UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – Roosevelt could not overcome its early miscues as Saginaw Valley State defeated the Lakers 55-10 on Saturday in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game in University Center, Mich.

The Lakers trailed 14-0 before the offense even hit the field after a fumble gave the Cardinals possession after scoring the opening touchdown. Saginaw Valley State returned the opening kickoff deep into Roosevelt territory then started yet again deep in Lakers territory after the fumble.

Both teams punted on their next possession before Roosevelt's offense got going after the Cardinals were penalized for roughing the passer. The Lakers (1-4, 0-2 GLIAC) drove into the red zone and settled for a field goal attempt, but Saginaw Valley State was able to get a hand on the kick.

Already trailing 28-0, the Lakers forced a fumble in the middle of the second quarter as KJ Hayes knocked the ball loose and Brandon Harvey fell on it. Roosevelt marched down the field and entered the red zone with just under a minute left. Zach Zella converted a fourth-down pass to Jack Young Jr. then Cam Davis ran it to the Cardinals' 2-yard line before time ran out in the half.

Roosevelt received the ball first in the second half and Davis broke open the drive with a 33-yard run to the Saginaw Valley State 24. Another Cardinals penalty brought the Lakers to the 3, and Zella kept it himself to cut the deficit to 28-7.

Mauricio Escudero capped off the scoring with a career-long-tying 46-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter. Eoin O'Sullivan had another strong game punting with a pair of 60-yard kicks while averaging more than 51 yards per punt. His first three punts all landed inside the Saginaw State 15 with one bouncing for a touchback while the other two were returned outside the 20.

Harvey led the Lakers' defensive effort with 10 tackles while Hayes had Roosevelt's only sack of the game. Kamal Mukarram recorded nine tackles and was also credited with two pass breakups. 

UP NEXT: Roosevelt returns home to face Northern Michigan at Morris Field next Saturday at 1 p.m.