little bit off, you know, but the fact you got to win, we can to clean some of that stuff up and before.

And I think the team yesterday guys understand like we you know, it's awesome to be one of there's some things we can improve upon both sides, the ball and inspections to yes, some of the little deeper stats here.

You're forced 4 turnovers.

94 Queen 3 picks.

You get a fumble recovery.

Big, big time.

2 of those right to the red zone.

So we turn to a point where 5 of 13 on 3rd downs against that defense.

It's really good.

You get 5 sacks in this game.

That's without question.

But Carol, correct.

So wow, lot she drove down a little bit.

There's a lot of really good number.

Yes, really good numbers are in our offense was explosive.

We had we had 11 plays, you know, for us is explosive.

And that's again said defense.

That's really sound something.

And we moved the ball.

We weren't doing a lot of 3 an ounce.

It was either wanted to say is really offensive.

We got down the red zone.

We could score points, you know, which we have to.

You know, we've been really good on that.

Of course, as we talked about, that does one thing and some penalties got us.

You know, they've got but got backed up and got a soft bounce a little bit with some things.

If you take away, you know, if your score one or 2 of those times when the 3 straight trips inside, 25 getting points.

Yeah.

If you get you know, a touchdown there, you can extend a little a bit of puts you northwest a different position.

How they're trying to call offense and same thing with special teams like you can't turn the ball over on special teams.

We have done that all year.

We've got one term special teams and really when you count, not only the most part, but potential the block on which was not good was pretty disastrous.

2 turnovers and special teams.

You can do that.

So, you know, they're they're just these little details, news playoff games that could improve upon.

But I want to focus too much on the negatives.

There were some great hold performances.

I mean, we have some guys and I'll point to 3 specific plays the first of all, we we drop back to pass in our own end zone and we they they force a sack fumble.

The ball is in the ground.

Jordan Davis bats the ball out of bounds for a safety and so then falling on it.

But miss a tackle and hits the field in can only chases.

The guy down gives us a chance to line up and play again.

We don't play in.

The KPK gets hurt.

He Peterson gets hit Talon.

The cut comes in and throws absolute strike to Jake's later.

Putin said let's let's those like the little things, Leon, tangible things that I think championship teams do.

And we really have that belief in each other.

And those are 3 individuals along with a lot of the players really stepped up.

>> Now, you know, we're not making any excuses, but how much of a factor was the when and where we saw in the kicking game, both teams.

>> I'm imagining fielding punts.

That had to be a nightmare.

It was it was it was definitely a factor.

And you know, and the same thing like I think Josh Corps ball, he's missed field goals in a difficult situation.

It was a long attempted to the wind and the wind was really coming at him and sideways.

I was a difficult kick and that's one thing, right?

You know, we still got to make it.

I can make an excuse for him.

But the same time like our offense, like don't put us in a position to escort the red zone.

So we don't have to try to put the team out there.

And so it was a factor.

I'd I do think the 3rd quarter we knew we were into the wind in the 3rd quarter on the headsets coaches.

It's on the players.

You know, we've got to grind this one out in the 3rd quarter, get the win in the 4th.

And I do think the wind helped us in the 4th quarter.

If you think about the great call on 3rd and one that, you know, the plaques and past Johnnie Walker to the wind, that's probably different than going with the wind shear and NBA down and obviously they get the personal foul.

We're kicking off the 50 yard line with the wind that really helped our defense to that.

We've got to touch back and put them on the 25 not given up an explosive return, which they were good at.

>> Absolutely.

Love the design of a 3rd one.

By the way.

I mean, not much risk and a whole bunch.

Her word and you're playing off a tendency that they're looking at kids going to run, built with as you slip behind.

So beautifully dog.

All right.

So you've earned a rematch here with the for state, the regional championship.

That's going to be 1 o'clock in Allendale to kick off their the 3rd.

>> Talk about that.

Faris survives as well.

They could very easily have lost.

Yeah.

First played tough to stay.

