Grand Valley claims crown

? Curt Anes threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to David Kircus with 1:04 left to give Grand Valley State of Michigan its first NCAA Division II title with a 31-24 victory against Valdosta (Ga.) State on Saturday.

Kircus caught 11 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns, extending his all-division record for TD receptions in a season to 35.

Anes, who won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the best player in Division II on Friday, completed 23 of 36 passes for 361 yards for the Lakers (14-0).

Grand Valley State had a 24-13 lead late in the fourth quarter when the Blazers (14-1) tied the game by scoring 11 points in less than 30 seconds.

Valdosta cut the lead to eight on Will Rhody’s 43-yard field goal, his third of the game, with 3:30 to play.

On the kickoff, Grand Valley State was backed up to its own 2-yard-line.

Anes fumbled a snap in the end zone, and defensive end Tim Thompson recovered for the touchdown. Buster Faulkner passed to C.J. Lofton for the 2-point conversion to tie it with 3:09 to play.

Besides the winning score, Anes and Kircus connected on scoring passes of 54 and 67 yards.

Aaron Jenkins ran for 99 yards and a touchdown to lead Valdosta State. Faulkner completed 26 of 41 passes for 139 yards with three interceptions.