October 8, 2005
Football
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cottengim and Miroth Have Big Days in 44-14 Win over Mercyhurst

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The SVSU Cardinal football team turned in another business-like effort for Homecoming on Saturday and cruised to a 44-14 win over visiting Mercyhurst. The Lakers hung around in the first half and trailed 16-7, but SVSU outscored the Lakers, 28-7, in the second half behind big plays from junior Vinnie Miroth (Cameron Park, Calif.), senior Logan Barnhart (Haslett, Mich.) and sophomore Rick Cottengim (Elk Grove, Calif.).
    Cottengim opened the scoring on the first offensive play for SVSU as he raced past the secondary for a 63-yd touchdown reception at the 12:42 mark. After a Bobby Belmonte (East Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) 28-yd field goal made it 9-0 midway through the first half, senior Mark LaFreniere (Iron Mountain, Mich.) caught a three-yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone to make it 16-0 at the 9:21 mark of the second quarter.
    Cottengim and Miroth hooked up again in the third quarter for the longest pass play in school history which covered 96 yards for a touchdown and gave SVSU a 23-7 lead at the 8:55 mark. Barnhart got into the end zone on a two-yard run just one minute later to give SVSU a 30-7 lead. Barnhart later with seven minutes left in the game scored his second rushing touchdown for the game on a nine-yard scamper to conclude the scoring and give him his fifth rushing TD of the season.
    Barnhart carried 18 times for 132 yards as SVSU ran for 142 yards as a team. SVSU totaled 535 yards as Miroth earned his first start at SVSU and was 17-of-26 for 393 yards and four TD's in the air. Cottengim was Miroth's favorite target catching four balls for a career-high 217 yards and two scores. Cottengim is averaging 22.1 yards per reception and has five TD's on the year.
    The Cardinal defense allowed 257 total yards and forced four turnovers on the day. Senior John DiGiorgio (Shelby Twp., Mich./Eisenhower) led SVSU with ten tackles and also had three pass breakups and one forced fumble. Senior Dan Fodrocy (Muskegon, Mich./Catholic Central) had a team-high three tackles for loss, one and a half sacks and intercepted a pass inside the 10-yard line on Mercyhurst's first possession of the fourth quarter. The Lakers were led on offense by Jeff Nowling who had nine catches for 106 yards and quarterback Mitch Phillis who was 23-of-43 passing for 206 yards. Ben Bluemle led everyone with 14 tackles.
    Saginaw Valley State (6-0) will square off with rival Grand Valley State next Saturday at 7:00 pm from Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan.

Stats

Contact: Ryan Thompson (989) 964-4053

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