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GVSU takes the field as they host Ashland at Lubbers Stadium last week. On Nov. 8, 2014, they beat Tiffin on Senior Day. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)

(Joel Bissell | MLive.com)

ALLENDALE, Mich. - If the Grand Valley State football season was a Broadway play, the final act was a good one, if not unexpected.

The senior class got to take its curtain call after a rough season and went out on a high note in their final home game with a 42-7 win over Tiffin University on Saturday night.

“I’ve been out there for five years with these guys,” said Deonte Hurst, a senior defensive back from East Kentwood. “It’s an incredible feeling, especially to get the win and to end on a good note the last time at Lubbers Stadium.”

It was also a new-look offense. After 37-14 loss to Ashland last week - and due to a series of injuries - the Lakers decided to try to shake things up and try to make shorter throws to move the chains.

It worked. The Lakers time of possession was 39:59 to Tiffin’s 20:01.

It was also a day of firsts for a few players on offense.

Brian Moran and Joe Robbins each scored their first career touchdowns and Joe Warren scored his second. Senior quarterback Heath Parling scored his first rushing touchdowns in three years and running back Chris Robinson caught his first career touchdown.

“Based on some of our wideout depth - Keontre Miskel is done for the year - and with (tight end Jamie) Potts getting a lot of attention (from the defense), we tried to get a few more guys involved in the passing game,” coach Matt Mitchell said.

Parling, who finished with 254 yards passing and four touchdown passes, liked having a few new targets.

“Brian Moran had a good game and Joe Robbins scored his first career touchdown,” Parling said. “Joey Warner caught another one. He’s kind of our goal-line hidden weapon.

“But we knew they were going to bring the pressure and we wanted to get the ball out of (my) hands quick. That’s why we had some of the underneath routes instead of the deep balls we had been doing.”

Parling, who is a fifth-year senior, said having Senior Day at Lubbers Stadium was emotional.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” said Parling, who graduated from Plymouth Salem. “Obviously, the season isn’t what we wanted it to be. But for one night, to go out a winner at Lubbers Stadium, it felt good. It felt good for me and the other seniors. I was especially thinking of our seniors who couldn’t be out there like Michael Rattay, Payton McCallum, Eric LaBuhn and Bobby Wunderlich.”

Grand Valley (5-5) plays its season finale next week at Saginaw Valley.