News Summary
The Grand Valley State Lakers opened their football season with a decisive 45-9 victory over the Lincoln Lions at Lubbers Stadium. Quarterback Andrew Schuster led the team with exceptional passing, while the defense excelled, intercepting three passes. The Lakers scored 45 unanswered points following Lincoln’s initial field goal, showcasing their control of the game. With strong community support and an enthusiastic crowd, the Lakers emphasize their status as a formidable force in college football, having won 21 of their last 24 season openers.
Allendale, Michigan – The Grand Valley State Lakers kicked off their 2025 football season with an impressive 45-9 victory over the Lincoln Lions on August 30 at Lubbers Stadium. The Lakers, ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division II, dominated the game, demonstrating both offensive strength and defensive prowess.
Leading the charge for the Lakers was starting quarterback Andrew Schuster, who completed an impressive 81% of his passes for a total of 251 yards and three touchdowns. Backup quarterback Brady Drogosh also made his mark on the game, adding a rushing touchdown to the Lakers’ tally. The combination of effective quarterback play and a solid running attack allowed GVSU to pull ahead decisively.
The Lakers’ defense played a critical role in the victory as well, managing to intercept Lincoln’s quarterbacks three times throughout the match. This put significant pressure on the Lions’ offensive efforts. Lincoln’s only touchdown came in the first quarter, following which they could only add a field goal in the second quarter. Their starting quarterback, Hamas Duren, threw for 180 yards but was unable to find the end zone, finishing with a completion rate of 58%.
After Lincoln scored a field goal early in the game, the Lakers responded with 45 unanswered points, showcasing their capability to control the game’s tempo and momentum. GVSU’s running back Syone Usma-Harper contributed to the scoring with a touchdown, while wide receiver Donovan Johnson caught a significant 30-yard touchdown pass further solidifying the lead.
The Lions’ defense managed to cause one turnover during the game, with defensive back John Harris making an interception at the GVSU 42-yard line. However, this did not substantially impact the overall game as the Lakers’ offense was firing on all cylinders. GVSU even attempted a long 54-yard field goal, which missed, but did not change the commanding lead they had established.
The matchup drew an enthusiastic crowd of 12,136 fans to Lubbers Stadium, highlighting the community support for the Lakers as they began their season. The win against Lincoln marks a significant milestone as GVSU has successfully won 21 of their last 24 season openers, establishing themselves as a formidable force in college football.
As the game concluded, viewers were offered the opportunity to catch a replay and highlights through various media channels for subscribers. The performance of the Lakers sets a positive tone as they look forward to the upcoming weeks, with other teams such as Central Washington, California (PA), UT Permian Basin, and Ashland also in action during the college football weekend.
With a strong start to the season, the Grand Valley State Lakers appear poised for continued success as they build on this commanding victory over Lincoln.
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Additional Resources
- FloFootball: Grand Valley State Dominates Lincoln
- Wikipedia: Grand Valley State Lakers football
- MLive: Freshman QB Leads GVSU Football
- Google Search: Grand Valley State vs Lincoln football
- Sporting News: Watch Grand Valley vs Lincoln
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NCAA football
- Holland Sentinel: Andrew Schuster Leads GVSU
- Google News: GVSU football
Author: STAFF HERE GRANDRAPIDS WRITER
GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER The GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREGrandRapids.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Grand Rapids, Kent County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts, and World of Winter. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in furniture, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Steelcase, Spectrum Health, and Meijer. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