Team is on a few of them.

I double it to, you know, turn the ball a little bit.

But they found a way to win 17 to 14.

And so, you know, I think again, you're looking at again, another great defense coming in for says, but unbelievable defense, especially down the stretch.

And, you know, I think that, you know, we we the thing about both of these programs.

We know the players really well.

You know, it's not like we're coming in here on a Monday popping up to try to figure out who guys are my neighbor to deep almost off the top of my head.

And so can our players.

Yeah.

And so now it's all these little wrinkles that we're doing offense, defense, special teams in terms of schemes to put our players in position to succeed.

And then today like our players, we've got to execute and those fundamentals that still have carried us.

This point got to show up and I'm sure for saying the same thing.

So I think it's, you know, it's a it's a testament to the gliac, a testament to the strength of football in Michigan that as for, you know, for games being played across America, and one of them will fall to institutions that are like 67 miles apart.

And I think, you know, this is I think the 6th straight regional championship for Ferris and we definitely Grand Valley as expectations being in this game.

So it's going to be another heavyweight fight and it is not going to be a blowout either way.

I think it's going to be great.

Great football game.

Mike urge everybody to come on watching the weather looks to be good on Saturday goes and does what about 40 or so?

43 to back up.

>> You as you play that and rematches are tough because you want to take stuff that that work to maybe tweak something that didn't whatever.

But you have a lot of good things.

You know, the best thing to me is you guys won the first time around and he didn't play our best game.

>> Yeah, that's kind of like little bit Saturday.

That's why doubt about its northwest light of the plate or greatest game.

But we found a way to one win.

And so we've got to do is try stacking.

We're best performance, but it's needed most.

And we've got to come with our best performance, everybody.

That's coaches that's players have become with our best performance because it's going to take that advance well.

>> We look forward to it and the best of luck.

But thank you.

All right.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here.

Wgu just one game on the schedule this week for the G V issue.

Women's basketball team coach Mike Williams squad down Northwood to move to 5 and o on the season is with me now to tell us all about that in the year as it's going.

Mike.

Welcome back.

>> Yeah, great to be back again.

ICE a little Thanksgiving break and we played at home which is kind of cool.

So, yeah, great to be down in the sun was out coming down this time.

>> Tell us about the week because it is a kind of unique week to try to manage the student athletes family time the rest.

How do you know you have one game schedule?

But how did you work through the schedule?

>> Well, the nicely as we trend on a trip, no one was Puerto Rico last year was down to Florida over tried to the home game plan on that Saturday or Sunday.

You know, because you travel, if you go somewhere, kind of nice, you know, the families will go down there.

You can have a big Thanksgiving dinner where you go.

If you play at home, they get a chance to try to take a couple days off around again.

And so the players and go home and we were we were able to do that this year.

You know, we practice early Wednesday, took Thursday off, came back Friday night.

So most of our players, the chance to go home and spend time with the families.

So and it worked out pretty well having a home game on that Saturday.

>> 89 63, you don't Northwood in the game at home.

6 players in double figures about that.

And in terms of bench points where depth shows 41 17, you outscore them there.

Shoot the ball really well is 55% shooting.

You get 12 threes.

Stop me, Mike.

There are many bass number good stuff that we did.

We you know it.

>> Again, it's just we think we've got, you know, a lot of parity with our players.

And, you know, everybody had something different.

And it's it's it's kind of unique situation.

We haven't had that here in a while.

And so, you know, some players that better and different games and different situations.

And you know, this game, the players that came into it kind of came off the bench.

What was great fit for North would do smaller team a quicker team.

They like to, you know, push the ball in transition, shoot the 3 and defensively.

They play zone play zone for most of the game which really allowed to merge start.

You know, I think we're very good passing team were shooting pretty well this year.

So that played into that strenght allow to score, you know, 89 points.

But yeah, I think the balance is is key Forest 14 this year.

It's been a situational.

So I think it's a it's a good thing.

It was really a good thing on Saturday.

