GRR: Great Lakes
The Des Moines bracket of the Men’s DII College Playoffs might well have been a forgone conclusion a few weeks ago, but maybe it’s not anymore.
The four teams in it have their own reasons for thinking they could get through to the semis.
Great Lakes Conference champion Grand Valley State University edged a tough WIIL #3 University go Northern Iowa to move into the Men’s DII College Round of 16.
It was close, with GVSU winning 23-17. Once they took the lead Grand Valley was able to hold on.
Two second-half tries put Grand Valley State past Xavier University of Cincinnati to give GVSU the Great Lakes Conference championship and a place in the 2015 Men’s DII College playoffs.
Grand Valley State University won big again in the Great Lakes Conference, beating Oakland University 49-0.
In an entertaining, wide open game, GVSU got another strong effort from flyhalf Louis Ricard. The French-trained pivot does well to read the game and spot weaknesses, and he worked well with scrumhalf Steven Gilbert.
Xavier University won their opener in the Great Lakes Men’s DII South Division with a 41-12 defeat of previously 1-0 Marshall.