With untested potential at several key positions, the Grand Valley State University football team may have more questions than answers heading into tonight’s game against West Texas A&M University.

The Lakers face a formidable opponent in the Buffaloes, who are ranked No. 8 in Division II and won six straight games to close out the 2009 season. GVSU took home a 37-23 victory on the road in the season-opener against the Buffaloes last season.

Sporting new starters at several key positions – including Eastern Michigan University transfer Kyle McMahon at quarterback – and a new head coach, the Lakers look different than they have in recent years.

“We’re anxious to get going,” said GVSU head coach Matt Mitchell. “We’ve put a lot of time an effort into this … We’re ready to get on the field and show everybody our product.”

Any success that GVSU will have will rely on containing West Texas’ spread offense. The Buffaloes have experience at every offensive position and are led by senior quarterback Taylor Harris.

Mitchell said while Harris is not very mobile, he works well in West Texas’ system. He passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns last year against the Lakers, proving his effectiveness.

“He can make any throw on the football field,” Mitchell said. “He gets them into a lot of good plays. He’s a very intelligent player, and he’s kind of crafty. He’s got a little Brett Favre in him.”

The responsibility to stop Harris falls on a defense that will take to the field without senior defensive end Danny Richard. The preseason All-American tore a ligament in his left knee during a non-contact drill at a Laker practice session earlier this month. The injury will put him out of action for the rest of the season, leaving a massive hole on the GVSU defensive line.

“A couple of guys on the defensive line are going to have to step up and make some plays for us,” said linebacker Justin Victor about Richard’s absence. “As far as the (linebackers and secondary), some of the more experienced guys are going to have to elevate their game and come out and compete.”

On offense, a veteran line will return four starters and anchor the team. McMahon will work with a new core of running backs that includes returning junior Justin Sherrod and sophomore Norman Shuford, a transfer from the University of Akron. At receiver, GVSU returns senior Ryan Bass, who caught eight touchdowns last season, and junior Greg Gay, who will look to replace the highly-productive graduate Blake Smolen.

Returning offensive lineman Cameron Bradfield said tonight’s game is the culmination of all of the off-season work the players put in.

“There’s going to be a good atmosphere out there Thursday – we’re on CBS, we’re going to have a good crowd,” he said. “So there is going to be a big payoff, hopefully.”

sports@lanthorn.com