>> How do you gauge progress of your team at this point in the season?

Other words, how do you know they're out where they should be at this point of the year?

Maybe not obviously going to be peaking in November or early December.

How do you gauge progress, inappropriate progress?

>> Well, I think, you know, a lot of a lot of film evaluation, you know, we do it.

We do it on a players do some which is kind of nice to see.

You know, I got a text after game saw this coach, you know, miss the Sunday Times.

I figured out next time or whatever.

Yes, on this against the press.

But it's a it's a lot of evaluation film, a lot of teaching practice.

And we do have a lot of new pieces.

You know, they're tell that, you know, they're tell to pieces, but they're new.

And so, you know, summer is a game take longer.

I think the defensive aspect to grasp that is taking some of these new players, younger players, time to get that.

I think they'll get there.

So hopefully that's one area that we can.

I'm like you said, Steve, improve on as the season goes on.

>> Well, move through, obviously right now 5 and with the win over Northwood.

So that sets up this week.

Michael, my goodness, you guys start with the baby.

Got to go to fare State for Ugly Act play Thursday night.

>> You know, again, it's the Riley's back and it's kind of, you know, it's it's nerve wracking as a coach, but it's also exciting.

It's good for it's good for the Glick.

It's good for women's basketball.

You know, we're gonna couple reading system showed that the Lakers number one in the country.

Again, that conference, obviously, you know, we're having a good year for some good your tech 7, a good year.

But, you know, the rat was back and it started like it started last couple years here.

This started when when Kendra Faustin Tron, where shrine to her in a great job getting that that program back.

And so now it's encourage carried on.

It's it's it's a good rivalry.

And I think it's something that our players I'm looking forward to.

And I think that they they like to play good teams in the way to play good basketball teams.

And this will be a great atmosphere up at their place.

It should be fun.

>> Yeah, that's right there on the road.

They're tough spot to go.

That's the Thursday game.

Then you're going to have Saturday.

The other group Lakers, you go to the up quick Spears state.

>> You know, and that's always a challenging trip to go up there.

We planned that last year.

We had an appointment night.

So we travel the day.

The game which is really nice, had a chance to stop and in G#*#*#*#*#*#* to shoot around and move on up to go get up to Lee, stay and play the game this year.

Obviously plan at 1 o'clock on a Saturday.

That's what Friday night.

You know, I talk to float the idea.

Is there any way we could switch that game Friday?

Also we could watch the football game on Saturday.

So I don't know.

Maybe I can push that will harvest the eye and I think our team would love to be loved.

You're setting for the big football game.

But you know, and late state obviously is, is they're moving the right direction.

They got a big win over Hillsdale couple, the winds this year.

And so it's just it's it's good.

It's it's good to test.

A row lays a little bit playing back-to-back, but the same time it's going to be challenging.

>> Yeah, absolutely.

Is a you have those conference games and both on the road which, you know, early part of the season, some good growing opportunities but at 5 and all things go really well.

And that makes when they're over north with Mike, thanks as always.

Look for to talking to the next week.

All right, Steve, thank you.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here.

Wgu time to turn our attention to GB issues.

Outstanding Cross country teams.

Now the Lakers are a national powerhouse in both men's and women's long distance running the man behind it all.

Its head coach Jerry Bolt U.S. and he's here to break down the regional action for us to preview what's ahead.

Coming up at Nationals.

You're good to see a great to be here.

So regional titles for the Lakers.

Nothing new here is that you get it done.

But talk about this from a let's start with the men's side of things.

Goals, expectations coming in because, yes, you're trying to get a championship, but you're also all speaking about the Nationals in the in the back your mind to the certainly can't look past that.

The regional me to, you know, to first and foremost, the goal is to qualify for the NCA championships in the top 3 teams automatically do that and then we try to run.

It is conservatively as possible to come out as healthy as possible to get one more good week of training and being the best spot.

>> As possible heading into the NCA championships and then 3rd, ultimately, you do want to compete for a team tied on the championship.

