Anchored In History, Etched In Bone: Legendary Records From the Anchor-Bone Classic

Check out the all-time Anchor-Bone Classic records, legendary performances and historic moments from the Ferris State vs. Grand Valley State rivalry.

Oct 13, 2026 by Ajay Shah

2025 Anchor-Bone Classic Highlights | Grand Valley State vs Ferris State Football8:05

There are rivalries. There are battles. And then there is the Anchor-Bone Classic.

For more than half a century, the Bulldogs of Ferris State and the Lakers of Grand Valley State have marched into battle like two mighty armies, bolstered by championship ambitions, legendary playmakers and an unrelenting hatred of defeat.

The gridiron is their coliseum. The Anchor-Bone Trophy is their crown. And when these two Division II titans collide, mercy is rarely on the menu.

Eight touchdown passes in a single game. Five touchdown catches by one receiver. A 109-point shootout that nearly broke the scoreboard. Since their first clash in 1972, these Michigan powerhouses have unleashed Harlon Hill Trophy winners, future NFL players and enough unforgettable performances to fill a football hall of fame.

Now, as these two teams prepare to meet again Saturday, Oct. 17, we open the vault to find historic records, legendary feats and glorious moments forged in the fires of the Anchor-Bone Classic.

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2026 Ferris State vs Grand Valley State

Sat, Oct 17 · 7:00 PM UTC

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Anchor-Bone Classic Records: At A Glance

First meeting: 1972, Ferris State won 42-0.
All-time series: Grand Valley State leads 32-25-1 through 58 meetings.
Most passing TDs featured: Curt Anes, 8 against Ferris State (2001).
Most receiving TDs featured: David Kircus, 5 against Ferris State.
Notable passing performance: Bart Williams, 487 yards (2018).
Notable total offense performance: Jason Vander Laan, 496 yards (2015).
Notable rushing performance: Jason Vander Laan, 210 yards (2013).
Highest-scoring game featured: GVSU's 56-53 victory in 1998, 109 combined points.
Largest trophy-era victory: GVSU's 57-10 win in 2011.
Longest trophy-era winning streak: GVSU, 9 consecutive victories (2003-2011).
2026 matchup: Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. ET on FloCollege.

Individual Anchor-Bone Records And Legendary Performances

1. Eight Touchdown Passes: Curt Anes, Grand Valley State (2001)

Eight touchdown passes against your biggest rival sounds like something from a video game.

Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes accomplished exactly that against Ferris State on Oct. 6, 2001, setting a GLIAC single-game passing touchdown record.

The Lakers also established the conference's single-game team passing touchdown record with eight scores through the air.

Anes went on to win the 2002 Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II's top player and led Grand Valley State to its first national championship that season.

2. Five Receiving Touchdowns: David Kircus, Grand Valley State (2001)

Grand Valley State receiver David Kircus caught five touchdown passes against Ferris State, tying the GLIAC's single-game receiving touchdown record.

Kircus became one of the most prolific receivers in Division II history, earning consensus All-America honors in 2001 and 2002 and GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year recognition.

He finished his college career with 80 touchdown receptions and helped the Lakers capture national championships in 2002 and 2003.

3. 371 All-Purpose Yards: Clarence Coleman, Ferris State (1998)

Clarence Coleman did a little bit of everything against Grand Valley State on Nov. 14, 1998.

The Ferris State standout accumulated 371 all-purpose yards, including 244 receiving yards.

Both performances appear among the GLIAC's historical single-game leaders, with his all-purpose total ranking third and his receiving total eighth in the conference's published record book.

Coleman went on to become a three-time All-American and finished fifth in the 2001 Harlon Hill Trophy voting. He also earned Football Gazette Receiver of the Year honors in 2000 and 2001.

4. 487 Passing Yards: Bart Williams, Grand Valley State (2018)

Grand Valley State quarterback Bart Williams threw for 487 yards against Ferris State on Oct. 13, 2018, setting a GVSU single-game passing record and recording one of the highest totals in GLIAC history.

Nick Dodson caught 10 passes for 200 yards, while Brandon Wadley added 166 receiving yards.

Even that wasn't enough to beat the Bulldogs, who escaped with a 35-31 victory.

Williams later received the 2018 GLIAC Jack McAvoy Award recognizing leadership, character, academics and community service. He also earned All-GLIAC honors three times during his career.

5. 496 Yards Of Total Offense: Jason Vander Laan, Ferris State (2015)

Jason Vander Laan made life miserable for Grand Valley State in September 2015.

The Ferris State quarterback threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns while adding 77 rushing yards and three more scores on the ground.

His 496 yards of total offense helped the Bulldogs defeat the Lakers 61-24 and earned a place among the GLIAC's historical single-game leaders.

Vander Laan went on to win the 2015 Harlon Hill Trophy, becoming a two-time recipient after also winning the award in 2014.

6. 483 Yards Of Total Offense: Reggie Bell, Ferris State (2016)

Ferris State quarterback Reggie Bell joined the rivalry's list of remarkable offensive performers on Oct. 8, 2016.

Bell accounted for 483 yards of total offense against Grand Valley State, a performance that ranks among the GLIAC's historical single-game top 10.

His effort demonstrated just how dangerous Ferris State's dual-threat quarterback tradition had become.

7. Six Passing Touchdowns: Heath Parling, Grand Valley State (2011)

Heath Parling put together one of the most dominant passing performances of the trophy era in 2011.

The Grand Valley State quarterback completed 21 of 28 passes for 336 yards and six touchdowns as the Lakers overwhelmed Ferris State 57-10.

Grand Valley State finished with 631 yards of total offense, putting an emphatic finish on its nine-game trophy-era winning streak.

8. 210 Rushing Yards By A Quarterback: Jason Vander Laan (2013)

Vander Laan's arm wasn't the only thing Grand Valley State had to worry about.

In 2013, he rushed for 210 yards and passed for another 118 in Ferris State's 54-44 victory.

The Bulldogs quarterback accounted for 328 yards of offense and four touchdowns, giving the Lakers an early preview of the damage he would continue to cause throughout his award-winning college career.

9. Three Different Ways To Score: Jayru Campbell, Ferris State (2018)

Throw a touchdown. Run for a touchdown. Catch a touchdown.

Jayru Campbell accomplished all three against Grand Valley State in 2018.

The Ferris State quarterback threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 101 yards and another score, and caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jevon Shaw.

10. Three Rushing Touchdowns: Trinidad Chambliss, Ferris State (2024)

Before taking his talents to Ole Miss, Trinidad Chambliss helped deliver one of Ferris State's most emphatic recent rivalry victories.

Chambliss rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for another 114 yards in a 34-7 victory over top-ranked Grand Valley State in 2024.

His touchdown runs covered 31, 13 and 1 yards, accounting for three of the Bulldogs' four touchdowns.

All-Time Ferris State vs. Grand Valley State Rivalry Records

All-Time Series: Grand Valley State leads 32-25-1 across 58 meetings since 1972.
Longest Trophy-Era Winning Streak: GVSU won nine straight (2003-2011), part of a 10-game overall streak.
Highest-Scoring Game: GVSU defeated Ferris State 56-53 in 1998, combining for 109 points.
Largest Trophy-Era Victory: GVSU won 57-10 in 2011, a 47-point blowout featuring six Heath Parling touchdown passes.

When Is The 2026 Anchor-Bone Classic?

The 2026 Anchor-Bone Classic will be played Saturday, Oct. 17, at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan.

Matchup: Ferris State at Grand Valley State
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Lubbers Stadium, Allendale, Michigan
Streaming: Watch Ferris State vs. Grand Valley State on FloCollege

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