GAME NOTES IN PDF

NORTHERN MICHIGAN GAME STORYLINES

Wayne State has started 5-1 for the first time since 1976.  That squad began the year 7-1.  The Warriors are 9-2 in their last 11 games.  WSU has not played in Marquette since a 15-13 setback on Sept. 17, 2005.

Wayne State has won two of the last three in Marquette, with the margin of victory being a combined eight points in those three contests (44-41, 45-42 and 13-15).

ASHLAND RECAP

Wayne State had a come-from-behind 47-40 win over Ashland on Homecoming last Saturday.  It was WSU's first Homecoming win over the Eagles in six tries.

Trailing 33-20 at halftime and having allowed 323 yards of total offense to the AU, the Warrior defense held the visitors scoreless in the third quarter while the offense put up 13 points to knot the game at 33.

Joique Bell had a five-yard touchdown run on WSU's first drive of the second half, while Mickey Mohner tossed a five-yard pass to Brian Rilley on the Warriors' next drive.

On AU's ensuing drive, the Warrior defense held on three consecutive plays from the 1-yard line. Following a WSU punt, Myles McNichols forced a fumble in WSU territory that was recovered by senior linebacker Matt Shango.

Two Bell runs accounted for 53 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown which broke the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game with his fifth.

Eagle signal caller Billy Cundiff engineered an 11-play, 67 yard scoring drive throwing a five-yard pass to Mike Knueven with 56 seconds left to knot the game at 40.

Rilley went six yards on the squib kickoff giving the Warriors good field position at their own 42. After an incomplete pass on first down, Mohner hit Ed Sanders with a 13-yard strike and a first down in Eagle territory. On the very next play, Mohner found Bell in the middle of the field and after a few moves around three AU defenders, Bell had his school-record sixth touchdown of the game.

Ashland had 25 seconds remaining and the ball at its own 34 following the kickoff. Cundiff had back-to-back completions for a total of 26 yards, followed by a 9-yard completion to Dawon Harvey, who was tackled at the WSU 31 with three seconds left. Cundiff's deep pass in the end zone to Christian Livingston went off the receiver's fingertips and was batted out of the end zone by Stan Thornton.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was selected fourth in the 2009 GLIAC pre-season coaches' poll, while Northern Michigan was tabbed for 10th.

ON THE HEADSET

Wayne State's Paul Winters has a 26-33 mark in his sixth year with the Warriors.  WSU is 13-4 in its last 17 games.  The Warriors are 11-16 on the road under Winters but have wins in their last four games away from Detroit.

Northern Michigan's Bernie Anderson has compiled a 14-21 record in his fourth year with the Wildcats.

ALL-TIME SERIES

WSU trails 13-10 in the all-time series which began in 1957.  The Warriors are 4-6 all-time in Marquette.
 
SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN

The Wildcats have won four in a row since a season-opening loss (23-21) at Northwood.
Antonio Wallace (472 yards, 7 TDs) and Mark Bossuah (403 yards, 7 TDs) lead a potent NMU rushing attack that averages 271 yards per game.  Carter Kopach has completed 61.8 percent (47-of-76) his passes for 604 yards and six touchdowns.
Nathan Yelk leads the NMU defense with 43 tackles (27-16) including two sacks and three pass break-ups.
 
STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

Bell rushed 32 times for 272 yards and five touchdowns last Saturday. The rushing total is the fifth-highest mark in school history.

Josh Renel had 245 all-purpose yards (148 on six kickoff returns, 68 on two punt returns, and 29 rushing).

Bell moved into 14th place on the all-time NCAA Division II rushing yards list with 5,806 yards.  He is seventh in all-time NCAA Division II scoring with 480 points, which ranks 15th of all NCAA Divisions (I, I-AA, II and III).  He will move into a tie-for-12th with his next touchdown. Bell is 20th in NCAA Division II all-time all-purpose yards with 6,941.

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 four remaining games, all except GVSU).

Comcast Channel 900 will re-broadcast the Oct. 3 game vs. Ashland on Tuesday's (9:30 pm) and Wednesday's (11:40 am) throughout October.

ON THIS DATE (OCTOBER 10)

Wayne State has a 3-5-2 mark including a 2-2 record in road games. 

Both ties on October 10 were 0-0 affairs -- 1936 vs. Central Michigan and 1964 against Western Reserve.  WSU has never faced Northern Michigan on October 10.