GVSU 'Bama-bound again

Mon, Dec 7, 2009    to del.icio.us

The Holland Sentinel

ALLENDALE — P.T. Gates made sure the Grand Valley State University football team didn't fizzle without its leading rusher in a key playoff game for the second year in a row.

The senior from San Diego shined in the backfield and as a kick returner as the third-ranked Lakers beat No. 10 Carson-Newman (Tenn.) College 41-27 in Saturday's NCAA Division II national semifinal.

With starter and all-time leading rusher James Berezik suspended along with three other teammates, Gates rushed for a career-high 183 yards on two touchdowns to put 13-1 GVSU in a national title game for the sixth time since 2001.

He also caught four passes for a team-high 70 yards and averaged 15 yards over five kick and punt returns to give the Lakers excellent field position.

"He ran like he had something to prove," Carson-Newman defensive lineman Brandon Harmon said of Gates, who finished with 326 all-purpose yards.

GVSU advanced to face second-ranked Northwest Missouri State in the title game. The two teams have met twice in the Division II championship game, with Grand Valley winning both.

The 11-3 Eagles could not close Gates from GVSU's first possession.

Gates ripped off a 59-yard run to set up Justin Trimble's 26-yard field goal 4 minutes, 42 seconds into the first quarter. The Lakers never relinquished the lead as they snapped Carson-Newman's 11-game win streak and marched into Saturday's Division II championship game in Florence, Ala.

Grand Valley is looking to claim its fifth national title — all since 2002 — from its sixth championship game appearance. The Lakers last went and won in 2006.

Gates added a 3-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds remaining in the first quarter for a 17-7 lead. He also capped GVSU's scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run with 4:11 remaining in the fourth quarter that put the Lakers ahead 41-20.

Gates had 28 of Grand Valley's 45 rushing attempts for 290 yards.

The Lakers managed only 13 points in last year's quarterfinal loss at home to eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth when Berezik served another team suspension.

Saturday's effort did not surprise GVSU coach Chuck Martin or quarterback Brad Iciek.

"P.T. has taken it upon himself to step up," said Iciek, who completed 8-of-19 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. "He knows everything about the offense more than anybody on this team. He cares more about this team than probably anybody on this team.

"We love having him around."

There was no lack of confidence with Gates shifting into a prominent role, Martin said.

"He played like he's played all year. He probably had a few more opportunities today," Martin said. "Those returns were pretty impressive (considering the wintry conditions). His runs were impressive too, but those returns, we weren't blocking anybody.

"He kept going and going and gave us a ton of yards."

The GVSU defense didn't budge much, though.

Despite the absence of three suspended defensive lineman from their usual two-deep roster — end Blair Hollis and tackles Andre Thomas and Ryan Wheat — the Lakers held the nation's No. 1 rushing offense to 65 yards in the first half and 177 yards overall.

Carson-Newman averaged 349 yards per game with its unusual split back veer option.

It is unlike any offense GVSU had seen all season and in a couple of years.

"We knew all week they just had great athletes," linebacker Justin Victor said after recording a team-high 7.5 tackles. "We tried to learn. Their offense is hard to get. I thought we did a good job."

"The defense was the story of the game," Martin said. "We had just six days to prepare for this, but our kids kept after them."