Cardinal Football eNewsletter (2011 Vol. 6) by Frank Roller

Cardinal Football eNewsletter 2011 Season / Volume 6

Field Goal Clinches Win in Overtime Thriller In a high-scoring game that featured explosive offensive plays by both teams, it was the SVSU defense that stepped up and made a play when it counted most. In the first possession of overtime in Saturday’s game, junior linebacker Grant Caserta stepped in front of Michigan Tech quarterback Tyler Scarlett’s third-down pass for the team’s first interception of the year. “I was dropping back in my seam and saw the quarterback looking out to the slot,” Caserta said. “He threw it out there, and I just reached out and grabbed it.” Caserta’s interception gave the SVSU offense a chance to win the game, and, six plays later, freshman kicker Scott Stanford kicked his third field goal of the day to clinch the 44-41 win over a division rival that was ranked by D2football.com as the number 21 team in the nation. “We pulled out a big win,” said sophomore quarterback Jonathon Jennings. “It was really satisfying to make that long drive and end up with a victory.” The 44 points scored by SVSU is a season high for the team and a season high in points allowed for the Huskies, whose highly touted defense was ranked seventh in the nation coming into the game, allowing only 260 yards per contest. Sophomore quarterback Jonathon Jennings led the Cardinals to 467 total yards on the day against the Huskies, and after coming into the game tied for the lead in the GLIAC North with Michigan Tech, the Cardinals regained their place at the top of the division. SVSU got out to a hot start offensively, putting up 24 points in the first half on a Michigan Tech defense that had allowed only 32 points in the first half all season. Jennings finished with 327 yards and four touchdowns through the air on 19 for 27 passing. He also added 38 yards and a touchdown on the ground. “We have so many weapons on offense,” Jennings said. “We really just exploited all types of holes in the defense.” Jennings hit seven different receivers in the game and was successful with the long ball, as two of his touchdown passes, a 49-yarder to

junior tight end Zach Cecich and a 70-yarder to sophomore wide receiver Jeff Janis, went for more than 45 yards. “The deep ball was a big part of our game because they tried to shut down the run,” Jennings said. “Jeff Janis is a great target because you really can’t out-throw him; he’s so fast and so strong and he always manages to get into the endzone. Zach Cecich is a big target as well. “Big plays are a big key to the game.” Senior wideout Nick Gallina also had another good game, leading the Cardinals receiving corps with 84 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals led 31-21 going into the fourth quarter, but the Huskies put up 20 points in 15 minutes to force overtime. With 28 seconds remaining in the game, Stanford capped off a 77-yard drive with his second field goal of the night, putting SVSU up 41-38 and ostensibly sealing the victory. But in a game that featured more than its share of plot twists and theatrics, Michigan Tech answered back right away on a 42-yard pass play. The SVSU defense was able to hold them to the field goal that sent the game into overtime. “We gave up a lot of yards and a lot points, but toward the end of the game, when we needed a couple of stops, we got them,” Caserta said. With the win, SVSU improves to 4-1 overall and in the GLIAC; Michigan Tech falls to 42 overall, 3-2 in the GLIAC. The Cardinals are back in action Saturday, Oct. 15, at Indianapolis for a 6 p.m. kickoff. Source: http://www.valleyvanguardonline.com/?p=514

Cardinals Rush the Field

Recap of Week #6: Michigan Tech SVSU vs. Michigan Tech Cardinals 44 Huskies 41 Box Score Saginaw Valley Michigan Tech

Q1 7 0

Q2 17 14

Q3 7 7

Q4 10 20

OT 3 0

Final 44 41

Scoring Summary: Prd

Time

Scoring Summary

SV-MT

Saginaw Valley - J. Jennings 2 yd run. (Scott Stanford kick is good). 1