Unfortunately, on both sides, we were able to accomplish all 3 goals and and advance come through fairly healthy.

And then when the tide on both sides, so we had to really, really strong performances and led by 10 or chat again, that got second certainly could or could have won the race but held back Ensley early on the weather was is really, really chilly about 27 degrees and 18, 1920, mile an hour winds.

It has that story for us.

So he hung back left.

One other individual in the race at individual probably ran quite a bit harder than 10 or did so 10 or, you know, crews did in for a runner-up finish an and okay, look for and really, really strong.

And we just had a good core guys.

And in the teens, 15, 16, 17 at Saint Martin's run.

Really, really well.

We did hold out 3 of our guys that expectations that put them in the national meet a couple more dinged up.

And then Scotty span Serbian amid distance guy more of a mile or we just didn't necessarily want to put to 10 K's on on his body heading into the into the championships.

>> So that's the men's side of assuming women, same kind of goals, expectations that same exact goals, expectations.

>> We end up going 1, 2, 3, We didn't run to our top 5 women from over throughout the season.

Tara Chapeco and every van der Court has traded off the 4, 5, spot throughout the season.

One being just a little banged up and then not hair and a more.

So just 1500 or one savor a little bit, put her in a better spot commence a championship.

So the runners we put in both sides, you know, would be 8, 9, 8, 9, 10 did a phenomenal job on both sides.

But cloudy, I finally made a nice step for cloudy O'Malley who is in Tehran are up last year and has Renault behind a Graber.

And and Lauren Kylie all year one, the regional and then more cuyler and really too strong for second Graber certain did what Anna did just cruised in for 3rd place showing.

So, yeah, a compass.

0, 3, goals and gets about going into a championship.

>> So Gerri, without giving away secrets, how do you how do you guys peak at the time of year here where you want to go in the Nationals?

How do you prepare yourself?

>> Yet, you know, you really just focus on building your training throughout the year and being consistent with it.

We have had some injuries, a pop up here.

And there certain individuals have had to miss a week to 2 weeks, a good, hard training.

So what will be interesting how that plays out this with this?

We could then say championships.

I think we'll be.

Alright, you know, most important things just being in the right spot, mentally heading into it.

No matter what's happened, training wise being ready to go upstairs and focused and being ready to toughen, be tough and compete over the entire race.

You know, with your teammates and for your teammates are.

>> Well, Adam State kind of the chief competitor for you, men's and women's as you go to nationals of come Washington, Seattle, Pacific to host that show more than just them.

But that's going to be the chief.

Yeah.

And the women said Adam State.

>> Looks really, really strong were probably I feel this is one of our best teams, if not our best women's team in our program history.

We've had some great ones over the years and the stacks team stacks up really, really strong.

So you know it it's bit we're going out there to compete for a championship.

And Adam looks strong, but anything can happen on the day on the men's side.

Actually, Adam State did not make the NCA championships for the first time in program history.

It's an awful day at the regional meet and Colorado mines is the that probably on paper the favorite.

They've been ranked number one on all season, but they were as good as last year's.

They are this year and we're able to knock them off last year.

So both sides are just going to have to go in and compete with the right mindset over the entirety of the race.

And hopefully I'll be able to close it out strong.

And on the last 1000 meters, 2000 meters, the race and hopeful be in the mix when when everything where one crosses the line.

>> It's great.

Will be rooting for you could be here.

Courses, regional titles.

Congratulations on that.

And best of luck as you head of the national.

Thanks there.

Appreciate we'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here.

Wgu.

>> In their unbeaten regular season randomly success stories have been numerous offensive consistently providing huge plays with ugly acts.

Top defender to the deep and reliable place kicking and punting court.

It's the NBA.

>> Of Division 2.

But at the heart of the Lakers, success has been line play with NFL prospect quit and they're on offense and on defense, a group that's been uncompromising.

Jim Lewis is frontline features and Christian with Carol and Cold Neibel 2 players who have earned the praise of coaches, fans and the teammates who they compete with for playing time.

