Battle of the Valleys

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Battle of the Valleys
Grand Valley State Lakers
Saginaw Valley State Cardinals
SportFootball
First meetingOctober 18, 1975
Grand Valley, 32–5
Latest meetingSeptember 30, 2023
Grand Valley, 55–14
TrophyNone (for game), Victoria (for fundraising)
Statistics
Meetings total52 (including 4 NCAA playoff meetings)
All-time seriesGrand Valley leads, 41–11 (including 4–0 in NCAA playoff meetings)
Largest victoryGrand Valley, 55–7 (1982)
Longest win streakGrand Valley, 11 (2013–present)
Current win streakGrand Valley, 11 (2013–present)
Battle of the Valleys is located in Michigan
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
Saginaw Valley State
Saginaw Valley State
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Locations in Michigan

The Battle of the Valleys is an NCAA Division II football rivalry between the Grand Valley State University Lakers and the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals which began in 1975. Both teams play in the GLIAC. Since 2003, the week leading up to the game has featured a fundraising competition between the two student bodies with proceeds being donated to local charities. Grand Valley and Saginaw Valley have met four times in the NCAA Division II football playoffs. While not considered part of the rivalry series, both teams count these games in the all-time head-to-head records and are included below.

Fundraising Battle[edit]

Adding to the football rivalry which has existed since 1975, in 2003 an additional element was added to the Battle of the Valleys rivalry in the form of a fundraising competition between the two student bodies.[1] Grand Valley won the initial fundraising battle, raising $8,500 for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Michigan with Saginaw Valley raising $6,208 for the BBBS of Mid-Michigan.[2] While Grand Valley leads the rivalry on the football field, Saginaw Valley leads in the fundraising rivalry 8–3. A traveling trophy, Victoria, accompanies the fundraising competition and the winner of the fundraising competition, announced during the football game, has possession of the trophy until the next Battle.[3] The largest margin of victory was in 2012 when Saginaw Valley raised over $30,000 for the Great Lakes Miracle League versus Grand Valley's $1,100 for the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, and the closest margin of victory was in 2006 when Grand Valley raised $19,337 for Burton Middle School and Saginaw Valley raised $19,160 for Child and Family Services of Saginaw County.[4] Saginaw Valley is currently on a seven-year winning streak in the fundraising battle. All told, over $400,000 has been raised in the history of the Battle by both schools combined.[1] The winner of the fundraising battle has also won the football game on four occasions: 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2012.

Game results[edit]

Grand Valley State victoriesSaginaw Valley State victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 1975 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 32–5
2 1976 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 17–6
3 1977 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 41–14
4 1978 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 24–14
5 1979 University Center, MI Saginaw Valley State 32–24
6 1980 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 45–20
7 1981 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 31–7
8 1982 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 55–7
9 1983 University Center, MI Saginaw Valley State 15–14
10 1984 Allendale, MI Saginaw Valley State 28–24
11 1985 University Center, MI Saginaw Valley State 35–18
12 1986 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 28–13
13 1987 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 31–28
14 1988 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 14–13
15 1989 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 42–17
16 1990 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 23–7
17 1991 University Center, MI Saginaw Valley State 14–10
18 1992 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 24–20
19 1993 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 36–17
20 1994 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 27–22
21 1995 Allendale, MI Saginaw Valley State 24–21
22 1996 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 17–6
23 1997 University Center, MI Saginaw Valley State 30–27
24 1998 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 37–36
25 1999 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 31–7
26 2000 University Center, MI Saginaw Valley State 28–21
27 2001 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 38–7
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
28 2001* Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 33–30
29 2002 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 23–18
30 2003 Allendale, MI Saginaw Valley State 34–20
31 2003* University Center, MI Grand Valley State 10–3
32 2004 University Center, MI Saginaw Valley State 31–20
33 2005 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 31–10
34 2005* Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 24–17
35 2006 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 49–35
36 2007 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 21–10
37 2008 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 36–0
38 2009 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 38–7
39 2010 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 28–7
40 2011 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 49–24
41 2012 University Center, MI Saginaw Valley State 55–52
42 2013 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 49–34
43 2013* Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 40–7
44 2014 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 21–3
45 2015 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 24–17
46 2016 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 62–56
47 2017 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 34–6
48 2018 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 31–28
49 2019 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 35–28
50 2021 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 49–17
51 2022 Allendale, MI Grand Valley State 29–10
52 2023 University Center, MI Grand Valley State 55–14
Series: Grand Valley State leads 41–11

Fundraising results[edit]

No.DateLocationGrand ValleySaginaw Valley
1 2003 Allendale, MI Grand Valley $8,500 Saginaw Valley $6,208
2 2004 University Center, MI Grand Valley $7,500 Saginaw Valley $12,000
3 2005 Allendale, MI Grand Valley $7,327 Saginaw Valley $13,012
4 2006 Allendale, MI Grand Valley $19,337 Saginaw Valley $19,160
5 2007 University Center, MI Grand Valley $31,382 Saginaw Valley $20,319
6 2008 University Center, MI Grand Valley $28,002 Saginaw Valley $47,278
7 2009 Allendale, MI Grand Valley $19,299 Saginaw Valley $34,401
8 2010 University Center, MI Grand Valley $12,500 Saginaw Valley $40,088
9 2011 Allendale, MI Grand Valley $12,381 Saginaw Valley $26,623
10 2012 University Center, MI Grand Valley $1,100 Saginaw Valley $30,224
11 2013 Allendale, MI Grand Valley $11,137 Saginaw Valley $25,185
12 2014 University Center, MI Grand Valley $7,000 Saginaw Valley $32,294
13 2015 Allendale, MI Grand Valley $12,031 Saginaw Valley $24,540
14 2016 University Center, MI Grand Valley $17,000 Saginaw Valley $26,000
15 2017 Allendale, MI Grand Valley $17,000 Saginaw Valley $32,000
16 2018 University Center, MI Grand Valley $14,915 Saginaw Valley $36,210
Series: Saginaw Valley leads 13–3

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b History of the Battle of the Valleys – SVSU
  2. ^ "History – Battle of the Valleys – Grand Valley State University". Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  3. ^ The Valley Vanguard: The rock, Coop make SVSU home (September 9, 2013)
  4. ^ The Valley Vanguard: SVSU wins fifth straight fundraising battle (November 11, 2012)
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