WAYNE STATE WEEKLY GAME NOTES

FERRIS STATE GAME STORYLINES

Wayne State had its four-game winning streak end last Saturday at Northern Michigan and this Saturday will try to snap a seven-game home field losing skein against Ferris State.

WSU's last win in Detroit vs. the Bulldogs was on Sept. 22, 1990 (29-17).

NORTHERN MICHIGAN RECAP

The 19th-ranked Wayne State Warriors suffered a 45-20 loss at No. 32-Northern Michigan in the Superior Dome.

The Warriors were going against a Wildcat defense ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (11.80 points per game) and 20th in rushing defense (92.60 yards per game).  WSU was able to put 20 points on the board and senior Joique Bell rushed for 108 yards and three touchdowns.

After WSU missed on a 34-yard field goal attempt on the game's opening drive, NMU went three-and-out but freshman quarterback Mickey Mohner was sacked on third down with NMU recovering a fumble inside the WSU 10.  A personal foul on the Wildcats backed them up, but Rockne Belmonte made a 24-yard field goal.

Following a WSU punt, Northern went 54 yards in six plays with Mark Bossuah scoring on a one-yard run.

Midway through the second period, NMU went 81 yards in four plays with Antonio Wallace scoring on a 55-yard run.

On WSU's first play following the kickoff, Bell rushed left for four yards to surpass the 7,000 all-purpose yard mark.  Later in the drive on a third-and-one from the NMU 4, Bell scored WSU's first TD of the game.
The Wildcats' Zach Nichols caught an eight-yard scoring toss with 10 seconds left before intermission to make it 24-7.

Nichols hauled in a five-yard reception midway through the third period increasing the hosts lead to 31-7.
Late in the third period Bell scored on a one-yard run but the two-point pass was incomplete.  On WSU's first offensive play of the fourth quarter, Bell completed a 68-yard pass to Travis Campbell, then went 18 yards on the next play for his third touchdown run of the game.

Turnovers on Wayne State's next two possessions led to Northern Michigan touchdowns.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was selected fourth in the 2009 GLIAC pre-season coaches' poll, while Ferris State was tabbed for seventh.

ON THE HEADSET

Wayne State's Paul Winters has a 26-34 mark in his sixth year with the Warriors.  WSU is 13-5 in its last 18 games.  The Warriors are 15-15 at home under Winters and have won eight of the last 10 contests at Adams Field.

Ferris State's Jeff Pierce has compiled a 91-70 record in his 15th year with the Bulldogs.

ALL-TIME SERIES

WSU trails 24-21 in the all-time series which began in 1920.  The Warriors are 12-13 at home against the Bulldogs.
 
SCOUTING FERRIS STATE

The Bulldogs have lost six in a row since a season-opening win (34-14) over Tiffin.

David Freeman has rushed for a team-best 258 yards.  Kyle Parrish has completed 82-of-159 passes for 947 yards and two touchdowns.  Mike Ryan leads FSU with 17 receptions and 242 yards.

Nick Butler leads the FSU defense with 64 tackles (22-42) including a sack and a fumble recovery.
 
STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

Bell rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns at NMU.  It was Bell's 10th straight 100-yard game and 31st of his career.

He also returned a kickoff for the first time since 2007 and completed a 68-yard pass, which ties his career long.

Four WSU quarterbacks (including Bell) completed a season-high 16 passes to 10 different receivers last Saturday.  The 243 passing yards was the most since Oct. 23, 2004, when Nolan Martin passed for 262 yards vs. Ashland.

Six different players had kickoff returns for WSU.  With his two kickoff returns, Stan Thornton moved into 10th place on the all-time WSU list with 32.

The Warriors had four turnovers which led to 24 Wildcat points, including 14 consecutive points after WSU had pulled within 31-20.

With his 149 all-purpose yards, Bell moved into 16th place on the all-time NCAA Division II list at 7,090 and needs 33 yards to equal Germaine Race's (Pittsburg State, 2003-06) 15th place total.  Bell is 12th all-time NCAA scoring (all divisions) with 498 points.

THIS AND THAT

All Wayne State football games can be heard on WDTK Radio (1400 AM).  Fans can also listen to all WSU football games online at wdtkam.com or watch the two remaining home games via B2 Networks for a $7 fee per contest or a season pass for $40 (for three remaining games, all except GVSU)