How No. 1 GVSU football avoided letdown with big win over Northern Michigan
ALLENDALE - Darrell Johnson was in the end zone before most fans had found their seats at Lubbers Stadium on Saturday.
The speedy Grand Valley State return specialist weaved his way through the defense on the opening punt return and scored on an 87-yard run on a sunny afternoon. GVSU cruised past Northern Michigan University 56-3 on Saturday.
“Darrell Johnson had a heck of a day as a returner,” GVSU coach Matt Mitchell said. “He bounced back after some hits … he had two really big, explosive kick-off returns that set up (good) field position. And, obviously, our first score comes off a punt return. I was happy with him. It was finally good to get him a punt return for a touchdown this year. We’ve been looking for that.”
It was GVSU’s first game as the No. 1 team in the nation in Division II after knocking off Ferris State last week.
“I don’t know what (being) No. 1 gets you (in) Week 7 … other than making the target bigger than it already is and people coming at us,” Mitchell said. “I’m not saying we don’t want to be No. 1. I think we’ve earned that right. At the same time, nothing really comes with that.”
GVSU improves to 3-0 in the GLIAC and 8-0 overall. Northern Michigan is 1-3 in conference and 3-5 overall.
Seven different players scored touchdowns as the Lakers out-gained NMU in total offense 478 to 146. Northern Michigan had just 18 yards rushing on 21 attempts.
“Last year, they were in the red zone 15 times against us,” said GVSU defensive lineman Seth Hoonhorst, a Hudsonville native. “So we wanted to come out this week and prove that we could be that elite defense. Coming off the week we had last week (against Ferris State), we knew what our standard was. … Our No.1 hallmark of eliminating the run, we were able to do that.”
The Lakers got touchdowns from Johnson, two rushing TDs from Tariq Reid and runs by backup QB Cal Endicott and Armani Moreno. They got touchdown catches by Cody Tierney, Jaylon Tillman and Drew Peterson.
Johnson is GVSU’s new weapon
As if Grand Valley needed another weapon, Darrell Johnson’s talents as a return specialist could make the Lakers untouchable.
The 5-foot-8 sophomore from Belleville, Mich., had 84 yards on two kick-off returns and 88 yards on three punt returns.
“It was big for me,” Johnson said of the touchdown. “I honestly don’t get that many chances. It was really big for us to get us going.”
Last week as a receiver, Johnson had two catches for a career-best 68 yards against Ferris. But being a return specialist is his calling.
“My senior year (at Bellevue High School), I was a punt return and kick return guy,” he said. “So I’ve always been good at returns. So I was finally able to get one (a touchdown in college).”
Brotherly love for the Peterson boys
Cade Peterson, the starting quarterback for the Lakers, has thrown a lot of touchdown passes.
But none to his younger brother Drew, who is a sophomore tight end at GVSU. Drew caught his first-career touchdown on Saturday. But it wasn’t thrown by Cade. It was on a 3-yard scramble by back-up QB Avery Moore with 10 seconds left in the first half.
“Very happy for him,” Cade said. “Great play by Avery on the scramble drill. … All the tight ends were making a joke out of it saying it’s National Tight End Day. Every tight end got a catch and Drew got a touchdown. Just really happy for him. He’s worked really hard.”
The Petersons went to Maple City Glen Lake High School near Traverse City.
Cade was 11-of-18 passing for 133 yards, all in the first half.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: GVSU football avoided letdown with big win over Northern Michigan as No. 1
