It's been a long road, filled with hard work, drama, injury and triumph. And now, the Lakers' remarkable 2001 journey comes to an end as the 13-0 team faces off against North Dakota for the Division II national championship.
Grand Valley State enters the game with a 13-0 record. GVSU is coming off a 34-16 victory over No. 7 Catawba in one of two semifinal games. The Lakers have won a school record 19 straight games entering the national championship contest. North Dakota enters the game with a 12-1 record. The Fighting Sioux are coming off a 14-2 victory over UC Davis in semifinal action.
The game begins at 2 p.m. EST at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala., and will be televised nationally on ESPN. The game will be shown live on a 20-foot big screen TV in the Grand Valley Fieldhouse Arena at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 8). Everyone is welcome.
On Sunday at noon, a Welcome Back Celebration will be held for the Laker football team to celebrate the success of the national championship run. No matter the outcome of the game, everyone is invited to show appreciation for the 2001 GLIAC champions and hear stories from Coach Kelly and the rest of the Laker team. There will be chances for pictures, autographs, and prizes.