>> Chris and I will start mostly every game and I don't care because I know they're going to go hard and I'm going to go in there and go hardest part was going to be pro team plane.

So I mean, we just got a good group of guys.

We have like, I mean, 10 guys that we can plan to the line that all really good football players.

>> That Colton High Bill should become a college football standout as no surprise his father.

Brett was a >> pass rushing linebacker who played on undefeated division one team at Central Michigan.

And because of that background, he's had no trouble absorbing the Lakers complex and ever changing scheme for rotation of the players up front.

But there's about 3 different rotations per game.

>> Its rotation has 3 different packages.

So whether it's worth it to pass down its rundown, that depends on what the packages.

And then from there we've got a rotation guys are coming in the next play.

So we've we've got everything scripted, everything ready at the start of the series.

>> So if something happens, I get a first down as they've been for a couple plays.

Really come out.

We'll go through our guys in.

>> That's why we play like a old school back in the day.

Get control defense.

The way we have it is we give our guys a lot of freedom and we just go out there and they we preach play fast.

Play fast.

Play fast.

Thus our defense can do was to fly around and Tracy, 10, 11 guys ball ever seen.

>> While high Bills dad played with the Hudsonville teammate in NFL star Ray Bentley at CMU Colton has Hudsonville Bread South to north alongside him in Allendale playing inside 300 pounds.

7 anchors the middle with sophomore Jack Gilchrist in a few others up.

You'll didn't approach the line play.

That's unlike what each grew up with as the biggest kid on the block.

>> Everyone feels like we're the play ally.

You've got to be out there all the time.

So be able to come here.

We have guys that wrote a and coach, this is all time, know early and get out there for 3, 4, 5, plays.

Give it your all goal.

Million miles an hour.

And if you're tired, you've got guys.

>> In the regular season, Grande Valley held opponents from one of the toughest schedules in the country to 10 or fewer points 8 times while Jim Lewis has also made ample use.

>> A player such as John Anthony Lowry, JB our Subs and Thomas Downey junior.

He's lean heavily upon high ball.

The junior from Mount Pleasant, who still takes cues from his father whose remain close to football after his playing days and time as a coach in college athletics administrator.

>> Now on breaking down film with him.

Well, Wolf, we'll talk about the game.

And it's not just oh, you did well or you seem like you're doing well like, you know what I'm supposed to be doing, you know, as you know, the defense.

And so I get to talk with a more in-depth and that really getting the kind of war analytics.

>> And while Abrini approaching football is just as important as one based on blanc, the presence of high bull worst and others in Allendale lends credence to another old axiom when it comes to bruisers on the defensive line.

The Grand Valley State Sports report.

>> That's all the time that we have this week here in the Grand Valley State Sports report.

Issue football will face rival Ferris State to the NCAA Division 2 playoff quarter Finals this weekend with the winner moving on to the national Summers.

They'll take on the Bulldogs lover stadium on Saturday.

December.

3rd kickoff is scheduled for 01:00PM to make sure to get out and support the Lakers.

Here in Allendale GSU men's and women's basketball will start Glee Act play with matchups against rival Ferris State.

This Thursday on the road.

Tipoff from Big Rapids is set for 05:30PM, on Saturday.

The Make the trek up to the up for the first time this year that a kind of Lake Superior State to Saint Marie at 01:00PM after winning the 20th and 21st consecutive Midwest regional titles on the men's and women's sides.

TV issue Cross country will gear up for a trip to the NCAA Championships.

The meat part of the Division to Fall Festival will take place on December.

2nd in Seattle, Washington, for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program.

>> He's a GPS you Lakers dot com for more of the show.

Head over to our YouTube channel at YouTube Dot com Slash Wgu.

35 make sure you hit the subscribe button to get updated videos and highlight all year long.

The entire crew here Wgu I'm Steve Lloyd-Jones have a great week Laker Nation and as always a corrupt