GVSU football heads into GLIAC play on a roll - 3 keys against Saginaw Valley

ALLENDALE - As the No. 4 Grand Valley State football team moves into conference play, a rivalry and immediate road test awaits.

The Lakers will play at Saginaw Valley State on Saturday to begin GLIAC play.

After a last-second loss to start the season, the Lakers rallied for an overtime win in Week 2 before a dominating 43-7 performance against Assumption got the Lakers back on track.

Here are 3 keys to the showdown:

A healthy Cade Peterson

After having to leave Week 2 early with concussion protocol, Peterson was back to form against Assumption, runing for two touchdowns and throwing for two in a dominant performance, despite the hits he took.

“I don’t really think about the hits I’m going to take,” Peterson said. “Obviously, there’s some times in the open field where, if you have to slide, then you slide. But I’m a football player. When I’m running, I’m running to score and break tackles.”

He then had the bye week to rest.

He ran the ball eight times for a team-best 71 yards on the ground. He was 15-of-23 passing for 237 yards for GVSU (2-1).

GVSU is a national title contender with a healthy Peterson and the road to a GLIAC title begins this week.

Road woes

The Lakers tasted road defeat in Week 1 and it was bitter.

That experience against the No. 2 team in the country should help GVSU in every road game the rest of the season.

The Lakers don't want to feel that again, and that should help them avoid any letdowns on the road during GLIAC play.

More: Banged-up Cade Peterson leads GVSU football past Assumption in ranked battle

Defense is back

In the first two weeks of the season, the defense allowed 80 points, not quite what GVSU defenses are used to.

Of course, that was to the No. 2 and No. 20 ranked teams, but a team with a goal of a national championship has to be able to stop even the best of opponents.

The Lakers defense got back on track by allowing just seven points to No. 19 Assumption and if the defense can continue to improve, it will be ready for the showdown with Ferris State in Week 6, the biggest test of the season.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: GVSU football heads into GLIAC play on a roll - 3 keys against Saginaw Valley