Saginaw Valley State University defeats rival Grand Valley State University

Cardinals win 55-52 contest to finish in 1st Place in GLIAC

    Additional Reporting by
    icon Nov 12, 2012
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The GLIAC featured a classic match-up for the season ending game at Saginaw Valley State University.   Grand Valley State University came into the game with a 1/2 game lead over SVSU in  the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division.   Both high powered offenses came into the game with hopes of making the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs. 

Saginaw Valley State University came storming out of the gate roaring to a 28-0 lead early in the 2nd quarter.  They would take a 35-7 lead at halftime.   The Cardinals would come back to win the exciting game in the last minute of play with a 95 yard drive resulting in a Jon Jennings to Jeff Janis 32 yard TD pass with 9 seconds to go.   GVSU was unable to do anything with the ensuing kickoff for a Saginaw Valley 55-52 victory and slight hopes of gaining a 2012 NCAA II playoff spot.  

SVSU would receive record setting performances three different players on the afternoon.  Quarterback Jon Jennings, Wide Receiver Jeff Janis and running back Tim Hogue all would lite it up against the Grand Valley Lakers in the final game of the year.   Both Saginaw Valley and Grand Valley would end up the season with 8-3 records and 7-3 in Conference games.  Bye the end of the day their would be a 4 way tie for the Northern Division of the GLIAC with 7-3 records.   On the Sunday evening NCAA Division II selection show neither SVSU or GVSU would make the playoffs in 2012.  The only team from the Conference that would qualify would be Ashland University who finished with a 11-0 record and a first round bye. 

SVSU Head Coach Jim Collins now finishs up his 5th year at SVSU with his first victory over GVSU and 35-19 record.   The Cardinals have made the NCAA Division II playoffs twice in Collins' five seasons.   The team was picked to finish high in the GLIAC in 2012 and the late season loss up at Northern Michigan 33-28 most likely cost the Cardinals a spot in the playoffs.  However the season can be viewed with many positives including a GLIAC Conference Championship. 

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