Sports

As Lakers march through playoffs, revenge makes road sweeter

Matt Kuzawa
GVL Sports Editor
11/28/2009

GVL Column

Revenge is a word that gets thrown around a lot nowadays when referring to the Grand Valley State University football team.

The No. 3 Lakers (12-1) have avenged their only loss this season to Hillsdale College, and their only loss last season to the University of Minnesota-Duluth with wins over the two teams in the past two weeks. Most recent, on Saturday the Lakers cruised to a 24-10 road victory over Minnesota-Duluth advancing to the semifinals in the Division II playoffs.

Players and coaches would rather focus on the game itself, dissecting game tape, preparing game plans and studying their upcoming opponent. But it is no secret that ending the two teams’ seasons while advancing to the next round is even sweeter.

It’s easy to forget about a crushing double overtime loss from last year, when your team is still playing for a national championship berth, while Minnesota-Duluth and Hillsdale are sitting at home wondering what could have been.

Last year it was Minnesota-Duluth ruining the Lakers’ hopes for a national championship; however, this year there was no doubt that GVSU was the better team.

The Lakers excelled in two out of the three phases of the game – offense and defense – while faltering in on special teams. Two long kick returns, including a touchdown return on the opening kick, set up the Bulldogs’ only points on the game.

Senior quarterback Brad Iciek evaded pressure all day, but the team didn’t need much from him, as the defense held the Bulldogs to just a field goal, with four different Laker defenders recording an interception on Saturday.

Since the Lakers’ 27-24 loss to Hillsdale on Oct. 10, the team has reeled off six consecutive wins and is no doubt playing the best they have all season.

Their defense has been a cause for concern with a multitude of injuries to their secondary, including last week’s loss of starting safety Zach Breen.

However, the defense didn’t just rise to the occasion on Saturday – they left any doubts in Allendale, with a near flawless performance in Duluth.

And they aren’t done yet. Thanks to No. 1 seed North Alabama’s loss to Carson Newman on Saturday, all signs point to GVSU hosting the Division II semifinal game next week with a Dec. 12 trip to Florence, Ala. on the line.

A national championship appearance for the Lakers would be their first since 2006 – their last Division II national championship.

If the team isn’t willing to say that a shot at revenge the past two weeks had anything to do with why they are one of four teams left playing in the nation, then Alabama is what they have on their minds.

Like a mouse working its way through a maze, the Lakers are focused on that one big piece of cheese at the end – but a few smaller pieces along the way can’t hurt.

And the cheese tastes better when revenge was in mind. Maybe the Lakers should give the mouse some pointers – it makes the maze a little more gratifying.

sports@lanthorn.com

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