No. 4 Lakers wrap up 2024 regular season against Roosevelt

Grand Valley’s 2024 football regular season comes to a close this weekend when the No. 4 Lakers travel to Chicago to face the newest member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. 

Grand Valley and Roosevelt University kick off at 2 p.m. EST on November 16 at Roosevelt’s Morris Field. 

The Lakers (9-1 overall, 5-1 GLIAC) have sole position of second place in the GLIAC and are ranked No. 2 in the NCAA’s Super Region 3 as they head toward the playoffs. 

With its 20-0 win over Michigan Tech last weekend, Grand Valley picked up its first shutout since the season opener against Michigan Tech. The Lakers’ defense held the Huskies to 100 total yards on 44 plays while the offense rolled up 477 yards on Tech.

As for Roosevelt (1-8, 1-5), the Lakers officially became the GLIAC’s 11th member this summer, moving to the NCAA from NAIA competition, and have struggled to find its rhythm over the season. 

Roosevelt’s offense ranks last in the conference in scoring offense, averaging just 14.4 points a game. In comparison, while Roosevelt has scored 14 total touchdowns this season, Grand Valley has 39. 

Despite its offensive woes, Roosevelt does have playmakers that rank among the conference’s best. Tailback Cyrus Zuell is among GLIAC leaders in rushing yards a game, quarterback Carson Budke averages nearly 200 passing yards a game and receiver Keonta Nixon is the GLIAC’s top receiver in total receiving yards and yards per game.

Linebacker Jacob Bellizzi anchors a defense that ranks fourth in the GLIAC in total defense and sixth in scoring defense. 

Fans can watch Saturday’s game online at FloFootball. The radio broadcast is available on WLAV-FM 96.9 ( wlav.com ), WJRW-FM 106.1 and WLCS-FM 98.3.

For full coverage of GVSU Football, including broadcast info, news, features, highlights, press conferences and more, follow @GVSUFootball on social media and on the GVSU Athletics website.