It’s the final tuneups for the GLIAC ahead of conference games starting next week, and some tough tests await the five teams in action this week, including two GLIAC foes playing host to ranked teams.

It was tough sledding for the league in Week 3, with just two of the six teams that took the field grabbing wins, and three of the four losses coming by two scores or more.

This week, three of the five teams in action will look to use home-field advantage to get things in order before starting their conference slate next week. This week also sees a pair of teams outside the GLIAC, face their second-straight GLIAC opponent.

No. 16 Indianapolis (2-0) at Saginaw Valley State (2-1)

• When: September 23rd at 2 PM ET
• Location: Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium; University Center, Michigan
• Last Week: Indianapolis defeated Wayne State, 28-7; Saginaw Valley lost at Truman State, 21-7
• Series History: SVSU Leads 20-7; Last Matchup: SVSU defeated Indianapolis 38-14 in 2022.

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In their first road test of the year, the Cardinals struggled mightily on offense, dropping their first game of the year 21-7 at Truman State, putting a dent in their playoff resume if they have hopes of getting an at-large bid.

Go down the list, and the offense was stopped all day by the Bulldogs, netting just 230 yards of offense, getting just nine first downs, and going 1 of 12 on combined third and fourth downs. Outside of SVSU’s 60-yard scoring drive in the second quarter that knotted the game 7-7, the Cardinals punted it away seven times. No turnovers and only one sack allowed weren’t contributing factors either, it was just a tough day at the office for the Cardinal offense, which came into last week averaging over 30 points and north of 400 yards of offense per game.

The rushing offense, which had shined through the first two weeks of the season and totaled 636 yards in those two wins, was held in check last week to just 81 yards on 26 attempts. Redshirt freshman running back Terrance Brown leads the Cardinals with 285 yards through three games, while sophomore QB Mike O’Horo has three rushing scores.

While the offense was stifled for the first time this season, the defense more than held its own, holding Truman State to under 400 yards, while defensive back Jacoby Sanders snagged an interception.

Grissom bringing the heat! 🔥@__Jairus | @svsu_football pic.twitter.com/KDms1ghPIz

— FloFootball (@FloFootball) August 31, 2023

If the Cardinals are going to get back on track and bolster their playoff chances, it will be a tough task against a UIndy team that has been known for its defense in the early going, holding its opponents to 13.5 points per game in its two wins, and just over 300 yards allowed per game. In last week’s win over Wayne State, UIndy rolled 28-7 and held Wayne State to just 204 yards of offense.

But if there is hope for the Cardinals, it's that the Greyhounds have primarily done it thanks to their passing defense. UIndy has held opposing passers to just 146 yards per game, but the rushing defense has given up over 160 yards per game, and more than five yards per carry, something that should play into the hands of SVSU.

Michael Brown has been a key cog for UIndy on defense, leading the team in tackles and pass breakups, while Clay Schulte paces the team with 12 solo tackles.

Offensively, the Cardinals will have to be sharp both against the pass and the run, with the ‘Hounds totaling almost 500 yards per game in the early going, including 225 of those on the ground. 

Quarterback Gavin Sukup has been strong to open the year, completing 62.5 percent of his throws for four touchdowns and no interceptions, while also adding three scores on the ground.

If there’s another bit of good news for SVSU in this matchup, it’s that historically they have held the edge over the Greyhounds, leading the all-time series 20-7 dating back to 1986, including a 38-14 win last season that stopped a three-game winning streak in the series for UIndy. In last season’s win, the Cardinals caught the Greyhounds off guard by passing for three touchdowns, while also getting a touchdown on special teams via a blocked punt.

GLIAC Games At A Glance

*All games scheduled for Saturday

William Jewell (1-1) at No. 21 Davenport (2-0), 12 PM ET

The undefeated Panthers will be well-rested before getting into GLIAC play, sitting out last week after a 2-0 start that saw a two-touchdown win over Thomas More in the opener, then holding off Bowie State two weeks ago, 24-19. 

UNREAL INTERCEPTION BY TYREE MARTIN ‼️@DU_Football | @GLIACsports pic.twitter.com/6P37GzSoEW

— FloFootball (@FloFootball) September 9, 2023

Davenport has gotten it done early thanks to an opportunistic defense that had forced eight turnovers in two games, including six interceptions, while QB Jason Whittaker has yet to throw one. William Jewell also sat out last week and comes in having lost its last game two weeks ago, 41-34 to Kentucky Wesleyan. William Jewell has a high-scoring offense, netting 76 points through two games.

Truman State (3-0) at Wayne State (1-2), 1 PM ET

The Warrior's lone win so far came on its home turf two weeks ago and seems them looking to rebound after getting shut down by Indianapolis last week, 28-7, in a game that saw the offense muster just 204 yards of offense, while punting it away nine times. 

Wayne State’s defense has been tough to score on this season, playing bend but doesn’t break ball, giving up over 410 yards of offense, but holding opponents to less than 27 points per game. That could mean a close game against Truman State, who comes in off a 21-7 win over Saginaw Valley. During their 3-0 start, the Bulldogs have outscored its opponents by just 28 combined points.

Michigan Tech (2-0) at Upper Iowa (2-1), 2 PM ET

Along with Davenport, Tech is the other undefeated team left in the GLIAC and faces a big challenge when they head west to Iowa to take on the high-scoring Peacocks. Tech pulled out a thriller last week, 24-20 on the road over Wisconsin-Platteville, getting an interception within the final two minutes to hold off the comeback attempts from the hosts. 

Sippel with the interception! That’ll be all from Platteville! #CRTD | #FollowTheHuskies pic.twitter.com/BNRVFGHdZo

— Michigan Tech Football (@MTUFB) September 16, 2023

Upper Iowa comes in having won its last two games, scoring 83 combined points in those wins. The UI defense is a question, conceding 95 points in three games.

Northern Michigan (0-3) at Quincy (2-1), 2 PM ET

Northern looks to pick up its first win, and really, for anything to go right in a game. The Wildcats were dropped to 0-3 last week in a 34-3 decision at home to Wisconsin-La Crosse. Through three games the Wildcats have given up 115 points. 

They’ll look to snap their winless skid against a Quincy team that is high-scoring, but whose two wins have come against an NAIA school, 89-0 over Madonna, and a NCAA school, 49-0 over Fort Lauderdale. Their lone game against NCAA Division II competition was a 35-34 loss to Chadron State, who is 1-2 on the year and lost its other two games by a combined 58 points.