WSU WEEKLY GAME NOTES

HILLSDALE GAME STORYLINES

No. 30-Wayne State will put its playoff hopes on the line this Saturday at 25th-ranked Hillsdale.  Both teams have two conference losses and a third would most likely knock that squad from GLIAC title contention as well as any post-season action.

WSU's last win in Hillsdale (27-21) was on Oct. 14, 2000.

FERRIS STATE RECAP

Wayne State recorded its first home field win against Ferris State since 1990 with a 45-7 triumph last Saturday.

Joique Bell rushed for six touchdowns, which tied a GLIAC record, and the Warrior defense accounted for 10 sacks while forcing two turnovers.

Statistically speaking, Wayne State dominated virtually every facet of the game. The Warriors totaled 510 yards in total offense to FSU's 100 and the WSU running game came away with 398 yards while the defense held the Bulldogs to -45 yards on the ground.

WSU also held onto the football for over 13 more minutes than FSU (36:45 – 23:15) and converted on 8-of-11 third downs while holding the Bulldogs to just 1-of-10.

In addition to his six scores, Bell earned a game-high 263 rushing yards on 34 carries and hauled in two passes for 42 yards. Mickey Mohner completed 8-of-12 passes for 112 yards and Troy Burrell had a game-high four catches along with 50 yards receiving.

Nick Thomas led the Warriors' defense with 10 tackles, five for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. Ronald Robinson registered two sacks and Myles McNichols grabbed his first interception of the season.

Wayne State's offense set the tone for the day on the game's opening series with an 11-play, 65-yard drive that was capped off with a 13-yard scamper by Bell. Bell would add two more touchdowns for WSU and push the score to 21-0 before Ferris State was able to get its first, first down of the contest.

After FSU's Kyle Parrish and Chris Wilson hooked up for a four-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, WSU marched down the field and put three more points on the board before halftime thanks to a career-long field goal of 44 yards by Anthony Morasso.

Bell broke loose for a 33-yard run to score his fifth touchdown of the game on WSU's first series of the second half and added his final score in the fourth quarter.

IN THE POLLS

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

ON THE HEADSET

Wayne State's Paul Winters has a 27-34 mark in his sixth year with the Warriors.  WSU is 14-5 in its last 19 games.  The Warriors are 11-16 in road games under Winters but have won four of the last five.

Hillsdale's Keith Otterbein has compiled a 44-41 record in his eighth year with the Chargers.

ALL-TIME SERIES

WSU trails 13-36-1 in the all-time series which began in 1926.  The Warriors are 6-16 in road contests vs. Hillsdale.
 
SCOUTING HILLSDALE

The Chargers have won two straight (27-24 over GVSU; 28-17 at NMU).

Vinnie Panizzi has rushed for a team-best 970 yards and 12 touchdowns.  Troy Weatherhead has completed 177-of-274 passes for 2,054 yards and 10 touchdowns.  Andre Holmes (52) and A.J. Kegg (51) have combined for 103 receptions.

Mat Szula leads the HC defense with 71tackles (38-33) including three tackles for loss.
 
STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

Senior running back Bruno Shkreli ran for 66 yards on just eight carries.

Sophomore linebackers Raleigh Ross and Jordan Miller each had 1.5 sacks.

Bell is 20th in rushing yards (6,175) in NCAA history (all divisions), trailing Texas' Ricky Williams (1995-98) by 104 yards.

He ranks ninth in scoring (534 points) in NCAA history and needs 11 points to pass Philadelphia Eagle Brian Westbrook (Villanova, 1997-2001).

Bell needs 29 all-purpose yards to move into 25th place in NCAA history (all divisions).

He needs 63 rushing yards to surpass Joe Gough's second-place WSU mark of 1,593 set in 1994.

Bell needs 267 all-purpose yards to become the GLIAC all-time career leader.  Ferris State's Clarence Coleman (1998-01) has the mark with 7,227.

The 2009 senior class mark of 23 victories is tied-for-fourth most in school history.  The 1974-77 class has the record with 30, while both the 1973-76 and 1975-78 classes had 28 victories.

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 remaining home game via B2 Networks for a $7 fee per contest for the next two games, all except GVSU.

CROWD NOISE

Wayne State's final home game on Saturday, Oct. 31 is Senior Day along with “Trick or Treat with the Warriors” as well as Armed Forces Day.